About Taiwan

Taiwan

Breath-taking natural wonders, amazing cultural festivals, exciting trips to the night markets, delicious food famous for satisfying the choosy palates of many gastronomes, and hospitable, ever-smiling people - all these are Taiwan, the new travel destination you shouldn't miss.

In Taiwan, there are stories around every corner. Stories behind the famous Lantern Festival and its many glittering lights. Stories behind the colourful ceremonial pilgrimage made by the goddess Mazu. Stories behind the hundreds of Buddhas at the serene Foguanhshan.

Every trip to Taiwan is a new story full of great experiences. What are you waiting for?

Visas
Australian passports valid for more than six months are eligible for 30 days free entrance into Taiwan without a visa.
If you need to stay for more than 30 days or your passport is due to expire within six months, please apply for a visa through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia. Other types of visas are available.
You should contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of the Interior for details.

Language
One of the highlights of a visit to Taiwan is her people and whilst English is increasingly spoken, away from cities, Chinese, Taiwanese regional and ethnic dialects rule. The basic Gwoyu (Mandarin) is the most widely spoken version of Chinese, which is the national language in Taiwan, but it's also worth bringing a phrasebook along with you. Click here to print the list of some useful phrases to use in Taiwan, that Taiwan Holidays have prepared for you.

Climate

In Taiwan, there is usually a lot of rain in May to June so it is advisable to travel with an umbrella.

Summer is very humid and hot with temperatures in the high 30s. Bring light summer suits and plenty of shirts (preferably cotton).
Earthquakes may occur and if you are caught in one, the safest place to stand is within a doorway.

If you are outside, stand well away from power lines and building frontage where signs and objects can fall. If in doubt, stay still as fallen power lines can electrify other fallen material.

Typhoons may also strike, usually in the rainy season (July to September).

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Taipei
max (°c)	19	19	22	26	29	32	34	34	31	28	24	21
min (°c)	13	14	15	19	22	24	26	26	24	22	19	15
rainfall (mm)	87	166	180	183	259	319	248	305	275	139	86	79

Kaohsiung / Tainan
max (°c)	23	24	27	28	30	32	32	32	31	30	27	25
min (°c)	15	16	19	22	24	26	26	26	25	24	20	17
rainfall (mm)	20	24	39	73	177	398	371	426	187	46	13	12

For more weather details in Taiwan, please visit the World Meteorological Organization .

Airports

At Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in Taipei, taxis are readily available outside the terminal and cost approximately $100 for the one-hour trip to the central business district. Public bus is cheaper and costs about $15. Major hotels offer airport transfers for around $150.

Ground Transport

There are a number of options for transport in and around Taipei and country areas.

Taxi is the most convenient means for travel in Taipei City. Fares are metered starting from $3:

Within Taipei City the taxi fare can be up to $15.
Travel into the country from Taipei City is more expensive and can be up to $15-$30.

The Mass Rapid Transit is an efficient train network but only available in Taipei. There is a train that circles the island with good service and a range of travel classes.

Car hire is also available and internal licenses issued by the Motor Vehicle Supervision Department are valid for three to six months. There are numerous car rental companies including: Sun Ta Car (Taipei), CARPLUS (Taiwan). Taxi transport to business meetings is convenient and cheap.

Hotels

Avoid the up-market hotels as there are plenty of mid-range cost hotels all over Taiwan with prices from A$110–A$220 per night.

Security

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides information and advice for business travelers and tourist going to Taiwan.

This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Taiwan is generally a safe place to visit and to do business, but there are a few safety precautions to be aware of:

Avoid quiet streets.
When visiting busy and crowded places such as night markets, you should pay extra attention to securing handbags and personal belonging to avoid pick pockets.
Use ATMs located inside banks or on a busy street.

You should treat your business security interests with the same care and diligence that you do in Australia.

Take steps to ensure the protection of your intellectual property rights, such as patent, design and trademark by registering with the Chinese Taipei Intellectual Property Office. Also ensure any business contracts are reviewed and authenticated by a legal consultant to avoid trade dispute.

Health
There is no compulsory vaccination required before coming to Taiwan. Taiwan is free from yellow fever, meningococcal, cholera, and malaria. Consult your doctor for advice prior to travel or contact Health Services Australia who may recommend a hepatitis injection. Do not drink tap water and avoid eating food from food stands.

Tipping
There is no need to tip in Taiwan as a service charge is incorporated in the bill.

Time zones
Taiwan is two hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time. To find out the current time in Taipei, view the World Clock .

Dialing codes
Taiwan's country code is 886.
For calls to Taiwan from Australia dial: 001 + 886 + area code + telephone number
For calls from Taiwan to Australia dial: 002 + 61 + area code + telephone number

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - International Dialing Codes

Public holidays
Mazu January: New Year's Day
7-10 February (1st day of 1st Luna month) : Chinese New Year
21 February (15th day of 1st Luna month): Lantern Festival
5 April: Tomb Sweeping Day
Mazu May: Labour Day
8 June (15th day of 5th Luna month): Dragon Boat Festival
14 September (15th day of 8th Luna month): Moon Festival
28 September: Teacher's Day
10 October: National Day
25 October: Taiwan Retrocession Day
12 November: Cultural Renaissance Day
25 December: Constitution Day

Money
The currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. The currentexchange rate is about AUD$1 = NTD$23
Major credit cards are accepted in Taipei. Southern Taiwan (ie. Kaohsiung) is still a cash economy, so it is necessary to carry the equivalent of A$500-A$1000 in your wallet - this is generally a safe practice. Taiwan has a modern banking system and there are ATMs accepting foreign cards in all major settlements, You are able to withdraw local currency if you have "Cirrus" on your Australian bank cards.

Costs
Taiwan is certainly less expensive than Europe, North America or Australia, but isn't as cheap as China or the Philippines. Whilst local produce and favourite can be very cheap, imported items are far from a bargain. To give you some rough idea of prices: 1.5L bottle of water NT$30/AUD$1.3, Street vendor or night market snack NT$25/AUD$1, large bottle of beer: Shop NT$50/AUD$2.10, Bar: NT$120/AUD$5.2. So, it is relatively cheap destination to visit if you have Australian dollars.

Electricity and water

Taiwan's power supply is 110 volts, 60 Hz 1, 3 phases, 2, 3, 4 wires. The two-pin flat plugs are the most common.

Dining
Try to eat out of the hotel (where the cost is generally higher) – there are vast numbers of convenience stores and cheaper eateries located all over the major cities with a good range of fast, and healthy, Chinese and Western-style foods.

Dress
Taiwan is a hot and relaxed country and in the cities you will see similar styles of dress as you might in Australia, Europe, or North America.

About Taiwan

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