Two companies operated services prior to 2020 which might resume at some point, though no such resumption has been announced as of July 2025. Citizens of Canada and the United Kingdom can extend their stay for an extra 90 days (i.e. a total stay of up to 180 days) free of charge. More information is available on this Bureau of Consular Affairs information sheet.
Discrimination in language teaching
Taiwan is one of the most trade-dependent economies in the world, with exports accounting for a significant portion of its GDP. The country’s main export partners include the United States, China, Japan, and other Asian countries. Taiwan exports a wide range of products, with electronics and machinery being the largest categories. In addition, Taiwan’s high-tech industry plays queenwin casino a significant role in global supply chains, particularly in the semiconductor industry. Taiwan’s indigenous people speak a range of Austronesian languages, many of which are endangered.
Major camps
Alternative options include buying bottled water or going to a «water station» where water is sold through a metered tap. If you drive a car or a motorcycle, the obvious rule is that if someone turns in front of you, you should be the one to adapt. To avoid collisions, drivers need to be extremely vigilant for other vehicles creating hazards and always be willing to adjust speed or direction to accommodate. Do not expect drivers to yield way, or respect traffic lights in many areas, especially in central and southern Taiwan. Sounding the horn is the usual way a Taiwanese driver indicates that they do not intend to accommodate a driver trying to encroach on their lane, etc., and does not necessarily imply the anger or criticism, as it does in other countries. Many of these jobs are advertised on billboards in Chinese language-teaching institutes and universities, where there are likely to be many foreign students.
This island is home to bustling cities with modern, high-tech infrastructure, and good transportation infrastructure means that getting around is easy. For those who have grown weary of the hustle and bustle of cities, Taiwan also offers some very impressive scenery and charming historical villages in its rural areas. If you want to visit Taiwan’s smaller islands, the plane is still the best option, and is the only practical option for traveling to Kinmen and the easiest method of reaching Penghu and Matsu. For travel to Green Island and Orchid Island, the plane from Taitung saves several hours over taking the ferry which is notorious among Taiwanese for its rough ride. Additionally, many local police stations provide basic support services for cyclists, such as air pumps, and as a rest stop. If you’re just learning to drive a scooter on the streets of Taiwan, it would be a good idea to practice a bit on a back road or alley until you have a feel for the scooter.
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- NHI is a single-payer compulsory social insurance plan that centralizes the disbursement of healthcare funds.
- Nevertheless, you are still expected to dress and behave respectfully when visiting temples.
- As such, you should exercise extreme caution when cycling outside of designated bicycle lanes and trails.
- These include the Diaoyu Islands, also known as the Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by both Taiwan and Japan, and the Orchid Island (Lanyu) and Green Island, located off Taiwan’s southeastern coast.
- In smaller cities, they are only open certain nights of the week and may move to different streets depending on the day of the week.
- The President has the sole authority to appoint members the executive branch, known as the Executive Yuan, whose leader, known as the Premier, serves as the head of government.
Taiwan celebrates a variety of festivals throughout the year, many of which have religious and cultural significance. The most prominent festival is the Lunar New Year, which is celebrated with family gatherings, traditional foods, and various rituals to ensure good fortune for the coming year. Other important holidays include the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival. Taiwan’s culture is a blend of indigenous traditions, Chinese heritage, and modern influences. The island’s art scene is vibrant, with contemporary artists gaining recognition internationally.
- Both meat and vegetarian options are available, with the pork chop bento being particularly famous and iconic.
- In the early 20th century, the Nationalists and Communists fought a bloody civil war in mainland China.
- Additionally, many local police stations provide basic support services for cyclists, such as air pumps, and as a rest stop.
- To the west is the Taiwan (Formosa) Strait, which separates Taiwan from the Chinese mainland.
- This island is home to bustling cities with modern, high-tech infrastructure, and good transportation infrastructure means that getting around is easy.
Coastline
The main Taiwanese full-service carriers are EVA Air (長榮航空), flag carrier China Airlines (中華航空), and Starlux Arilines (星宇航空). While China Airlines used to have a poor safety record, things have improved greatly since 2003, and today, it is just as safe as the major Western European airlines. The only Taiwanese low-cost carrier is Tigerair Taiwan (台灣虎航) under the China Airlines Group. Traditional paper versions are still available at ports of entry and on incoming flights. Hong Kong and Macau residents who have an online entry permit are exempt from filling arrival cards. For example, a Mainland Chinese citizen who studies in the United States, had returned to Shanghai and plans to visit Taiwan during the stay in Shanghai.
Reserving tickets well in advance is recommended when traveling with the train on weekends, especially for long distance travel. Slower (but more frequent) commuter trains without reserved seating are also available. Train timetables and online booking (up to 2 weeks in advance) are available on the TRA website.
Costs in Taiwan are generally lower than in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong, but higher than in Southeast Asia and mainland China. For a budget traveler on a bare-bones budget, NT$1,000 will get you by for a day, but you’ll probably want to double that for comfort. A meal at a street stall may cost NT$50 or less, a meal at a Western fast food restaurant will run you about NT$150 and at the fanciest restaurants, you can expect a bill in excess of NT$1,000. On the high end of the spectrum, hotel rooms at a swanky hotel might cost NT$5,000 or more. Taxis are quite reasonable and often have a set fare for common destinations, so ask in advance and haggle if you disagree.
Government and politics
Taxis are visibly metered (starting point priced at NT$70), and taxi drivers are strictly forbidden from taking tips. The fastest train is Tzu-Chiang (limited express), and the slowest is Local. There is often little to choose between prices and destination times for adjacent train classes, but the gap can be quite large between the fastest and the slowest.
Words in native languages
The fee consists actually of the credit company’s commission and also the local sales tax/VAT. If you pay cash, you might not get an official receipt, as then the seller would have to report and pay their taxes in full. If you ask for a Unified Invoice (統一發票, tongyi fa piao), you will get it but you may need to pay 3-5% more.
The EasyCard can be bought at the airport, in any of stations of Taipei MRT and most convenient stores. As of 2025 the price was NT$500, consisting of a non-refundable fee of NT$100 and NT$400 in electronic cash. If you want to add money onto the card, you can do so in MRT stations (including Kaohsiung MRT), TRA stations, and the common convenient stores. Student IC cards with even deeper discounts are also available for purchase, but only upon request at a desk and a recognised student ID like ISIC. There are also several ferry services between Xiamen and Quanzhou on the mainland and the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen (金門).
Additionally, English is widely taught in schools and spoken in urban areas, especially among younger generations and in business contexts. The population is highly urbanized, with around 70% of the population living in urban areas. The capital city, Taipei, along with other cities like Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan, are economic and cultural centers, drawing people from rural areas seeking work and better living conditions. Taiwan is frequently affected by typhoons, particularly between July and October.