The region of Fukien, located in the South of China is the place where Taiwanese cuisine finds its roots, back in the beginning of the 12th century. The Yangtse River was situated here and this was full with fish and surrounded by rice plantations. The traders were using these aliments and so, an exchange of traditions took place between the port cities and Fukien. The Chinese immigrants located in Taiwan came mostly from this region, so the Taiwanese cuisine is based nowadays on the old Fukienese one. Taiwanese cuisine is very much influenced by the most significant Asian recipes: Japan occupied Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century, a fact which led traces and cultural changes.