General Information about Taiwan

Taiwan is a beautiful island, situated in the Pacific Ocean about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island is about midway between Korea to the North and Hong Kong to the South. Centrally located, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia.

Taiwan is 394 kilometers (254 miles) long by 144 kilometers (89.5 miles) wide. The Central Mountain Range bisects Taiwan along a north-south axis; about two-thirds of the island is covered with forested mountains. Jade Mountain (Yushan), with an elevation of 3,952m (12,966 feet), is the highest mountain in East Asia. The rest of the island is made up of foothills, terraced flatlands, coastal plains, and basins. Over the past fifty years, Taiwan has experienced remarkable economic success and a spectacular rise in living standard. (Tourism Bureau)

Population
 The Population of Taiwan is over 23 million. Most of the people originally migrated to Taiwan from the Chinese mainland

 Taipei
 Taipei is the Capital City with a population of about 2.6 million. The city is the political, cultural, and economic center of the island. Taipei is known as one of the most livable cities in Asia. For more information, please visit Taipei City Government.

Language
 Mandarin Chinese is the official language in Taiwan. The most commonly used foreign language is English.

Air Transportation
 Because Taiwan is at the crossroads of some of Asia's busiest air routes, travel to and from the island is both easy and convenient. There are two international airports situated respectively in Taoyuan (CKS Airport) and Kaohsiung. The CKS Airport is the one near Taipei, the city for CLEO/PR 2003. A total of 35 airlines provide flight services to most major cities around the world. Domestic travel is also very convenient.

Weather
 Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 22ĒJ (71.6ĒK) in the North and 25ĒJ (77ĒK) in the South. Summer, June through September, is usually warm and humid, with temperature ranging from 25ĒJ (77ĒK) to 34ĒJ (93.2ĒK).

Currency Exchange and Credit Cards
 The exchange rate varies around NT$35 to US$1. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport, government-authorized banks, tourist hotels, and large department stores. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange back the unused NT dollars before departure. Major credit cards and traveler's checks are acceptable at large stores, restaurants, and international tourist hotels.

Taxes/Tipping
 A 10% service charge and 5% value-added tax are automatically added to room rates and meals. In general, tipping is not needed.

Local Transportation
 Buses, taxis and limousine services are available at the CKS Airport. There are regular airport buses, which depart the airport from 5:50 AM to 2:10 AM for every 15 minutes to Taipei. One-way bus fare is around NT$140. For taxi, the cost is about NT$1,200 to get to Taipei from the CKS Airport.

The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
 The MRT system in Taipei spreads across the metropolitan area. It is convenient and inexpensive. The information of MRT routes and fares is available at MRT stations or hotel service desks.

Buses
 Public buses are convenient and inexpensive in Taipei. There are about 200 bus routes. The bus fare is from NT$15 to NT$30. Exact changes are needed.

Taxi
 Taxi is the most convenient means to get around in Taipei. Some taxi drivers speak English; however, ask the service desk in your hotel for assistance if needed. The rate for taxis is NT$70 for the first 1.5 kilometers and NT$5 for each additional 300 meters in Taipei. A 20% surcharge is added between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Taxi rates are different in other cities in Taiwan.