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| Weather | Language | Currency |
Visas | Transportation | Customs |
For National holidays, festivals, and trade shows check Calendar. |
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**COMING SOON!** |
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| Hotel Reservations | Travel Packages | |
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Weather
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 22�C (72�F) in the north and 24�C (75�F) in the south.
Summers, which last from May through September, are usually hot and humid with average daytime highs from 27?to 35�C (81?to 95�F) Winters, from December through February, are short and mild, with average
lows from 12?to 16�C (54?to 61�F.); snow falls only on the higher mountains. back to top |
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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 Chinese.Many Americans and Europeans come to Taiwan for a summer vacation or a year or two to study Mandarin. Taipei
has a variety of language schools which offer Chinese, from inexpensive classes taught by the hour to college courses for credit .
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Currency
The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The exchange rate, around NT$27 to US$1, has
fluctuated greatly in recent years. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange
unused NT dollars before departure.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. American
Express travelers checks can be cashed at the American Express office, 214 Tunhua N. Rd., Taipei, Tel: (02) 7151581. The standard tip is NT$30 per piece of luggage. A 10% service charge and a 5% value
added tax (VAT) are automatically added to room rates and meals. All other tipping is optional. back to top |
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Visas
Tourist visas for the Republic of China, or letters of recommendation which can be exchanged for visas, can be obtained from ROC
embassies, consulates, or designated representative offices in foreign countries. Letters or recommendation can be exchanged for visas upon arrival at Chiang Kai-shek international Airport in Taoyuan or at
Hsiaokang International Airport in Kaoshoung, the only points of entry to Taiwan at which such letters may be exchanged.14-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of the United States, Japan,
Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, and Portugal.
The New Taiwan Dollar is the island's official currency. Foreign
nationals may obtain a tourist visa if they bold foreign passports or travel documents valid for more than six months and wish to stay less than six months in the Republic of China for purposes of
sightseeing, business, family visits, study or training, medical treatment, or other legitimate activities. Visa requirements include one completed application form, incoming and outgoing travel tickets
(or a letter of confirmation from a travel agency), three photos, documents verifying the purpose of the visit (except for transit or sightseeing), and a letter of guarantee (in some cases). Tourist visas
may be single- or multiple-entry, and allow stays in the ROC for two weeks to 60 days. Unless restricted to two weeks, tourist visa holders may apply for a maximum of two 60-day extensions, for a total of
six months. Holders of a tourist visa are not permitted to assume employment in the ROC without authorization. Complete information on ROC visas can be obtained from the Department of Consular Affairs,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2-2, Chinan Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC, Tel: (02) 343-2888. back to top |
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Transportation
Because Taiwan is located at the crossroads of some of Asia's busiest air routes,
travel to and from the island is easy and convenient. Taiwan is served by airlines from Asia, Europe, South Africa, and North America. The island has two international airports, at Kaoshiung in the south and
at Taoyuan in the north. Chiang Kai-shek International Airport at Taoyuan is 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) southwest of Taipei. Each outbound passenger must pay an airport departure tax of NT$300.Domestic
travel is also easy and convenient. Inexpensive air-conditioned limousine buses depart the airport at Taoyuan every 15 minutes for both Taipei's Sungshan Domestic Airport and the main railway station. Major
hotels provide transportation to and from the airport for their guests. Seven domestic airlines currently provide daily flights between Taipei and other major cities, as well as to nearby Green and Orchid
islands and the Penghu Archipelago. Taiwan has modern freeway and railway systems, which make travel between major cities easy and convenient. Reliable express buses connect Taipei with all major cities
and most major scenic spots, and reserved-seat, air-conditioned express trains provide fast, comfortable service around the island. Fares for buses and trains are quite reasonable.
For railway information call: (02) 371-3558.
For bus information call: (02) 321-2000,(02) 381-0731. Travel time from Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the south takes five to six hours by train, four
hours by bus, and 40 to 50 minutes by air. Hualien, on the east coast, is 30 minutes by air from Taipei and three to four hours by train. Taiwan has a number of international and domestic car rental
companies. Credit cards or sizable deposits are required, as well as an international or Taiwan driver's license. Chauffeur-driven cars can also be rented, and international tourist hotels will generally
make such arrangements for guests. Major cities have an abundance of taxis. Charges are NT$ 65 for the first 1.65 km and NT$ 5 for each additional 350 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every four
minutes of waiting, and a 20% surcharge is added to fares between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., the price of radio cars, and carrying luggage in the boot adds NT$10. Most drivers do not speak English, so it is a good
idea to have hotel personnel write both your destination and your hotel's name and address in Chinese, along with the projected cost of each one-way trip . back to top |
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Customs
Inbound Passengers
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.A written declaration is required when
bringing dutiable articles into the ROC. Duty is charged on gold in excess of 62.5 grams in weight. No more than NT$40,000 in cash may be brought into the country by each passenger, and undeclared sums in
excess of this amount will be confiscated. Incoming passengers who want to bring in more than NT$40,000 in cash should apply, prior to entry, for a permit from the Ministry of Finance. The following
articles are prohibited from entry; there are severe penalties for their importation, use, possession, or sale:
1. Counterfeit currency or forging equipment;
2. Gambling apparatus or foreign lottery tickets;
3. Obscene or indecent materials;
4. Publications propagating communism or originating in nations or areas under communist control;
5. Firearms or weapons of any kind (including air guns) and ammunition;
6. All drugs or narcotics of a non-prescription and non-medical nature (including marijuana);
7. Toy guns;
8. Articles
infringing on the patents, designs, trademarks, or copyrights of another person;
9. Contraband articles as specified by other laws, e.g. fruit, and so on;
10. Animals and pets. Outbound Passengers
Outbound Passengers Except in the following cases, completion of the Outbound Passenger's Declaration form is optional. Outbound passengers must declare to Customs in writing when: 1. Carrying
foreign currencies, New Taiwan Dollar notes, or gold or silver ornaments in excess of allowed amounts;
2. Carrying gold and/or silver ornaments and, when leaving the country within six months of arrival,
the unused portion of foreign currencies which were declared to Customs on entry;
3. Carrying commercial samples and or dutiable items (camera, tape recorder, calculator, etc.) intended to be brought
back duty-free in the future;
4. Carrying computer media including magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, diskettes, punched cards, punched tapes, etc. Passengers who do not make a declaration to Customs and
are found, on their departure from the ROC, to be carrying gold, silver, New Taiwan Dollar notes, and/or foreign currencies in excess of the designated limits, shall have the excess amount confiscated and
may be subject to punishment by law. The designated limits on gold and/or silver ornaments, and currency which a passenger is allowed to carry on his departure from the ROC are as follows: Up to 62.5 grams
(or two market taels) of gold ornaments or coins; up to 625 grams (or 20 market taels) of silver ornaments or coins; up to US$5,000 in notes or the equivalent in foreign currencies; up to NT$40,000 in notes
and 20 coins (of the types in circulation) of New Taiwan dollar notes. Articles that may not be taken out of the country include unauthorized reprints or copies of books, records, videotapes, and so on;
genuine Chinese antiques, ancient coins, and paintings; and items prohibited from entry, such as firearms, drugs, counterfeit currency, and contraband. For further information about Customs matters,
contact the Inspectorate General of Customs, 13 Tacheng St., Taipei, tel: (02) 550-5500. back to top |
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