Taiwan is a
leaf-shaped island straddling the Tropic of Cancer about 200 kilometres (120
miles) off the eastern coast of mainland China. Named the "Beautiful
Island" (Ilha Formosa) by Portuguese merchants, the island has a long
history as a centre of trade in the region.
Taiwan's
lively and colourful culture celebrates the interesting juxtaposition of the
traditional and the modern. Outstanding examples of Chinese heritage co-exist
with the most recent innovations in technology.
Visas
Foreign
nationals who intend to stay in Taiwan
for less than six months for the purpose of transit, tourism or visiting
relatives require:
- A passport
valid for at least six months
- A completed
application form with two photos
- An outbound
airline ticket or verifiable proof of purchase
- Documents
verifying the purpose of their visit.
Visa FAQ from the Bureau of Consular Affairs
Currency
The official
currency of Taiwan
is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD), also known as the TWD and sometimes written as
NT$.
Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.
NTD 1.00
equals:
|
Exchange Rates
|
Currency
|
|
0.03
|
Euro
(EUR)
|
|
0.02
|
British Pound
(GBP)
|
|
0.26
|
Hong Kong Dollar
(HKD)
|
|
3.42
|
Japanese Yen
(JPY)
|
|
0.04
|
Singapore Dollar
(SGD)
|
|
0.03
|
US Dollar
(USD)
|
Taxes
A
value-added tax (VAT) of 5% is added to all purchase amounts. VAT is refundable for tourists making
purchases only at participating shops.
Tipping
A service
charge of 10% is usually added automatically to all hotel and restaurant bills.
If not, a 10% tip is appropriate for waiters.
Business Hours
Bank Hours
9am -
3.30pm, Monday through Friday
Office Hours
8 / 9am to 4
/ 5pm, Monday through Friday
Shop Hours
10 / 11am to
9 / 10pm, Monday through Sunday
Public Health
Good medical
facilities are available. We advise you to drink either boiled or bottled
water. Tap water in the hotel is potable.
Bottled
drinking water is also available in the hotel room, compliments of Shangri-La.
Dress
Light
clothing is recommended for the summer months and a sweater for the cooler
months. Suits are appropriate for business occasions and meetings.
Weather
Taipei enjoys warm to hot
temperatures throughout the year. Average summer temperatures range from 29°C
to 32°C, and from 10°C to 20°C during the winter.
Today
Showers
Rain and drizzle in the morning; cloudy
|
High:
|
29°C /
84°F
|
|
Low:
|
26°C /
78°F
|
Tomorrow
Thunderstorms
Heavy thunderstorms; cloudy and humid
|
High:
|
32°C /
89°F
|
|
Low:
|
25°C /
77°F
|
|
Tuesday:
|
|
Cloudy, Thunder Showers
|
High:
30°C /
86°F
|
Low:
24°C /
75°F
|
|
Wednesday:
|
|
Rain
|
High:
28°C /
82°F
|
Low:
24°C /
75°F
|
|
Thursday:
|
|
Thunderstorms
|
High:
30°C /
86°F
|
Low:
24°C /
75°F
|