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Taiwan
Travel Support
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Taiwan is an island nation of about 36,000 square kilometers located off the coast of southeastern China, southwest of Okinawa and north of the Philippines. The island has always been known as one of the most beautiful in the Pacific. It is a modern industrialized megalopolis clinging to the fringes of an ancient culture; a string of teeming cities at the feet of a glorious mountain range. Taiwan belongs to the tropical and subtropical zones, with the Tropic of Cancer running through its middle. However, being surrounded by seas in all sides, Taiwan is embraced by the Pacific Ocean. With its mountains that rise up high above the green-forested foothills, its terraced flatlands and coastal plains and basins and foremost with its friendly generous people, it's almost "paradise".
The languages and dialects spoken in Taiwan have their origins in the Austronesian and Han lingual systems. A mix of Taiwanese (Minnan), Mandarin, Hakka and other Asian languages are spoken on the island, as well as several aboriginal Austronesian languages.
Being a sub-tropical island, Taiwan actually experiences two seasons rather than four. From November to April, the temperatures are cool with sporadic drizzle or scattered showers. Summers are longer (around May to September). The climate is hottest between June to August and are accompanied by short torrential rains, followed by bright sunshine. Surrounded by sea, Taiwan's weather is agreeable and is as beautiful as a painting with bountiful tourist resources. The winters are cool (15 C) and sweltering, humid summers (above 30 C) from June to September and is a great time to visit the east coast, especially for outdoor activities, but typhoons can hit the island from June to October. In general, autumn (September to November) is best, as conditions tend to be warm and dry, air pollution is at a minimum. Spring can be clear and dry, or wet and grey, or even blighted by a sandstorm from China.
The foods of Taiwan are derived from Mainland Chinese cuisines. It is possible to find Szechuan food, Hunan food, Beifang food, Cantonese food and almost every other Chinese cuisine on the island. Pork, rice, soy are very common ingredients, as with many Chinese cuisines. Beef is far less common, and some Taiwanese (particularly the elderly generation) still refrain from eating it. In many of their dishes, the Taiwanese have shown their inventiveness in their selection of spices. Taiwanese cuisine relies on an abundant array of seasonings for flavor: Soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, fermented black beans, pickled radishes, peanuts, chili peppers, cilantro (sometimes called Chinese parsley), and a local variety of basil ("nine story tower").
Taiwan is very hot and humid, so thin cotton pants or skirts, T-shirts, and breathable shoes or sandals are a good choice. Expect to perspire a lot until you adjust to the humidity. Be sure to take a hat and sunglasses. Clothing should be appropriate according to the season. Light casual clothes and comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the summer. Lightweight woolens and coats are needed for the winter. Formal occasions require suits or dinner blazers and ties for men, and formal or cocktail dresses for women.
Taiwan's international country code is +886 and the outgoing code is 002 followed by the relevant country code. City/area codes are in use, e.g. 2 for Taipei. Six network operators provide mobile telephone services in various regions using either GSM 900 or 1800 networks. Internet cafes are plentiful. Each hour of Internet access/game play is cheap, coming in at around NT$20. Some machines in the Internet cafes are coin operated. For free Internet access in big cities, try out the local libraries. There are about 30 daily newspapers and thousands of periodicals, many of the latter house organs of various political and non-political organizations.
Taiwan's currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD), which is divided into 100 cents. Foreign currencies and traveler's cheques (American Express, Citibank or Thomas Cook) can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted. Banks are open Monday to Friday. US dollars are the preferred currency.
Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, most other EU members and Switzerland, may enter Taiwan visa-free for thirty days or more provided that their passports do not expire within six months. If passport is valid for less than six months then a visa is required, although a 30-day visitor visa can be obtained on arrival at Chiang Kai Shek or Kaohsiung International Airport for NT$4,400.
Vaccination certificates for yellow fever are required for entry to Taiwan from travelers arriving from infected areas. Travelers are advised to have up-to-date jabs for hepatitis A and typhoid, and it is advisable for most long-term travelers to be inoculated against Japanese encephalitis. Due to recent outbreaks of dengue fever, insect repellents and other measures to prevent mosquito bites are recommended for those traveling to the southern part of the island.
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