Taiwan
Welcome
Motto: No official motto
Anthem: 中華民國國歌 Zhōnghuá Mínguó Guógē
"National Anthem of the Republic of China"
The big island of Taiwan is characterized by a mountain range which influences the relief of the island and gives it magnificent landscapes, encouraging exploration. Discovery enthusiasts can enjoy hiking while making stops in the temples and vestiges.
Capital: Taipei.
Population: 23,780 million inhabitants.
Gross Domestic Product - GDP (PPP): $1,3 billion.
Official languages: Mandarin Chinese.
Area: 36,197 km2.
Water (%): negligible.
Currency: New Taiwan dollar (TWD).
Safety rating: Ranked 36 on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.73.
Food
Taiwan is a small culinary China in concentrate, with dishes typical of big cities and Chinese provinces. Japanese cuisine is also very present on the island, a heritage from 50 years of Japanese presence (1895-1945). Taiwanese cuisine is therefore a mixture of Chinese and Japanese influences, sweeter and with many fish and seafood.
In the gourmet restaurants of large hotels, a new Taiwanese cuisine, very light and westernized, tends to develop. There are also restaurants serving international cuisine (French, Spanish, Italian, Indian, etc.). Among the most common dishes in Taiwan, there are many Chinese specialties: Peking lacquered duck, Shanghai steamed ravioli, steamed sticky rice, vegetables marinated with pork, tofu dishes, rice noodles, fishball soups, steamed fried fish…
Lots of sweet potatoes and taro roots. On the meat side, they mainly serve chicken, followed by pork, beef and lamb.
Taipei Restaurants
Renowned for the richness and diversity of its culinary offer, the capital mixes Chinese cuisine and restaurants with a Western tendency. Yongkang Street is full of restaurants, as is Huaning Street, with its street stalls selling noodles and dumplings.
Tea
As in China, tea is the most popular and common drink in Taiwan. Oolong tea from Nantou, Wunshan Baojhong tea from Pinglin, Tie Guanyin tea from Mujhan are the most popular varieties in Taiwan. The island is home to many teahouses where some of the finest teas in the world are tasted. You will certainly be offered a tea ceremony , a true cultural ritual imported from China: the opportunity to learn to savor the delicacy of Taiwanese tea.
Beer & Wines
Beer is the other favorite drink on the island. Light and low in alcohol, Taiwan Beer is a bit of the national drink after tea. There is also Tsingtao, a famous brand of Chinese beer, and Sapporo, imported Japanese beer. Pichiu wu are typical bars specializing in exotic beers, sometimes served with seafood. Red wine is increasingly consumed in Taiwan. The kaoliang chiu, a sorghum liquor to drink in one go, or the shaohsing chiu (yellow rice wine), softer, served hot at the end of dinner.
Fruit juice bars in Taiwan serve fresh tropical and tropical fruit juices.
Transportation
Car
You can rent a car on site, but it is recommended to take a driver accustomed to local driving. International hotels provide cars with drivers, but there are also many international companies in Taiwan. If you still choose to rent a car, an international driving license is mandatory. You must be over 21 years old. You have to pay by credit card or post a high deposit. Driving is on the right. Traffic is very dense in Taipei; outside of Taipei, it is much more fluid.
It is also possible to rent a scooter for short distances or if you decide to stay for several days in a place. It is probably the most fun and economical means of transportation. Count around NT $400 per day for a 125cc scooter. The B license is required to drive a two-wheeler of this engine (but it is not always required in the south of the island). Please note that there are many accidents involving scooters.
Taxi
They are found in big cities. The rates range from NT $80 for the first 1,500 m, then around NT $6 for each additional 500 m. The rate is increased by 20% between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Few taxi drivers speaking English, it is advisable to have their destination written in Chinese on a paper.
Train
The rail network is in very good condition and serves the main cities of the island, but also remote corners. The Taiwan High Speed Rail runs along the West Coast from north to south, for 345 km, from Taipei to Kaohsiung (in the south of the island), in just 1h30 or 2h (instead of 4 to 6h by bus or conventional train) ). The journey takes more or less long depending on the train stops. It covers the south of the island. Count NT $ ,630 for a one-way trip from Taipei to Zuoying (south of the island). The journey from Taipei to Kaohsiung takes 90 minutes.
Subway
Taipei Metro, the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) has 5 lines. It runs from 6 a.m. to midnight. The single ticket costs between NT $20 and NT $45; the one-day pass costs NT $ 170.
Boat
To get to the other islands of Taiwan, ferries provide regular connections to Green Island, the Island of Orchids, Mazu, Kinmen & Penghu. The frequency of these links is linked to the crowds, so sometimes low.
Bus
6 bus companies connect major cities: Kuo-Kuang Bus, Free Go Bus, Air Bus, UBus, Evergreen and Taoyuan Bus. It is not recommended to travel with an unofficial company. Buses connect Taoyuan International Airport some 40km from Taipei, to the capital's bus station. Count around NT $ 17 per step. Please note: destinations and stops are only written in Chinese, but bus drivers and local travelers will not hesitate to help you.
Plane
Several Taiwanese airlines provide international connections: EVA Air or Airways (private Taiwanese company) and China Airlines (national airline), as well as Mandarin Airlines (Taiwanese company belonging to China Airlines ).
The network of domestic air links is very developed. Four domestic airlines serve the 12 major cities with domestic airports. Taiwan has 2 international airports. The most important is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, 40 km from Taipei. The other international airport is Kaohsiung (Hsiao-Kang Airport), which serves Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
Best things to do
The cultural richness of Taiwan is one of the tourist attractions of this destination. Here are some cultural events not to be missed to learn more about this culture:
• Chinese New Year, the date of which changes according to the lunar calendar: it is the longest and most important festival in Taiwan.
• The Lantern Festival which has its origin in ancient China, is very spectacular, the highlight corresponds to the moment when the thousands of lanterns rise in the sky.
• The “Double-Dix” commemorates the anniversary of the 10/10/1911 uprising which led to the fall of the Ch'ing dynasty.
• the dragon boat festival, celebrated through boat races, is also called the "double five festival" and is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
• The moon festival, also called the “mid-autumn festival” is held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.
Imagine faces, mushrooms or animals in the strange shapes of the coral rocks of Yehliu, sculpted by the sea. Strolling through the narrow alleys of the village of Jiufen, lit by the red light of lanterns. Visit the temple of Eternal Spring, at the top of the Taroko gorges. Walk in Yangmingshan Park in spring, when the cherry blossoms envelop the paths with their scents. On Green Island, bathe in one of the three salted thermal springs of the world.
Best time to visit
The island of Taiwan enjoys a hot and humid tropical climate which is worth its luxuriant vegetation. But the climatic year is defined by the succession of two very distinct seasons: the dry season, from October to May and the monsoon, which begins in June and does not end until September.
Note however that the intensity of the rains is not the same on the island. Taipei remains accessible and can be discovered even during the monsoon. On the other hand in the south of the island and along the coast bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the weather is often poor. So, to be able to enjoy the beautiful sunny and pleasantly warm days, it's enough to favor the period between October and March.
Quick answer: fall. November is ideal. But I wouldn't mind going in winter. The last thing I want is that rain or typhoons spoil my plans, and they are less likely to do damage from November to March. Taipei enjoys a humid subtropical climate strongly influenced by the monsoon. This means that, although people continue to refer to the four seasons, they are not as pronounced as in temperate countries like Japan or Korea.
Quick tips
Sim cards & Internet
Arriving at Taipei Airport you will find kiosks to purchase a local sim card and data. The sim card is free at the airport for foreigners. For unlimited data for one month, you have to count between 20 and 25 euros. This package also includes unlimited sms and phone calls. The main operators are: Chungwa Telecom, Taïwan Mobile, Fareastone and Tstar. The most important network is Chungwa Telecom. I had 4G everywhere.
Be aware that there is an excellent Wi-Fi network in accommodation, restaurants, public places and even in public transport. The use of whatsapp is widespread in Taiwan, as well as other similar communication applications (line, viber, messenger, etc.).
Electrical outlets
An adapter required in Taiwan. You will find electrical sockets of the type "American system" with 2 or 3 flat pins. The Voltage is 110 volts, so your devices will be safe to use. However, you will need an adapter for the electrical outlets.
