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Taiwan
Travel Information Location and Topography Taiwan is situated in the Pacific Ocean about 160 kilometers (100 miles) from the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland. Located about midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the south, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia.
Climate Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 21.7?C (71.2?F) in the north and 24.1?C (75.7?F) in the south. Summers, which last from May through September, are usually hot and humid. Winters, from December through February, are short and mild; snow falls only on the higher mountains. It frequently rains from May through September. Currency The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The exchange rate, around NT$27.s to US$1 in 1997 has fluctuated greatly in recent years. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government- designated banks and hotels. Major credit cards are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at some tourist-oriented businesses and by room guests at most international tourist hotels (keep the receipts if you'll want to convert unused NT dollars back to foreign currency before departure). Domestic Transportation Traveling around Taiwan is easy and convenient. Domestic airlines provide daily flights between Taipei and other major cities, as well as to nearby Green and Orchid Islands and the Penghu Archipelago. Reliable express buses connect Taipei with all major cities and most major scenic spots, and reserved-seat, air-conditioned express trains provide fast, comfortable service around the island. Rental cars are also available. Fares for buses and trains are quite reasonable. Taxi charges are NT$65 for the first 1.65 km and NT$5 for each additional 350 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every three minutes of waiting, and a 20% surcharge is added to fares between l l p.m. and 6 a.m., the price of radio cars, and carrying luggage in the boot adds NT$10. Electricity & Water Electric current used throughout Taiwan is 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. Languages The national language of the ROC is Mandarin Chinese, though other dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English (the most widely studied foreign language), but taxi drivers generally speak only Chinese. Tourist Information Hot Line The Hot Line provides a wide range of assistance in English (or other languages as needed) on every aspect of travel in Taiwan. The hot line is operated every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Taipei time). Tel : (02) 717-3737 Visas Tourist visas for the Republic of China can be obtained from the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ROC embassies, consulates, or designated representative offices in foreign countries. Foreign nationals may obtain a tourist visa to visit the Republic of China for purposes of sightseeing, business, family visits, study or training, medical treatment, or other legitimate activities. Tourist visas may be single- or multiple-entry, and allow stays in the ROC for two weeks to 60 days. 14-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxemburg, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal. Customs Information Personal belongings are duty-free, but stereo sets, TVs, and video recorders must be declared. Each person may bring into the ROC, duty free, one liter of alcoholic beverages, 25 cigars, 200 cigarettes, or one pound of other tobacco products. No more than NT$40,000 in cash (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) may be brought into the country by each passenger. Unless declared upon arrival, no more than US$5,000 (or an equal amount of other currencies) may be taken out of Taiwan. Up to NT$40,000 in notes and 20 coins (of the types in circulation) may also be taken out. Quality Accommodations Taiwan has hotels to fit every budget, from opulent international-quality tourist hotels to bargain "bed-and-board" hostels. The better hotels compete to offer the best services, and to encourage this competition the Tourism Bureau regularly evaluates the facilities and services of all tourist hotels on the island. The best are awarded four or five plum blossoms (the ROC's national flower), which correspond to the stars awarded in the West. The government has approved of 77 hotels in Taiwan as "international tourist" and "tourist" hotels. International tourist hotels (four and five plum blossoms) have larger bedrooms and better facilities; tourist hotels (two and three plum blossoms) have smaller bedrooms and facilities, and lower prices. Inexpensive hostels and youth activity centers (unrated) provide bed and board; many have private and dormitory-style rooms, and in some the staff speak very basic, if any, English. Taiwan's quality hotels generally provide elegant shopping arcades (credit cards accepted), magazine or book stands, hair salons, fitness centers, cocktail lounges or nightclubs, Western movies on guest-room TVs, complete business services (including business centers), and meeting and banquet facilities (for groups of two to 2,000). Hotel tour services are informative and helpful; they will assist guests in arranging everything from bus or airline tickets to round-the-island tours. Many of Taiwan's finest restaurants--though by no means all--are located in international tourist hotels, which generally offer several types of regional Chinese cuisines as well as Western food, coffee shops or lounges. Quality hotel restaurants usually have excellent service, an elegant atmosphere, and cuisine prepared by experienced chefs. Travel agents and the ROC Tourism Bureau can provide specific information on each hotel's services and prices to make choosing one a bit easier. Telecommunications Services Overseas Calls On private phones, the Overseas Operator may be reached by dialing "100," and direct dialing is available from some phones. Person-to-person and station-to-station calls are accepted. For information about which countries can be directly dialed or whether or not you can dial directly from your area, call the Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. (CHT) at (02) 321-2535. Overseas calls may also be made on public facilities at CHT offices. International direct dialing rates are calculated every six seconds. Domestic Long Distance These may be made on private phones or blue-green pay phones either directly or through the telephone bureau. City Pay Phones The rate for public pay phones is NT$1 for three minutes. The connection will automatically be severed after three minutes and the caller must redial for local calls. The area code should not be dialed for calls within the same area. Telex, & Facsimile International and domestic, telexes, and faxes may be sent to North & South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South Pacific Island Nations, Australia. and New Zealand from the main CHT of fice at: 28 Hangchou S. Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei Tel: (02) 344-3781 (24 hours) Telegrams may also be sent from these CHT Branch Offices: (1) CKS International Airport Tel: (03) 383-2790 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) (2) 23 Chungshan N. Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei Tel: (02) 541-7434 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) (3) 118 Chunghsiao W. Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei Tel: (02) 344-3785 (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) (4) Sungshan Domestic Airport, Taipei Tel: (02) 712-6112 (8 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Tipping The standard tip is about NT$50 per piece of luggage. A 10% service charge is automatically added to room rates and meals. All other tipping is optional. Business Hours Banks are open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, while most commercial firms are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Government offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Department stores are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and most other stores are open from 9 or 10 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. Useful Phone Numbers - C. K. S. International Airport Tourist Service Center Tel: (03)398-2143 - Taiwan Visitors Association Tel: (02)2594-3261 - Tourism Bureau Tel: (02)2349-1500 - Tourist Information Hot Line Tel:(02)2717-3737 - International Phone Assistance Tel: 100 - English Speaking Directory Assistance Tel: (02)2311-6796 - Local Telephone Directory Assistance Tel: 104 - Time Reporting Tel: 117 - Weather Tel: 166,167 Emergency Numbers - Fire/Medical Tel: 119 - Police Tel: 110 - Taipei Police Headquarters Tel: (02)2381-8341 - Tien-Mou Area: (02)2881-3853 - Chung Shan Area: (02)2511-1395 - Taoyuan Police Bureau Tel: (03)333-5107 - Hualien Police Bureau Tel: (038)224-023 - Hsinchu Police Bureau Tel: (03)551-1153 - Taichung Police Bureau Tel: (04)328-9100 - Kaohsiung Police Headquarters Tel: (07)215-4342 National Holidays and Major Festivals Foundation Day of ROC - January 1 Chinese Lunar New Year - Probably in January or February, depending on lunar calendar Peace Memorial Day - February 28 Tomb Sweeping Day - April 4 Dragon Boat Festival - Probably in June, depending on lunar calendar Mid-Autumn Festival - Probably in September, depending on lunar calendar Double Tenth National Day - October 10 Taiwan Retrocession Day - October 25 Chiang Kai-shek's Birthday - October 31 Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Birthday - November 12 Constitution Day - December 25 |
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