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Taiwan |
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Taiwan's total land area is
only about 36,000 square kilometers; it is shaped like
a tobacco leaf that is narrow at both ends. It lies off
the southeastern coast of mainland Asia, across the Taiwan
Straits from Mainland China-- a solitary island on the
western edge of the Pacific Ocean. To the north lies Japan
and Okinawa, to the south is the Philippines. Many airlines
fly to Taiwan, helping make it the perfect travel destination. |
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Hsinchu City |
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The town of Hsinchu, now famous for its Science-based Industrial Park, was first developed in 1723. It was first called Hsinchu in 1875, and was upgraded to a provincial city in 1982. The Hsinchu administrative district include Siangshan and covers an area of about 104 square kilometers. It has gained considerable prosperity and an international reputation since the creation of the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park Hsinchu City is loacted in the northwestern part of Hsinchu County, its highest point rising only 120 meters above sea level. The Hsinchu plain slopes upward to the east, and merges into Shrpajianshan and Nioupushan mountains. Most of the eastern part of the county is covered with foothills and small mountains.
Hsinchu is the closest point in Taiwan to the southeast coast of Mainland China. The biggest part of its people are Hakkas. Its frequent strong breezes have led it to be named the "windy city" and its favorable climate has facilitated its development of the famous Hsinchu vermicelli and persimmon cake.
The snacks at the City God Temple have always been a culinary and tourist landmark for the city. The temple was first constructed during the Qianlong reign (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, and numbers of snack vendors gather in its courtyard. The older ones have been operating there for upwards of 50 years, and they are especially attractive to visitors who want a taste of history. The so-called "City God Temple snack vendors" also means those at Falian Temple, which is devoted to the worship of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and is located just beside the City God Temple. Most of the vendors at the City God Temple sell traditional Hsinchu meat balls and "tribute meat-ball soup," but the also serve up soft cakes, rice with pork, cuttlefish stew, and ox-tongue cakes.
In addition to snacks, since Hsinchu County has the highest concentration of Hakka people in all of Taiwan this is also an excellent destination for travelers who want a taste of delicious Hakka cuisine. Traditional Hakka foods, including pickled vegetables, board noodles, intestines with shredded ginger, and thrice-cooked pork with cured turnip greens, each has its own distinctive mouth-watering flavor.
The Series of Tour Guide-Visiting Hsinchu City
http://subject.hccg.gov.tw/tour_guide/index.htm |
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People |
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Taiwan has a population of
23 million. The larger part of the island's inhabitants
are the descendants of immigrants from the various provinces
of mainland China, but in particular from the southeastern
coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. Because the
different ethnic groups have fairly well integrated, differences
that originally existed between people from different
provinces have gradually disappeared. Some 360,000 indigenous
people, the original inhabitants of Taiwan, still live
here; they can be distinguished into 12 different tribes.
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Language |
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The official language of
Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese (Guoyu), but because many Taiwanese
are of southern Fujianese descent, Min-nan (the Southern
Min dialect, or Holo) is also widely spoken. The smaller
groups of Hakka people and aborigines have also preserved
their own languages.
The most popular foreign language in Taiwan is English,
which is part of the regular school curriculum. However,
to be on the safe side, when taking a taxi in Taiwan it
is advisable to prepare a note with your place of destination
written in Chinese to show the taxi driver. |
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Nature |
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Formosa (beautiful island)
is what the Portuguese called Taiwan when they came here
in the 16th century and saw the island's verdant beauty.
Located along the southeast coast of the Asian Continent
at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, between Japan
and the Philippines and right in the center of the East-Asian
island arc, Taiwan forms a vital line of communication
in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers an area of approximately
36,000 square kilometers (14,400 square miles) and is
longer than it is wide. Two-thirds of the total area is
covered by forested mountains and the remaining area consists
of hilly country, platforms and highlands, coastal plains
and basins. The Central Mountain Range stretches along
the entire island from north to south, thus forming a
natural line of demarcation for rivers on the eastern
and western sides of the island. On the west side lies
the Yushan Mountain Range with its main peak reaching
3,952 meters, the highest mountain peak in Northeast Asia.
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Cultures |
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If this is your first visit
to Taiwan, you will most certainly be amazed at the diversity
of things this beautiful island has to offer, as a rich
historical background has provided Taiwan with a multifaceted
culture. People from many different places and backgrounds,
such as Taiwan's indigenous people, the southern Fujianese
from early China, Hakka immigrants, the Dutch, Spanish,
and Japanese, and the recent immigrants from mainland
China have all played a role in Taiwan's development.
While gradually developing a new culture indigenous to
Taiwan, they also held on to their respective customs
and traditions; as a result, you will be able to sample
indigenous, Taiwanese, and Chinese cultures and even find
traces left by the Dutch and the Japanese when traveling
in Taiwan. |
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Climate |
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Taiwan enjoys warm weather all year round. The strongest fluctuations in weather conditions are during spring and winter, while during summer and autumn the weather is relatively stable. Taiwan is extremely suitable for traveling, as the annual average temperature is a comfortable 22˘XC with lowest temperatures ranging from 12 to 17˘XC (54-63˘XF). Therefore, with the exception of a few mountain areas where some traces of snow can be found during winter, no snow can be seen throughout Taiwan.
TS2007 will be held in early June, and during that period Taipei's mean temperature is 26˘XC, average high is 31˘XC and average low is 23˘XC. The mean relative humidity is 77%, and precipitation is 225.3 mm. |
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Cuisine |
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The culinary culture of the
Chinese people goes back a very long time; and while Chinese
food can be enjoyed in every large city in the world today,
true gourmets know that only in Taiwan is it possible
to enjoy fine authentic cuisine from all the different
regions of China. In Taiwan, where it seems the people
live to eat, it is said that there is a snack shop every
three steps and a restaurant every five. These establishments
serve all kinds of Chinese food, from the roast duck,
smoked chicken, lamb hotpot, fish in wine sauce, beef
with green peppers, and scallop and turnip balls of the
north to the camphor-tea duck, salty fried chicken with
spices, honey ham, stir-fried shrimp, dry-fried eggplant,
and spicy bean curd of the south. As the island's economy
has developed rapidly in recent years, its culinary culture
has expanded beyond the traditional Chinese foods to Chinese-style
fast-food chains, thus bringing greater complexity than
ever before to the art of Chinese dining. Foreign foods
from all over the world have also made their appearance
in Taiwan, and the island is now filled with eateries
serving American hamburgers, Italian pizza, Japanese sashimi,
German pig's knuckles, Swiss fondue, and just about everything
else. All of this makes Taiwan a veritable paradise for
gourmands. Taiwan's own native cuisine has also become
known around the world, and if you try it just once you
will remember it forever. |
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Attractions |
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Taiwan is known for its towering
mountains, and is reputable as a "Mountainous Island".
The island is spotted with numerous mountains over 3,000
meters. It is also home to Northeast Asia's highest mountain,
Yushan Mountain, which is nearly 4,000 meter in height.
Besides mountains, beautiful coastal scenes are also part
of Taiwan's great natural asset. Starting from the northern
tip of the island is the North Coast & Guanyinshan
National Sccenic Area and Northeast Coast National Scenic
Area that features various sorts of coastal geography.
Traveling all the way down from here, one will first arrive
at the scenic East Coast National Scenic Area and East
Rift Valley National Scenic Area, and then the Tapeng
Bay National Scenic Area blessed with sunshine and tropical
touch. Alongside the mountainous areas is the Maoling
National Scenic Area, where a lot of aborigines live and
place one can check out the world of butterfly, Lukai
stone-made houses and Natural scenes in Taiwan. Legendary
tales depict subtle beauty of Alishan National Scenic
Area, where you can enjoy the relaxing scene of sunrise
and the cloud sea. Natural setting of Sun Moon Lake National
Scenic Area , eagle-spotting at Bagua Mountain, home of
fruit-Lishan can sacred Buddhist sanctuary- Lion Mountain,
can bring to you the many faces of the island's beauty.
Penghu National Scenic Area, comprising of sixty-four
islets, scattering around the Taiwan Strait. Flat landscape
makes it different from Taiwan Island. It is blessed with
the most spectacular view in Taiwan. Located in Pacific
Ocean southeast of Taiwan, Lanyu and Green Island offer
the enjoyment of nature environment, whale spotting and
scuba diving. Matzu National Scenic Area comprises four
townships on five islands. Most of the tourist sites are
located in Nankan. Peikan has its stone houses and fish
noodles. Chukuang has its fishing port, as well as a lighthouse
designated as a Class 2 historic site. In Tungyin one
will find fantastic rock formations and the Tungyin branch
of the Matsu Distillery. Southwest Coast National Scenic
Area is the 12th national scenic area. The scenic area's
main attraction is a varied coastline that consists of
sand dunes, sand banks, marshes and wetlands, offering
precious ecological habitats for wildlife. Taiwan now
has 6 National Parks - Yamingshan National park in Taipei
suburban, which is famous for its volcanic landscape;
the Shei-Pa National Park, acrossing Hsinchu & Miaoli
counties and famous for special fish species-formosan
Oncorhynchus masou ; locating in Hualien county adjacent
to Li-Wu creek, Taroko National Park is known for its
lofty canyon landscape; acrossing many counties in central
Taiwan, Yushan National Park is famous for its bright
sunshine; locating in south tip, Kenting National Park
gives you a total touch of Southeast Asia; last on the
list is Kinmen National Park which is known for legacies
from the war decades ago. In addition to the beautiful
natural setting provided, above six National Parks also
offer great ecological environment for tourists. Besides,
National Palace Museum, located in outskirt of Taipei
City, is home to essence of the five-thousand-year Chinese
history. It has the finest collections of Chinese Arts,
providing an eye-opening experience of Chinese culture.
Taiwan is somewhere you can experience the amazement of
Chinese culture. |
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How to come to Taiwan |
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Taiwan's international flights
are well developed and there are two international airports,
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International
Airport. Thirty-four Airlines fly to 56 major cities around
the world from Taiwan, and the average flight time from
Taiwan to major cities in the Asia-Pacific region is only
two-and-a-half hours. A direct flight from the West Coast
of the U.S. to Taiwan takes only 12 hours, and flights
are frequent. Visitors can take advantages of the domestic
flight, Taiwan's island-wide railway system, comprehensive
highway network and convenient bus services to visit the
beautiful island. The convenient international airport for the conference is the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
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Visa for Arriving Taiwan |
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Foreign nationals may obtain visas from embassies consulates or representative offices of the Republic of China. |
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Visa Exempt Entry : 30 days (no extension is permitted) |
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Thirty-day visa-free privileges are afforded to citizens of the Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K. and U.S.A. Requirements for the entry are:
1. A passport valid for at least six months.
2. A confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmation air seat reservation for his (her) departure.
3. No criminal record of law violation. |
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Landing Visa : 14 days (no extension is permitted) |
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Fourteen-day landing visas can be obtained upon arrival at Taoyuan airport. Passengers with passports of the above listed countries plus the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Switzerland are to apply for landing visa. Requirements for the entry are:
1. A passport valid for at least six months.
2. A confirmed return air ticket or an air ticket and a visa for the next destination, and a confirmation air seat reservation for his (her) departure.
3. An application form with one photo.
4. Visa fee NT$ 1,500. (Approximately 45 US dollars)
5. No criminal record of law violation. |
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Visa for People Holding Passport of Mainland China : |
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Please read this guideline (PDF Format) for detailed information, fill in the application form (PDF Format), and then air-mail (preferably express mail) "Filled Application Form", "Xerox Copy of Identification Card", "Two 2 inch Self-photo" and "Job Certificate" before January 1, 2007 to: The Secretariat of TS2007, ME Department, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 43, Keelung Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
The necessary application form and further information can be found on the web site: http://www.boca.gov.tw |
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Currency |
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The Republic of China's unit
of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Bill denominations
are NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100. Coin
denominations are NT$1, NT$5, NT$10 and NT$50. As of January
2005, the exchange rate was quoted around NT$32 to one
US Dollar. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the
airport upon arrival, or at government-authorized banks,
tourist hotels, and large department stores. Receipts
are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented
in order to exchange unused NT Dollars before departure.
Traveler's checks in major currencies may be cashed at
some tourist-oriented businesses and at most international
tourist hotels. |
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Credit Cards |
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Hotels, department stores,
airlines, large stores and restaurants accept major credit
cards. Cash is generally preferred elsewhere. |
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Banking Hours |
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Banks are open from 9 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. |
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Telecommunication Service |
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One local call from a pay
phone costs NT$1 for 1 minute, after which additional
coins are needed or the line will be automatically disconnected.
On private phones, the overseas operator may be reached
by dialing "100." Direct dialing is available to some
phones, after first dialing the prefix "002." International
direct dialing rates are calculated every six seconds.
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Time Zone |
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Taiwan is eight hours ahead
of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and does not practice daylight
saving time in summer. You can check Taiwan's local time
and the time difference from your local time via this
link: http://www.worldtimeserver.com
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Electricity Supply |
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Taiwan uses electric current
of 110 volts at 60 cycles, appliances from Europe, Australia
or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer.
Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially
for the use of air conditioners. |
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Customs |
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Personal items are free of
duty. Visitors over 20 years old may bring in, duty free,
200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 0.5 kg of tobacco, one
bottle of liquor and one used camera. Gold cannot be exported
without a permit issued by the Ministry of Finance. Passengers
arriving with gold and silver and planning to take it
out at departure must declare it and leave the items with
Customs until they leave Taiwan. |
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Tipping / Taxes |
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Tipping is optional. It is
usual, however, to tip hotel porters and for restaurant
service. A 10% service charge and a 5% value-added tax
are added to room rates and meals. |
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Taxis |
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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 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., NT$10 dollars
tip needed for cab dispatched by phone and for luggage
placed in taxi trunk. Basically, taxi fares in all major
cities are set by local city government itself and are
in a minor discrepancy. Out-of-town or long-distance travels
may not apply to meter charge; travelers are suggested
to confirm charging method before getting on taxi. |
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