Taiwan

In the late 1980s, Taipei was a sooty traffic jam barely giving way to a gritty, noisy industrial metropolis heaving with helmet-free scooters doubling as family mini-vans. Today, 23 million people riding 15 million scooters—now all wearing helmets—share the roads with 8 million 4-wheel vehicles…but it works. Rude driving and horn-honking are rare and the air is clear in what is now a dazzling, livable city. You might even see a scooter carrying a dog wearing her own helmet. As amazing as Singapore’s 1970’s turnaround, Taipei’s central planning rebirth makes it a great destination where shopping pedestrians enjoy a genuine right-of-way when crossing intersections. A once polluted river now has a tree-lined riverbank park with bicycle lanes. No food or drink is allowed on their vast, efficient, predictable and odorless subway network; this rule is enforced! And, there areas surrounding Taipei are also amazing. Taipei, Taiwan, and its neighboring regions have experienced an incredible revitalization — and you’ve got to check it out.

Ps, Taiwan is well positioned for a short (or long) stopover on your way to mainland China or Southeast Asia. You have options!