History of Bonsai Art in Taiwan
In Taiwan, bonsai culture began in the late Qing dynasty. Taiwan's oldest living bonsai is a 240-year-old banyan that resides in Tainan's Kaiyuan Monastery (開元寺). Yet it wasn't until the 1980s that bonsai cultivation in Taiwan reached maturity. Taiwan is an agriculture-oriented country and with its humid sub-tropical weather is good for growing many species of plants as Bonsai. In 1994 the Bonsai Association R.O.C. was formed and is a national bonsai organization that was organized by Taiwan bonsai lovers.

Chung Hua Bonsai, Suiseki & Old Pottery Association
3rd Floor, No.128, Chun Hsiao E. Road, Sec.4, 106, Taipei, ROC. Tel: 886-2-2771-4323 Fax: 886-2-2771-0234

Bonsai Association R.O.C. Taiwan
13 floor N° 179 DUN HWA, S. Road, Sec 1, Taipei, Taiwan. Fax 886-2-2771-0234.

National Bonsai Association of Taiwan
No 110, 7F, Tien-Mu East Rd, Taipei, Taiwan. Ph: 886-2-2874-3802 or 886-2-2871-8108 Email: a9728946@ms8.hinet.net

Taipei Bonsai & Artistic Stone Association - tel: 886 2 2823 3043 - fax: 886 2 2821 2720

There are about 40 Bonsai Associations in Taiwan. The Five National Bonsai Associations are as follows:
Chung Hua Bonsai, Suiseki & Old Pottery Association
Taiwan Bonsai; Creator Association
Far Fong Bonsai Association
Chang Hua Ficus Bonsai Association
Ya Fong ( Mini-size) Bonsai Association

Unfortunately I have little or no information about these, so if anyone has the details please let me know (Editor)

Chang Ta-ch'ien's Memorial Residence
In the grounds of The National Palace Museum.
Visitors should be sure to take a look at the garden on which Chang Ta-ch'ien expended so much effort. The bonsai miniature trees are the most notable feature, and they are to be found in every part of the garden: the front, the back, the central courtyard and the roof garden, Chang Ta-ch'ien was very fond of bonsai, especially miniature pine trees. He also liked cypresses, plums and the ju tree (a kind of elm). One particular miniature pine by the front door was dubbed by the artist the "guest-welcoming pine," because it is bent over as though bowing to guests entering the house. There are also four gnarled and twisted miniature pines said to be over 200 years old. Bonsai trees are most prized for their appearance and great age, and these four pines can be said to be unique in that respect. In the back garden there is a pot containing two wild azalea from Yangmingshan whose branches intertwine, a phenomenon much prized by the Chinese. These were favourites with Chang, and he called them the "interlocked trees of the crane grove."
Located at 221 Chi-shaun Rd, Sec 2, Wai-shuang-hsi, Taipei.
Open Monday - Friday except National Holidays
Please call or write in advance to arrange a visit Telephone: 2881-2021 ext 384

Suiseki in Taiwan
Historically, appreciation of elegant stones was an art form among nobles, scholars, and the philosophical hermits of China. Some of the best collections belonged to the imperial collections. The emperors of the Ch'ing Dynasty, for example, sent special search parties each year to the distant Tarim River of Sinkiang Province in the remote interior of China to collect odd-shaped and precious stones.

Today, the hobby of stone collecting is open to everyone who likes to hike along streambeds or climb Taiwan's lush mountains. But most stones are not collector's items. How can the common be distinguished from the extraordinary? Shen Fu-han, an avid stone-collector in Taiwan, has some basic advice on this subject. "Brush a stone clean, then hold it up to the eyes and look at each of its dimensions," he says. "Be careful not to miss any viewing angle. Use your heart and mind to penetrate through its outer form into its inner spirit. A good stone will always reveal its virtues under such circumstances." - by Beatrice Hsu

Taiwanese Rose Stones
The same typhoons that frequently devastate Taiwan's east coast also churn up precious rose stones, a source of wealth for those who know where to find them. These stones possess a surface that resembles a picturesque natural landscape, with rich and varied colors on a rose-red base. The colors and textures on these rocks have inspired local artists to produce paintings based on the patterns they see in the rocks, both traditional Chinese landscape paintings as well as modern abstract ones. - Article by Derek Lee - The Taipei Times

Bonsai Shari Sidiao
The author, Cheng Cheng-Kung, completes this masterpiece with more than 900 beautiful photos, comprehensively records his 10-year creation history. Much detail and information about the Taiwan method of creating shari using Si-Diao (silk-carving) with hand-tools to achieve the ideal state of beauty.

Jianguo Weekend Flower Market (建國花市)
The Flower market is open only on week-ends and is an absolute must for all. The tourist agency at the airport or the Hotel people will provide directions in Chinese for the taxi driver. The market itself is outdoors under an elevated freeway! Growers bring their bonsai in to sell. The trees may be 'finished' and in pots as well as almost finished with the root ball in soil wrapped in burlap.

Bonsai Nurseries in Taiwan & Taipei
 

Taichung bonsai village
This website introducts the Taichung bonsai village of Kuo-Ming Ho ,provides the display, elegant stone, bonsai, plants, trees, craft, botany and botanical information, including pinus morrisonicola, Permma obtusifolia, Celtis formormosana, Murraya paniculata, Guangdong ginger, juniperus chinensis, Ficus microcarpa, juniperus chinensis, Sketch bonsai, Rhododendron indicum, Bonsai of medium size on display shelf, Mini-sized bonsai and Elegant and special shape stone.

More Information about Bonsai in Taiwan
additional information, links and experiences from all over the Taiwan

Asian Longhorn Beetles
Warning for tree importers
Asian Longhorn Beetles and Larvae have been found on Bonsai trees that were imported from China and shipped to L.A. The native range of these pests include Japan, Korea and China, anyone with a tree imported from China should check it and all yard trees for big exit holes as the beetles are emerging now (April). Trees favored as food by the Long-horned beetle include - poplar, willow, elm, locust, mulberry, orange, tangerine, pear, apple, ficus, sycamore, lychee, Japanese cedar, beech, maple, crepe myrtle, walnut, oak, catalpa and cherry. For further information click on the link