Capital: Taipei
Time zone: GMT + 8
Telephone services: Country Code: 886 Outgoing Code: 002
Emergency telephone numbers: Police – 110 (Chinese only)
Tourist information: Taiwan Visitors Association, 5th Floor, 9 Minchuan East Road, Section 2, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: (2) 594 3261. Fax: (2) 594 3265.
Passport information: All travellers must have passports which must be valid for 6 months. Return Ticket Required. Requirements may change at short notice. Contact the embassy before departure.
Visa information: Required by all except nationals of: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK provided their stay does not excee d 14 days, they are holding a passport valid for at least 6 months and are of previous good character. If staying for more than 14 days and nationals of other EU countries do require a visa. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USA provided their stay does not exceed 14 days and they are holding a passport valid for at least 6 months and are of previous good character.
Health information: Polio, Typhoid: Vaccination recommended.
Malaria: Not a problem.
Yellow Fever: A vaccination certificate is required from anyone arriving from an infected area.
Other Health Risks: Cholera, Rabies.
Food & drink: Water is untreated and not safe to drink. Avoid dairy products as they are not pasteurised. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled before consumption.
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$) = 100 cents NOTE: Import and export of local currency is limited to NT$ 40000. All exchange receipts must be retained. Export of foreig n currency is limited to the equivalent of US$ 5000 for passengers leaving within 6 months of arrival.
Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted in most hotels, shops and restaurants. US dollars are the preferred currency.
ATM availability: Over 1400 locations.
Cost of living: It is possible to live relatively cheaply by shopping at markets. Good quality, cheap, accommodation may be more difficult to find.
Languages: Mandarin (Chinese), English and Japanese
Weather: Subtropical climate with moderate temperatures in the North where there is a winter season. June – Oct is the typhoon season.
Electricity: 110 Volts Ac 60 Hz
Post: Up to 10 days.
Transport: ROAD: There is an adequate road system joining all major cities. DOCUMENTATION: IDP is required. BUS: Local and long distance bus services operate. TAXI: There a re numerous taxis which are inexpensive – but beware of drivers. RAIL: Air-conditioned, electric trains run hourly.
Special information: Taiwan is sensitive to political discussions regarding neighbouring China, but is still heavily influenced by Chinese culture. However as a major economic force in the Pacific it has adopted western free-market practices.