Welcome to Taiwan & Taipei
Taiwan, the Kingdom of the Butterfly, was christened Formosa or "beautiful island" by Portuguese marines in the 16th century. Hundred and sixty kilometers from the southeastern coast of China, located midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the south, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia. The capital, Taipei , is located in the northern corner of Taiwan and is home to over 2.6 million residents.
From fine arts to culinary arts, Taipei abounds with masterpieces. The unique National Palace Museum exhibits the greatest collection of priceless ancient Chinese arts, while the city's many antique shops, galleries, jade market and jewelers offer works of art for sale. The varieties of exquisite dishes served by thousands of restaurants and eateries enticingly demonstrate Taipei's fame as the gourmet capital of Asia.
The architecture and temples of the city also embodies some of the best examples of traditional Asian and Taiwanese culture, with temples for a wide variety of beliefs, including Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianism. Taiwanese's hospitality, courtesy and friendliness will undoubtedly provide you with a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Although Taiwan is a small island, its surface geology takes on a variety of formations, cultivating an abundance of peculiar landscapes and ecosystems. Coupled with its diverse cultural relics, theme parks, golf courses, and beaches, Taiwan enjoys a profuse supply of tourism resources. With the island's well-situated location, friendly people, social order, pleasant climate, convenient transportation, and modern travel environment, you are worry-free and can enjoy yourselves in comfort. For more information, please visit the website of the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan at http://www.tbroc.gov.tw, or the Taipei City at http://english.taipei.gov.tw.
Traffic
International Airport
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is located in Taoyuan County approximately 40 kilometers, or about 50 minutes by car or bus from downtown Taipei. Taxis queue outside the Arrival Halls of both terminals. Airport Taxis charge according to the meter plus a 50% surcharge (highway tolls not included). Typical fare to Taipei is around NT$1,100
Six bus companies now provide frequent service between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and important destinations around Taipei everyday in every 30 to 40 minutes. Costs are approximately NT$110~140 (US$4~5), takes about 60 to 90 minutes. The bus station is on the southwest side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area in Terminal I, and on the northeast side of the Arrival Passenger Reception Area on the first floor in Terminal II. For more information, please check the website: http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKSeng/transportation/taipei_e.jsp
MRT
The mass rapid transit system (MRT) in Taipei, has five lines in operation (see Route Map - PDF format). MRT running hours is from 06:00 to 24:00. Auto ticketing slots can be found in MRT stations. "Single-journey Ticket" price ranging from NT$20 to NT$65 depending on travel distance. A 150-dollar "One-day pass" purchased from service booth will allow unlimited travels among all MRT lines within one day.
Taxi
Major cities have an abundance of taxis. Charges are NT$70 for the first 1.5km and NT$5 for each additional 300 meters. An additional NT$5 is charged for every two minutes of waiting, and a 20% surcharge is added to fares between 23:00 and 06:00, NT$10 dollars tip needed for cab dispatched by phone and for luggage placed in taxi trunk. Out-of-town or long-distance travels may not apply to meter charge.
50% additional to meter charge needed for cab travel to CKS airport. It costs around NT$1,200 to travel from CKS to Taipei city.
English Taxi Association:
+886-...
Taipei Foreign Affairs Police Station:+886-2-2381-7475; 2381-8341; 23817494
Complaint about Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport taxi:+886-3-398-2241; 3-398-2177
Climate
Taiwan enjoys a subtropical climate, with warm, mild weather the year round. The average temperature of Taipei during the Conference is about 15°C-20°C (59°F-68°F).
Currency
The local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD). The exchange rate is approximately TWD32.74: USD1 or TWD43.72: EUR1 (April, 2007). Foreign currencies can be exchanged at hotels, airports and a number of government-designated banks. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and traveler's checks may be accepted by a number of tourist-oriented shops and at most international tourist hotels and banks.
Electricity and Water
Electricity current in Taiwan is 110 AC, 60Hz. Water served for guests at hotels and leading restaurants is either distilled or boiled. Due to the subtropical and tropical climates, it is advised not to drink ordinary tap water.
Time Difference
In relation to Greenwich mean Time, Taiwan is + 8 hours.
Business Hours
Banks: Banks are generally open from 09:00 to 15:30 on weekdays. Government offices are open from 09:00 to noon and 13:30 to 17:30, Monday through Friday. Shops, shopping malls, restaurants, etc. are mostly open from 10:00 (or 11:00) to 21:00 (or 22:00).
Tipping & Tax
Tipping is not customary in most of places in Taiwan. The one exception is tipping the bellboy when you check into a hotel. Value-added tax is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 5% and is included in the retail price.
VISA
Foreign nationals may obtain tourist visas if they hold foreign passports or travel documents valid for more than six months in the Taiwan for purposes of sightseeing, business, family visits, study or training, medical treatment, or other legitimate activities. Visa requirements included one completed application form, incoming and outgoing travel tickets, one photo, documents verifying the purpose of the visits, and other relevant documents. The Visitor Visa Application Form can be downloaded from the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The completed form should be submitted to an overseas mission of ROC(Taiwan) for visa issuance.
30-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of 31 countries and30-day landing visas are afforded to citizens of 3 countries. For any further information, please visit the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Official Letters of Invitation
Official letters of invitation to help overcome administrative difficulties in some countries can be sent by the Conference Secretariat upon written request. These letters do not commit the Organizing Committee to any financial obligation.
Safety
Generally speaking, Taipei is a safe city. For more information about “Safety Notice for Foreigners,” please visit the website at http://english.taipei.gov.tw by typing the keyword. The emergency number: Police (Tel: 110), Ambulance (Tel: 119), and no coin required in public phones for these two numbers.
|
Venue Location
MRT ：
