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Long, long ago, some Chinese people from the mainland came from the mainland to settle among the 86 islands we now call Taiwan. The Dutch and Spanish, seeking oriental treasure, found them there in the 1600s; Ming Dynasty rulers moved there into exile in the second part of the 17th century; two hundred years later, the Qing Dynasty moved in, followed by the Japanese at the turn of the 20th century. After World War II, Chiang Kai-Shek fled to Taiwan from the Communists, and established the Kuo Min-Tang, a political organization which made Taiwan into an Eastern "Tiger" in terms of economic growth. Opinions range on whether Taiwan is part of China now, or really should be its own independent nation. Like many another small nation in the proximity and "protection" of a giant, it may never answer this question to its own satisfaction. But however its story continues, Taiwan is unquestionably the possessor of a unique history, culture and position on the world stage. Its beauties and seductions will only increase with its economic gains, now stabilized with its membership in the World Trade Organization, and its increased connections to the rest of the world, through airlines and internet. Forested and mountainous (its highest peak is Jade Mountain) for the most part, it also consists of plains along the coast and many breathtaking Pescadores, or Fisherman's Islands. Taipei, its capital, may be bustling, populated and polluted, but it is also an excellent destination, featuring many treasures to see and to buy.