ABOUT TAIWAN
- Article Category: TRAVEL INFO.
- 11/30/2022
Taiwan Island lies on the western edge of the Pacific "ring of fire", and continuous tectonic movements have created majestic peaks, rolling hills and plains, basins, coastlines, and other natural landscapes. The Government has established 9 national parks and 13 national scenic areas to preserve the island’s best natural ecological environment and cultural sites. There are various ways to discover the beauty of Taiwan Island. For example, trekking in the magnificence of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; taking a ride on the Alishan Forest Railway and experiencing the breathtaking sunrise and sea of clouds; hiking up to the summit of Northeast Asia's highest peak, Yu Mountain (Yushan). You can also soak up the sun in Kending (Kenting), Asia's version of Hawaii; stand at the edge of Sun Moon Lake; wander through the East Rift Valley; or visit the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu. It's fun in capital letters as well as an awesome journey of natural discovery!
Climate
Taiwan experiences a subtropical climate, with winters from the month of December to February. The average low and high temperatures respectively at 13 °C (55.4 °F) and 20 °C (68 °F). In the south, it feels warmer with an average temperature of 20 °C (68 °F).
Time Zone
Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (UTC/GMT+8)
Currency
The currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). The exchange rate in recent months is around NT$29 for US$1, foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, airports and, hotels. Payment by major credit card is accepted almost everywhere around Taiwan.
Electricity
Taiwan uses an electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many buildings also have 220-volt sockets.
Visitors with appliances of different voltages are urged to bring adapters with them.
Tipping & Tax
Sales tax is included in the listed price in Taiwan.
Tipping is not customary in Taiwan, but some hotels and restaurants automatically add a 10% service fee to the bill.
VAT Refund
Foreign travelers, with the entry document, who make purchases of at least NT$2,000 on the same day from the same designated stores with the "Taiwan Tax Refund"-label are eligible to request the "Application Form for VAT Refund." To claim the refund, they must apply at the port of their departure from the R.O.C. within 90 days following the date of purchase, and they must take the purchased goods out of the country with them. For more information, please click here.
The Policy of Epidemic Prevention for COVID-19
As the pandemic of COVID-19 around the world is changeable, the government's epidemic prevention policy is changing daily. You may see the most updated policy in Taiwan via the below website.
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tourism
Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Travel Taipei
Taiwan Tourism
Northern Taiwan
Taipei 101
Taipei 101 was officially classified as the world's tallest skyscraper. What’s more, its structure appears as an icon of Taipei in international media, and the Taipei 101 fireworks displays are a regular feature of New Year's Eve broadcasts.
Website: https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/
Address: No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi Road, Taipei City, Taiwan
Tel: +886-2-8101-8800
National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum has a permanent collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest of its type in the world. Most of the collections are high quality pieces collected by China's emperors.
Website: https://www.npm.gov.tw/en/index.aspx
Address: No.221, Sec. 2, Zhishan Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City 11143, Taiwan
Tel: +886-2-6610-3600
Jiufen Old Street
Jiufen is an old mountain village in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, and has perhaps the best old street in all of Taiwan, with authentic Taiwanese food, sloping steps, traditional Chinese architecture, and great views of Su Ao and Keelung Harbors.
Website: https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/642
Address: Jiufenjishan Street, Ruifang Dist., New Taipei City Taiwan.
Middle Taiwan
The Luce Memorial Chapel
The Luce Memorial Chapel is a Christian chapel on the campus of Tunghai University. The chapel is located on a 3-acre zone in the center of campus and is set on an irregular hexagonal base, including the 245 m² nave (with 500 seats), and 44 m² robing rooms.
Website: https://eng.thu.edu.tw/web/about/detail.php?scid=24&sid=11
Address: No.1727, Sec.4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City 407224, Taiwann
Tel: +886-4-2359-4359
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake, located in the middle of Taiwan, with an elevation of 748 meters above sea level, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. The southern part of Lalu Island is shaped like a new moon, and the northern part is shaped like a sun; hence the name Sun Moon Lake.
Website: https://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/en
Address: No. 599, Zhongshan Rd., Yuchi Township, Nantou County
Tel: +886-49-285-5668
Hakka Round House
Fujian Tulou is a globally unique UNESCO World Heritage site composed of a large grouping of earthen Hakka round houses. There is a round exhibition and performance hall on the first floor, an exhibition space on the second floor, DIY classrooms on the third floor, and a multimedia viewing room on the basement level.
Website: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002110&id=A12-00137
Address: No. 295, Xingang 3rd Rd., Houlong Township, Miaoli County
Tel: +886-37-732940
Southern Taiwan
Eluanbi Lighthouse
Kending's rugged coastline provides some of the area's most outstanding attractions. The most prominent of these must be Eluanbi, also known as "Taiwan's Tail." This is the island's southernmost point.
Website: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002122&id=691
Address: No. 90, Dengta Rd., Hengchun Township, Pingtung County
Tel: +886-8-885-1111
Former British Consulate
The consulate was built in 1865 with more than a hundred years of history. It was a western building designed by a British engineer and built by Chinese craftsmen, and it is the most meaningful ancient building in Chinese modern history.
Website: https://hongmaogang.khcc.gov.tw/eng/home01.aspx?ID=1
Address: No.20, Lianhai Rd., Gushan District, Kaohsiung City
Tel: +886-7-525-0100
Alishan Forest Railway
Construction of the Alishan Forest Railway was commenced in 1899 by the Japanese. Intended to transport logs down the mountain, it has a minimum turning radius of 40 meters and passes through a cross-section of climates and terrain types.
Website: https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/En
Address: No. 528, Zhongshan Rd., West Dist., Chiayi City
Tel: +886-5-2779-8431
Eastern Taiwan
Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park, situated in the eastern part of Taiwan and established on November 28, 1986, covers more than 92,000 hectares in the northern section of the Central Mountain Range.
Website: https://www.taroko.gov.tw/en
Address: Taroko National Park 291, Fushi Village, Xiulin Township Hualien City, Taiwan
Tel: +886-3-862-1100~6
Eurasian Plate
East Coast is a piece of land formed after the collision of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate, thus having an ocean-erosion ditch, concave wall, sea stack, tofu rock, headland, columnar volcanic rock, honeycomb rock, and coastal coral reefs.
Website: https://tour.taitung.gov.tw/en/discover/east-coast
Location: Taitung City
Rift Valley
Traveling to the Rift Valley during the summer vacation, you can't miss big event like Taiwan International Balloon Festival and Night Glow Concerts!
Website: https://www.erv-nsa.gov.tw/en/travel/seasonal
Location: Taitung City
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