In their minds Taiwan has always been a rather mysterious place. It is more advanced and Westernized, and its politics appear "chaotic." It is familiar yet strange, an "alternative China." Another factor is that quotas are limited, making it a rare opportunity indeed to come to Taiwan, so students spare no effort to win a place here.
許多陸生表示，台灣在他們心目中是很「神秘」的，一方面比較先進和西化，政治上似乎又很「亂」，是一種既熟悉又陌生的「另類中國」，加上名額有限，來台機會難得，所以無不盡力爭取。