February 27, 2013 -- Updated 12:07

Flamingos (Photo by Bruce)

Life of Pi has grossed nearly US$60 million at the overseas box office, making it one of the world’s 100 highest-grossing films of all time. In addition to the impressive box-office earnings, “Life of Pi” has grabbed 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Music. This film, more than 75 percent of which was shop in Taiwan, includes the main scene of the ocean as a shipwreck castaway somewhere between India and Mexico, the exotic floating island during Pi’s journey, and the white-sand Mexican beach that Pi eventually land and be saved were filmed in Taichung and Kenting. Taiwan-born film director Ang Lee won an Oscar for best director announced that the movie could not be made without the help of Taiwan.

Formosan black bear (Photo by Crystal)

Moreover, all of the animals appear in the opening scene of Life of Pi were from Taipei City Zoo, including sloths, rhinoceros, Burmese pythons, leopard, flamingos, Formosan sika deer, Malayan tapirs, ring-tailed lemurs, orangutans, zebra and a Taiwan native Formosan black bear, which is about three minutes long. However, after editing and retouching of film, it is hard to identify where in the zoo the animals were filmed. Taipei City Zoo has cooperated with the film company in order to erect signs at the zoo to mark the locations. The visitors may follow the route that has been planned in the zoo to see these adorable movie stars and thus help visitors make the connection with the film.

While visiting Taipei City Zoo, there are many other noted Taipei attractions waiting for you to explore, such as Taipei 101, National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market, Yangmingshan, and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Book your Taipei hotels today at Sinotour.com and get ready to discover the Life of Pi and other beauties of these mesmerizing Taiwan stops!