Travel Taiwan
 Taiwan People Language Nature Climate Cuisine
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Transportation Visa Currency Credit Cards Banking Hours Time Zone
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Telecommunication Services Electricity Supply Customs Tipping/Taxes Taxis
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Taiwan
Taiwan's total land area is only about 3,6000 square kilometers; it is shaped like a tobacco leaf that is narrow at both ends. It lies off the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan Straits from Mainland China — a solitary island on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. To the north lies Japan and Okinawa, to the south is the Philippines. Many airlines fly to Taiwan, helping make it the perfect travel destination.
People
Taiwan has a population of 22 million. The larger part of the island's inhabitants are the descendants of immigrants from the various provinces of mainland China, but in particular from the southeastern coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. Because the different ethnic groups have fairly well integrated, differences that originally existed between people from different provinces have gradually disappeared.
Language
The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese (Guoyu), but because many Taiwanese are of southern Fujianese descent, Min-nan (the Southern Min dialect, or Holo) is also widely spoken. The smaller groups of Hakka people and aborigines have also preserved their own languages.
Nature
Formosa (beautiful island) is what the Portuguese called Taiwan when they came here in the 16th century and saw the island's verdant beauty. Located along the southeast coast of the Asian Continent at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan and the Philippines and right in the center of the East-Asian island arc, Taiwan forms a vital line of communication in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers an area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) and is longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total area is covered by forested mountains and the remaining area consists of hilly country, platforms and highlands, coastal plains and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along the entire island from north to south, thus forming a natural line of demarcation for rivers on the eastern and western sides of the island. On the west side lies the Yushan Mountain Range with its main peak reaching 3,952 meters, the highest mountain peak in Northeast Asia.
Climate
Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. The strongest fluctuations in weather conditions are during spring and winter, while during summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. Taiwan is extremely suitable for traveling, as the annual average temperature is a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius with lowest temperatures ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit).
Cuisine
The culinary culture of the Chinese people goes back a very long time; and while Chinese food can be enjoyed in every large city in the world today, true gourmets know that only in Taiwan is it possible to enjoy fine authentic cuisine from all the different regions of China. In Taiwan, where it seems the people live to eat, it is said that there is a snack shop every three steps and a restaurant every five. These establishments serve all kinds of Chinese food, from the roast duck, smoked chicken, lamb hotpot, fish in wine sauce, beef with green peppers, and scallop and turnip balls of the north to the camphor-tea duck, salty fried chicken with spices, honey ham, stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried eggplant, and spicy bean curd of the south. As the island's economy has developed rapidly in recent years, its culinary culture has expanded beyond the traditional Chinese foods to Chinese-style fast-food chains, thus bringing greater complexity than ever before to the art of Chinese dining. Foreign foods from all over the world have also made their appearance in Taiwan, and the island is now filled with eateries serving American hamburgers, Italian pizza, Japanese sashimi, German pig's knuckles, Swiss fondue, and just about everything else. All of this makes Taiwan a veritable paradise for gourmands. Taiwan's own native cuisine has also become known around the world, and if you try it just once you will remember it forever.
Transportation
Taiwan has complete fundamental constructions and a convenient traffic network weaved by flights, trains and highways. It takes only a few hours to travel between scenic spots, and most of the scenic spots can be reached by public transportation vehicles.
There are two international airports in Taiwan: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE, formerly CKS International Airport) in Taoyuan (about 40 km from Taipei City), and Kaohsiung International Airpor (KHH) in Kaohsiung. Direct flights between Taiwan and other countries provide convenient services. Except for some flights to and from between Taiwan and Hong Kong as well as South East Asia land in Kaohsiung International Airport, most international flights all land in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (formerly CKS International Airport)
Kaohsiung International Airport
Visa
Foreign nationals may obtain visas from embassies, consulates or representative offices of the Republic of China.
Visa Exempt Entry: 14 days (no extension is permitted)
Fourteen-day visa exempt entry applied for citizens of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, U.K., Singapore, and U.S.A. Requirements for the entry are:
- A passport valid for at least six months.
- A confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmation air seat reservation for his (her) departure.
- No criminal record of law violation.
Landing Visa: 30-Day (no extension is permitted)
Thirty-day landing visas can be obtained upon arrival at Taiwan Taoyuan airport. Passengers with passports of the above listed countries plus the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Switzerland are to apply for landing visa. Requirements for the entry are:
- A passport valid for at least six months.
- A confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmation air seat reservation for his (her) departure.
- An application form with one photo.
- Visa fee NT$ 1,500. (Approximately 45 US dollars)
- No criminal record of law violation.
Currency
The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Bill denominations are NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100. Coin denominations are NT$1, NT$5, NT$10 and NT$50. As of January 2005, the exchange rate was quoted around NT$32 to one US Dollar. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport upon arrival, or at government-authorized banks, tourist hotels, and large department stores. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT Dollars before departure. Traveler's checks in major currencies may be cashed at some tourist-oriented businesses and at most international tourist hotels.
The Universal Currency Converter
Credit Cards
Hotels, department stores, airlines, large stores and restaurants accept major credit cards. Cash is generally preferred elsewhere.
Banking Hours
Banks are open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Time Zone
Taiwan is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and does not practice daylight saving time in summer.
Telecommunication Services
One local call from a pay phone costs NT$1 for 1 minute, after which additional coins are needed or the line will be automatically disconnected. On private phones, the overseas operator may be reached by dialing "100." Direct dialing is available to some phones, after first dialing the prefix "002." International direct dialing rates are calculated every six seconds.
Electricity Supply
Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles, appliances from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer. Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners.
Customs
Personal items are free of duty. Visitors over 20 years old may bring in, duty free, 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 0.5 kg of tobacco, one bottle of liquor and one used camera. Gold cannot be exported without a permit issued by the Ministry of Finance. Passengers arriving with gold and silver and planning to take it out at departure must declare it and leave the items with Customs until they leave Taiwan.
Tipping/Taxes
Tipping is optional. It is usual, however, to tip hotel porters and for restaurant service. A 10% service charge and a 5% value-added tax are added to room rates and meals.
Taxis
Major cities have an abundance of taxis. Charges are NT$70 for the first 1.5km and NT$5 for each additional 300 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every two minutes of waiting, and a 20% surcharge is added to fares between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., NT$10 dollars tip needed for cab dispatched by phone and for luggage placed in taxi trunk. Basically, taxi fares in all major cities are set by local city government itself and are in a minor discrepancy. Out-of-town or long-distance travels may not apply to meter charge; travelers are suggested to confirm charging method before getting on taxi.
(Some of the contents here were provided by the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Republic of China. For more information, please visit http://202.39.225.132/jsp/Eng/html/search/index.jsp)