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Taiwan Information

Overview

Taiwan certainly has plenty to offer, from truly unique scenery to exciting sporting activities and colourful festivals, not to mention the most varied Chinese food on earth; Taipei is a gourmet’s paradise, boasting cuisine from every region of China. Boutique hotels and trendy bars have sprung up in a flurry of construction, which culminated in the opening of the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101.

Think of Taiwan and the first thing that will spring to mind is probably the ‘Made in Taiwan’ labels attached to so many clothes purchased in the Western world, which will have no doubt contributed to the perception of Taiwan as some industrial landscape defined by hundreds of factories and warehouses, and precious little else to offer visitors. Taiwan might have been known as one of the ‘tiger’ economies of Asia, but few people, until recently at least, thought of this small island off the southeast coast of China as a tourist destination.

Taiwan is relatively small (only a little over half of Sri Lanka’s size), but its population numbers almost 23 million, making its population density second only to Bangladesh. A gateway to the massive Chinese market, it has a strong relationship with the West and is keen to increase links with Europe.

Formerly called Formosa (Portuguese for beautiful), Taiwan was originally inhabited by mainland Chinese until the 17th century, before being occupied by the Dutch and Spanish for a while. It then fell under Chinese rule again for a couple of centuries, before being occupied by the Japanese from 1895 until the end of WWII.

The Chinese Civil War, which had already been in progress for some years, came to a head in 1948. The nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-Shek were defeated by Mao’s Communists, and the nationalist leadership, along with thousands of supporters, fled to Taiwan. Here, their political vehicle, the Kuo Min-Tang (KMT) rapidly came to dominate Taiwanese politics. The KMT was spectacularly successful at developing the economy and, in less than a century, Taiwan made a successful transition from an agricultural-based economy to an industrial one. In March 2000, however, the main opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), gained control of the presidency through its candidate Chen Shui-Bian, and for the first time, the KMT was completely excluded from political power.

For all practical purposes, Taiwan has been independent for half a century, but the fledgling democracy is still regarded by China as a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland. The political issue of its relationship with China remains a sticking point in international relations, with both sides prone to exchanging rhetoric and political point-scoring on a regular basis. More than 700 Chinese missiles are aimed at the island but the military threat is partly offset by the pivotal relationship between Taipei and Washington (the US, which has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan, is nevertheless the main provider of arms to the island - one of the world’s big arms purchasers).

Top Things To See

Admire the view from the top of Taipei 101, until recently the world’s tallest building. You can take a lift (the fastest of its kind in the world) up to The Observatory on the top floor for the ultimate city vista.

Take the northeast coastal road, which goes through a national scenic area and offers spectacular panoramas passing the foothills of the Central Mountain Range and overlooking the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Travel through many small villages, the lifestyles of whose inhabitants have changed little with the advent of high technology. Make sure you see the spectacular Taroko Gorge, Taiwan’s best-known natural attraction, a ravine with towering cliffs shot through with extensive marble deposits.

Go birdwatching: Taiwan is home to about 460 different species of birds, including rare endemic species such as the Formosan blue magpie, and the Swinhoe’s and Mikado pheasants. There is also a big concentration of land mammal species, the best-known of which is the Formosan rock-monkey, and about 400 species of butterflies.

Visit Tainan, the oldest city on the island, which is known as the ‘City of 100 Temples’; there are, in fact, 220, and amongst them some of the best examples of Confucian temple architecture in Taiwan.

Check out Taipei’s National Palace Museum, which contains the world’s largest collection of Chinese artefacts.

Discover the East Rift Valley, where the world’s largest continental plate, the Eurasian plate, and the largest oceanic plate (the Philippine plate) meet. This is Taiwan’s largest fault line, a geologist’s paradise - but also a fertile area rich in sediments that has earned the area the tag of the ‘land of milk and honey’.

Learn about the aboriginal Yami, one of the world’s last surviving hunter-gatherer tribes, on their island, Lanyu (Orchid Island), off the southeast coast.

Admire the astonishing basalt rock formations of the Penghu archipelago, a group of islands in the middle of the Taiwan Straits. The columns were formed when lava erupting from deep into the earth cooled and contracted, and were then carved by wind and wave erosion.

Take a look at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, an imposing tomb and shrine to Taipei’s most famous leader, which also houses Taipei’s main venues for the performing arts, the National Theatre and National Opera House, in its large grounds.

Chill out for a day or two in Kenting National Park, a popular forest recreation area boasting fine beaches, coral lakes and a bird sanctuary, as well as facilities for watersports and golf, all set amidst tropical coastal forest.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Eat out: Taiwan is a gourmet paradise, and Taipei is the best place on earth to taste a full range of cuisines from mainland China, as well as some local delicacies.

Join in the celebrations for one of many festivals taking place in the capital, and gain an insight into the island’s culture. The Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival are all colourful affairs that really bring the streets to life.

Attend a glove puppet show: these shows, which feature finely wrought puppets with gorgeous costumes, are popular with all ages, and great to break the language barrier.

Soak in a hot spring: Taiwan’s volcanic past has left abundant reserves of geothermal energy all over the island, and there are over 100 hot mineral springs scattered around the island, many of which are in the Datun Mountains of the Yangmingshan National Park.

Gawp at jars of pickled snakes and demonstrations with live pythons at Taipei’s Huahsi Night Market, known locally as Snake Alley.

Dive or snorkel in the waters around Green Island, off the southeast coast: there are splendid forests of corals to admire, and, what’s more, visibility is good all-year-round here.

Try paragliding: Taiwan’s precipitous terrain and steady winds offer perfect opportunities for hang-gliding and paragliding at all skill levels. Green Bay on the North Shore and the Luye Plateau in Taitung County in the southeast offer inspiring scenery to boot.

Hike in one of Taiwan’s many national parks, or climb Yu Shan (Jade Mountain), at 3,952m (12,966ft), the highest peak in North-East Asia. It is the symbol of Taiwan’s spirit and a favourite target for mountain climbers.

Shop for unusual souvenirs: malls and markets alike have plenty of exciting goods on offer, among them bamboo wares, paper umbrellas, aboriginal handicrafts, glass art, candied fruit and, of course, tea.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

The Chinese, never at a loss for vivid description, refer to their cuisine as an ’ancient art of ultimate harmony: pleasing to the eye; mouth-watering; and a delight to the palate’. Culinary styles come from all over China including Canton, Hunan, Mongolia, Peking, Shanghai, Szechuan and Taiwan. Most hotels have restaurants offering both Western and Chinese cuisine and some of the larger hotels offer several styles of Chinese cooking (the Chinese word for hotel, fan-dien, means ’eating place’).

Things to know: Restaurants almost always have table service although some hotels have buffet/barbecue lunches. Most bars have counter service. There are no set licensing hours and alcohol is widely available.

National specialities:
• Cantonese food: Fried shrimp with cashews and deep-fried spring rolls and tarts.
• Pekinese food: Peking duck, steamed prawns, eels with pepper sauce and ham marrow sauce.
• Szechuan food: Mother Ma’s bean curd, aubergine with garlic sauce, fried prawns with pepper sauce, minced chicken with Gingko nuts and fried breads.
• Shanghai food: Shark’s fin in chicken, mushroom with crab meat, ningpo (fried eel), shark’s fin soup and West Lake fish.
• Taiwanese food: Spring rolls with peanut butter, sweet-and-sour spare ribs, bean curd in red sauce, oyster omelette and numerous excellent seafoods.

Tipping: Tipping is not an established custom, although it is on the increase. Taipei hotels and restaurants add 10% service charge and extra tipping is not expected.

Nightlife

Taiwan has an abundance of nightlife, and Taipei in particular is lively at night. Western-style entertainment can be found in hotels, and in the many discos, clubs, restaurants and cinemas in Taipei. Popular amongst local people are KTVs, a type of sing-along club modelled on Japanese karaoke bars; and beer houses, which sell draught beer and snacks. The northern district of Tienmu contains a street of open-air beer houses.

The visitor can also sample both traditional and modern tea houses, open all day and in the evening. In the tea-growing countryside around Mucha, it is possible to visit all-night tea houses and sip locally produced teas such as ’iron Buddha’ tiehkuanyin tea. High-quality meals and snacks are also provided. These tea houses are popular with local families, particularly on special occasions.

Back in Taipei, there are night markets selling a variety of items, both modern and traditional. These are bustling with browsers and bargain hunters, whose persistence can be spectacularly rewarded. It is advisable to take a pen and paper to assist in the bargaining process, as most vendors speak only Chinese. Taipei’s largest night market is probably Shihlin Night Market, famous for its good-value clothing and food. Many shops are open at night.

Shopping

One of the best ways to shop is to visit the night markets (see above). Purchases include Formosan sea-grass mats, hats, handbags and slippers, bamboo items, Chinese musical instruments, various dolls in costume, handpainted palace lanterns made from silk, lacquerware, ceramics, teak furniture, coral, veinstone and jade items, ramie fibre rugs, brassware, handmade shoes, fabrics and chopsticks (decorated, personalised sticks of wood or marble).

Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 1000-2200. Some convenience stores are open 24 hours per day.

Climate

A subtropical climate with moderate temperatures in the north, where there is a winter season. The southern areas, where temperatures are slightly higher, enjoy sunshine every day, and there is no winter season. The typhoon season is from June to October.

Required Clothing

Light- to mediumweights, with rainwear advised.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1-3 Jan Founding of the Republic of China and New Year’s Day. 
7-9 Feb Chinese New Year.
28 Feb Peace Memorial Day.
5 Apr Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1 May Labour Day. 
8 Jun (5th day, 5th moon) Dragon Boat Festival.
14 Sep (15th day, 8th moon) Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
10 Oct National Day.

2009
1-3 Jan Founding of the Republic of China and New Year’s Day. 
Jan/Feb Chinese New Year.
28 Feb Peace Memorial Day.
5 Apr Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1 May Labour Day. 
Jun* (5th day, 5th moon) Dragon Boat Festival.
Sep* (15th day, 8th moon) Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
10 Oct National Day.

* Date to be confirmed.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Yes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No*

Health Care

Healthcare facilities are good and doctors are well-trained. Imported medicines are expensive, but locally produced and manufactured medicines are plentiful. Health insurance is recommended.

Note

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from an infected area.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of TWD2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are in denominations of TWD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1.

Currency Exchange

All travellers are required to make a currency declaration in writing together with the baggage declaration. Unused currency can be reconverted on departure, on production of exchange receipts.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Diners Club are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops.

Traveller's Cheques

Cashed in most hotels, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1530.

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: Yes

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/1
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Other EU

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No/2
Return Ticket Required: Yes

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above (provided they have no criminal record, have a confirmed return air ticket or documentation for onward travel, and seat reservation for departure) for stays of up to 30 days (this period cannot be extended), except:
1. if a US citizen has a passport valid for less than six months from date of entry into Taiwan, travellers may apply for a landing visa that has a duration of stay of no more than 30 days. The processing fee is US$135 and no extensions are allowed.
2. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia, who do require a visa.

Visa Note

(a) Nationals of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovak Republic are eligible to apply for a landing visa on arrival at CKS International Airport or Kaohsiung International Airport, on condition that they are holding tickets for an onward destination, and have no criminal record. The landing visa is valid for 30 days and cannot be extended. They must provide a passport-size photo of themselves with a completed application form and pay a fee which varies according to nationality plus a handling fee of TWD800. Nationals from countries who have a reciprocal agreement with Taiwan receive this visa free of charge.
(b) Passengers arriving at Kaohsiung International Airport, including passengers arriving from China (PR), may apply for a temporary entry permit at the Kaohsiung Station Aviation Police Bureau. They must convert the permit into a visa at the Bureau of Consular Affairs or its Kaohsiung Office within three days. If they fail to do so, they will be subject to a fine.
(c) Nationals holding British National (overseas) passports, if born in Hong Kong or Macau or if having previously visited Taiwan, may obtain a visa on arrival, valid for up to 14 days.
(d) Passengers arriving at CKS International Airport may apply for a landing visa at the Visa Office at CKS International Airport, Bureau of Consular Affairs or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(e) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Travellers intending to stay more than three months in Taiwan will be required to take an AIDS test. If the test is positive, they will be required to leave the country.

Types of Visa and Cost

Single-entry: US$50; US$75 (express service). Multiple-entry: US$100; US$150 (express service). Landing: fee varies according to nationality, plus TWD800 handling fee. Multiple-entry visas are issued for business purposes only and require a document from your employer regarding the purpose of visit.

Validity

Single-entry: up to three months; up to two extensions of 60 days each may be granted by local police stations for certain applicants, if they have stayed in Taiwan for an initial period of at least 60 days and documents have been submitted that provide evidence for the necessity of an extension. These visas are valid for three months from date of issue. Multiple-entry (business purposes only): six months from date of issue. Landing: 30 days. A visa is not required by travellers continuing their journey by the same or connecting aircraft on the same day, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and the necessary travel documentation and provided not departing from the transit lounge.

Applications to:

Visa section of Taipei Representative Office (see Contact Addresses).

Working Days Required

One. However, some visa applications may be subject to delay. Applicants who have paid rush handling fees may collect their visas at 1630 on the same day.

Contact Addresses

Taiwan Visitors' Association

5th Floor, 9F-2, 9 Minchuan East Road, Section 2, Taipei 104, Taiwan
Tel: (2) 2594 3261 (information hotline).
Website: www.tva.org.tw

Taipei Representative Office in the UK

50 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1 0EB, UK
Tel: (020) 7881 2650 or 2654 (visa section).
Website: www.tro-taiwan.roc.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 (visa section).

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the USA

4201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Tel: (202) 895 1800.
Website: www.tecro.org

Taiwan Visitors' Association in the USA

1 East, 42nd Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 867 1632/4.  
Website: www.taiwan.net.tw

Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Taiwan are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Travellers should take sensible precautions against small-scale and petty crimes which are sometimes carried out against foreigners.

Earthquakes (mostly minor) occur regularly and typhoons and tropical storms are a risk: visitors are advised to learn about emergency procedures for such events on arrival.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

• Taiwan Overview
• Taiwan Things to See
• Taiwan Things to Do
• Taiwan Events
• Taiwan Climate
• Taiwan Public Holidays
• Taiwan Health
• Taiwan Currency
• Taiwan Passport & Visas
• Taiwan Contact Addresses
• Taiwan Travel Advice