Profiles of Global Taiwan

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In May 2026, Taiwan Travelogue — a collaboration between a Taiwanese author and translator — won the International Booker Prize, making history as the first Mandarin-language novel to receive this honor. Presented annually in the United Kingdom, the prize equally celebrates authors and translators, recognizing translation as vital to literary achievement.

Originally published in Taiwan in 2020, Taiwan Travelogue is set in 1930s Taiwan during Japanese colonial rule. Framed as a fictional rediscovered travel memoir, the novel follows a Japanese writer and her Taiwanese interpreter as they journey across Taiwan through food, conversation, and shared experiences. Beneath its richly detailed descriptions of cuisine and travel lies a nuanced exploration of colonialism, identity, language, power, and intimacy. The novel combines historical reflection with emotional depth, offering readers a layered portrait of Taiwan’s complex past.

The judging panel commended Taiwan Travelogue for its literary craft and emotional depth. Natasha Brown, chair of the 2026 judges, called it “captivating, slyly sophisticated,” and noted the novel excels as both a romance and a postcolonial work. The judges emphasized its nuanced inquiry into love and power within colonial Taiwan.

Author Yáng Shuāng-zǐ is one of the most influential voices in contemporary Taiwanese literature. A graduate of the Graduate Institute of Taiwan Literature and Transnational Cultural Studies at National Chung Hsing University, she is known for her fiction, essays, manga scripts, and literary criticism. In 2021, she became the inaugural writer selected for the “Chuan Liu Taiwan Literature Writer-in-Residence” program, established through a donation from the U.S.-based Chuan Liu Foundation to support Taiwanese literary development and cultural exchange. During her residency, she led public lectures, literary dialogues, and creative writing workshops that encouraged students to engage with Taiwan’s history and contemporary social issues through literature. Her international recognition through Taiwan Travelogue reflects not only her literary achievement but also the growing global visibility of Taiwanese literature and cultural identity. Translator Lin King, a Taiwanese American writer and translator, played a crucial role in bringing the novel’s multilingual complexity and cultural nuance to English-speaking audiences. Their collaboration also won the U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2024.

In their acceptance speeches, Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King underlined how literature helps define Taiwan’s identity and future. Yáng described the novel as part of a tradition reckoning with Taiwan’s experience under colonialism and ongoing pressures. She stressed literature’s role in fostering understanding across borders. Lin King shared her motivation to translate Taiwanese works, citing the importance of Taiwan’s global recognition and the need to convey Taiwan’s linguistic and cultural complexity without simplification. Their words positioned the award as a statement about the significance of literature, translation, and Taiwan’s status in the world.

This milestone extends beyond literary acclaim, giving Taiwan greater international visibility. Taiwan Travelogue introduces global readers to the island’s history and stories, demonstrating increased interest in Taiwanese voices and showing how literature inspires cross-cultural understanding. For many, the novel is both an acclaimed work and an invitation to learn about Taiwan.

- The Booker Prizes – Official Winner Announcement
- The Booker Prizes – Taiwan Travelogue Book Page
- Associated Press – Taiwan's Yáng Shuāng-zǐ wins the International Booker Prize
- Taiwan Ministry of Culture – Novel “Taiwan Travelogue” shortlisted for International Booker Prize
- The Guardian – International Booker prize goes to novel originally written in Mandarin Chinese for the first time
- The Irish Times – International Booker Prize 2026 coverage
- Focus Taiwan – “Yang Shuang-zi pays tribute to Taiwan literature in Booker Prize speech”
- Focus Taiwan Video Coverage – “Taiwan Travelogue wins 2026 International Booker Prize”
- YouTube – International Booker Prize 2026 Winning Speech Video
- 興大「川流台灣文學駐校作家」開幕 楊双子帶領學子一同穿越台灣歷史 (in Traditional chinese)

The UC San Diego Center for Taiwan Studies is proud to celebrate the achievements of Cyrus Liu, a sophomore at UCSD, who has been selected for the highly competitive Taiwan Intensive Summer and Semester Language Program (TISLP), administered by the American Councils for International Education. TISLP provides an immersive Mandarin learning experience in Taiwan, strengthening students' language proficiency and cultural understanding.

Cyrus’s successful application to TISLP was bolstered by the Center’s resources and dedicated personnel. As an active participant in the Center’s events, he engaged with faculty and visiting scholars specializing in Taiwan studies, which deepened his understanding of Taiwan’s language and culture. The Center also provided guidance on application strategies, language proficiency goals, and scholarship opportunities, helping Cyrus refine his application to stand out in this competitive program.

Moreover, since his freshman year, Cyrus has received continuous support from Jason Chien, Coordinator of the Center for Taiwan Studies, and Pei-Chia Chen, Coordinator of the Chinese Studies Program. Both have played a crucial role in guiding Cyrus on his journey, helping him strengthen his Mandarin skills and expand his general knowledge about studying in Taiwan. Through mentorship, academic advising, and cultural insights, they have watched Cyrus grow over the past two years, providing encouragement and direction as he worked toward his goal of studying in Taiwan. Their guidance helped him craft a strong application for TISLP, ensuring he was well-prepared for this incredible opportunity.

Cyrus’s accomplishment highlights the Center for Taiwan Studies’ commitment to supporting UCSD students in their academic and cultural pursuits related to Taiwan. We look forward to seeing him thrive in Taiwan and sharing his experiences with our community upon his return!

Congratulations, Cyrus!

"Carlsbad Man Uses Family’s Taiwanese farming Techniques to Grow Exotic Fruit"

Reported by FOX 5 in California, USA

Written by Megan Healy and Pheobe Aoe

Article Summary:

As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month rolls in, we capture a glimpse of traditional Taiwanese culture upheld by Frank Lin and his wife, Cheng-Mei. After years of studying the arts of traditional Taiwanese farming techniques, Frank Lin and Cheng-Mei opened a produce-focused farm in Carlsbad, California that preserves the natural tastes of the fruits and vegetables native to Taiwan, including the famous Taiwanese Wax Apple. The farm, named "Green Lotus Organic Farm", draws in hundreds of visitors every year as they participate in workshops that teach how to grow native crops, and has been a mainstay of Taiwanese culture in the States ever since.

To see the full article, please click here.

Video and article are both made by FOX 5 News.