Taiwan General Information
Taiwan Capital: Taipei.
Time: GMT + 8.
Tel. Code: 00 886 .
Official Languages: The official language of Taiwan is Standard Mandarin (Gouyu), but many people in Taiwan belong to the Hoklo ethnic group and speak both Standard Mandarin (Official National dialect) and Taiwanese.
Currency:Taiwan dollar (TWD). There are 100 cents in one dollar. Notes come in denominations of TWD2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, and 100. Coins come in denominations of TWD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Traveler's checks and major credit cards are accepted in most places on the island. Among them are American Express, Carte blanche, MasterCard, Diners Club, and Visa.
Electricity: Electricity in Taiwan is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. Outlets in Taiwan generally accept 1 type of plug i.e. Flat blade plug.
Religions: Buddhism majority. There are also Taoism, Catholicism, Protestentism, Hsuan-yuan Chiao, Islam, Li Ism, Tenrikyo, Baha'i, T'ienti Teachings, Tien Te Chiao, I-Kuan Tao, and Mahikarikyo.
Climate
Taiwan has a tropical climate, changeable from hot and humid in the south, to cold temperatures in the north and inland mountainous region. Winters are short and are likely to be mild, while summer is normally hot, with abundance of humidity. The Typhoon season is from June to October.
Required clothing
During the hot season, suitable clothing for Taiwan include light and loose cotton clothing, casual sportswear and comfortable walking shoes. During the cold season, be sure to bring along some comfortable woolens to help protect you from the bone chilling, moisture-laden winter in Taiwan. During both seasons, it is advisable to bring along some sort of rain-gear. It can rain at any moment without much warning.
Airports
The two international airports in Taiwan are Chiang Kai Shek (CKS) International Airport near Taipei city in the north and Kaohsiung International Airport in the south.
Departure tax: TW$300 Airport departure tax is usually included in the ticket price. You should enquire at the time of ticketing.
Taiwan Cuisines
This variety of cuisines includes eight main categories: Holo (also called “Minnanese,” or simply “Taiwanese”), Hakka, and vegetarian foods, as well as the various cooking styles with long histories from the length and breadth of mainland China such as northern style, Hunan, Jiangzhe (from the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang), Hong Kong (Cantonese), and Sichuan.
Shopping In Taiwan
In Taipei, capital of Taiwan you can buy almost anything you can think of from designer names to antique ornaments, electronics, original jewellery, hand-painted scrolls, fragrant tea and quality toys for children. Department stores, boutiques and small shops all offer quality at reasonable prices in sleek and classy surroundings.
Sightseeing In Taiwan
Ali Mountain : Ali Mountain is situated in Jiayi County in Taiwan Province. It is famous for its beauty. It is in fact the general name of the eighteen hills including Zhu Hill and Tower Hill. The highest peak of Ali Mountain is Tower Hill with the height of 2,663 meters . Ali Mountain is world famous for its 'five rare sites' including the Sunrise, the Ali Mountain Forest Railway, the famous Alishan Sacred Tree, the Grand Sea of Clouds, and the colorful Cherry Blossom.
Mt. Yangming: Situated in the north of Taiwan, Mt. Yangming is the largest and most beautiful natural area in the province. It show off volcanic sights, natural valleys, waterfalls, hot springs, and a huge amount of flower and plant varieties.
Mt. Yushan (Jade Mountain): In the center of Taiwan Island, Jade Mountain extends to the west of the Central Mountain. Most peaks of Jade Mountain are over 6500 feet high, so Jade Mountain has gained the name 'Roof of Taiwan'. Jade Mountain consists of 11 peaks, including Jade Peak, South Peak, North Peak, and East Peak.
Sun Moon Lake : Sun Moon Lake is situated in Nantou County, in Taipei City. It is bounded by Mount Shuishe and Mount Dajian. The lake is divided into northern and southern sections by an island called Guanghua. The lake gets its name because the northern section resembles a rhombus-shaped sun while the southern section looks like a crescent-shaped moon.
The Taipei National Palace Museum: The Taipei National Palace Museum houses the largest collection of priceless Chinese artifacts and artwork in the world, including ancient bronze castings, calligraphy, scroll paintings, porcelain, jade, and rare books, many of which were possessions of the former imperial family. The full collection, which consists of some 650,000 pieces, spans many dynasties.
Tainan : Taiwan’s oldest arrangement is known as the ‘City of 100 Temples’, despite the fact that it now consists of 220 temples. Some of the island’s finest Confucian temples can be found in this city, such as the 1665 Confucius Temple and Koxinga’s Shrine.
Top Things to do in Taiwan
Catch a cultural performance at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
Climb to the top of the world’s tallest structure, Taipei 101.
Enjoy the subtropical side of Taiwan in Kenting National Park.
Experience traditional Taiwanese village life in the pristine mountain hideaway of Maolin.
Learn about Zen Buddhism first hand at Chung Tai Chan Temple.
Take a ride on the 45 mile Ali Mountain Forest Railway through Taiwan’s most popular and spectacular mountain park.
Museums of Taiwan
National Museum of Natural Science
Academia Historica
Agricultural Exhibition Hall
Armed Forces Museum
Art Museum
Bo Yang Museum
Centre for Traditional Arts
Cheng Nan- Jung Liberty Museum
Cheng She- Wo Institute for Chinese Journalism
Chia Nan Museum of Culture & Art
Wildlife in Taiwan
Taiwan represents three major climatic zones and its diverse topography have endowed the island with a wide range of flora and fauna. Some 60 species of mammals, around 500 species of birds (40 percent of which are resident), 90 species of reptiles, 30 amphibian species, nearly 150 species of freshwater fish, and 17,600 named insect species, (including 400 butterfly species), are known to exist in the Taiwan area. Monkeys, deer, wild boars, snakes, panthers, wildcats and bears are some of the types of animal life in Taiwan.
Telephones / Media
The cellular operators that are mainly in use are Chunghwa Telecom, KGT online, FarEast Tone, Taiwan GSM, Vibo, Asia Pacific GSM, Aurora.
Some of the broadcasting stations of radio are AM 218, FM 333 and shortwave 50. There are 16 million radios in use in Taiwan.
Along with this there are 29 television broadcasting stations and also two repeaters. Televisions in use in this country are 8.8 million.
Apart from these, there are 15 internet service providers or ISPs in this country. The country code of Taiwan or the top level domain is TW.
Communications
A nod of your head is an appropriate greeting.
Handshakes are for casual meetings and introductions.
Bowing slightly is a good way to show respect with your hands to your sides and your feet together - More Japanese than Chinese.
Business has become westernized and both men and women shake hands.
"Have you eaten?’ is a standard greeting. It is more of a rhetorical question.
Always wait for introductions.
Punctuality is of great importance in Taiwan.
Travel Tips
In the summer, pack light and loose clothing, preferably cotton, casual sportswear, and comfortable walking shoes. Be sure to prepare enough woolens, sweaters, jackets, pants, and socks to overcome the frosty weather for winter season in Taiwan. You may also want to include a rain-gear as thunderstorms can appear out of the blue.
When departing Taiwan, an airport tax of NT$300 must be paid and the receipt kept when checking-in to the departure hall.
It does not cost much to get medical treatment and dental care in Taipei. The quality of medical services here is superb and up-to-date.
It is not really necessary to give tips in Taiwan. However, a small tip for bellboys or taxi drivers would sometimes be much appreciated. Hotels normally include a 10 percent service charge to the room rates and meals. Heavy tips are expected at wine-houses and dance-halls.
Most businesses and service sectors are open at 9 a.m. Banks open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday) and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Departmental stores open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. while smaller stores open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
National Parks in Taiwan
Kenting : Kenting is the oldest national park in Taiwan, and combines both azure seas and pristine waters. Located at the southern tip of the island, Kenting National Park can be easily accessed from almost anywhere in the country.
Yushan National Park : Yushan National Park is the largest national park in Taiwan, and boasts the tallest peak in the area, Jade Mountain.
Taroko National Park : Taroko is a park of gorges, but also of history and prehistory. Named after the Taroko tribe, the area houses rich history and culture, as well as the famous marble gorge. It provides numerous hiking and cultural exploration options also.
Dongsha Marine National Park : Dongsha Marine National Park is located in the north coastal waters of Taiwan and centers on Dongsha Island and the surrounding waters. A salt lake on the island offers fun swimming and interesting wildlife, while the pristine waters around the coral isle abound with wildlife.
Hotels in Taiwan (Capital City : Taipei)
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