Visiting Taiwan

With its unique fusion of cultures, breathtaking scenery, diverse cuisine, exciting city life and well-developed hospitality industry, Taiwan is the ideal destination for various types of travelers. Citizens of 41 countries are eligible for visa-exempt entry or landing visas for a period of 30 or 90 days. The ROC government maintains websites and hotlines to provide foreign nationals with information about traveling, living and working in Taiwan.
 

Website/Hotline	Languages
Taiwan Tourism Bureau http://www.taiwan.net.tw	Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish
Travel Information Hotline 0800-011-765 (24 hours)	Mandarin, English, Japanese, Korean
Information for Foreigners http://iff.immigration.gov.tw	Chinese, English
International Community Service Hotline 0800-024-111 (24 hours)	Mandarin, English, Japanese

A traditional fishing trap built of basalt and coral reef, the Twin Heart stone weir is a must-see for tourists to Penghu. (Li Kun-hung, courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)

Major Festivals/Events (2011)

Month	Location	Festival/Event
Feb.	Taitung County	Master Han Dan Festival
Feb.	Miaoli County	Taiwan Lantern Festival
Feb.	New Taipei City	Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Feb.	Tainan City	Tainan Yanshui Beehive Rockets Festival
Mar.	Taichung City	Ma Zu International Festival
Mar.	Islandwide	Hakka Tung Blossom Festival
Apr.	Penghu County	Fireworks Festival
June	Changhua County	Lugang Dragon Boat Races
July	New Taipei City	Hohaiyan Rock Festival
Aug.	Keelung City	Keelung Ghost Festival
Oct.	Kaohsiung City	Zuoying Wannian Folklore Festival

● Only a few of the larger festivals/events are listed here. For more information, please visit the Tourism Bureau’s website at http://www.taiwan.net.tw.

In Pingxi District, New Taipei City, sky lanterns are released on the first full moon after the Lunar New Year as part of Lantern Festival celebrations. (Dai Jin-yuan, courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)

Major Tourist Attractions

Northern Taiwan

National Palace Museum: http://www.npm.gov.tw

Taipei 101: http://www.taipei-101.com.tw

Yingge Ceramics Town: http://yingge.ceramics.tpc.gov.tw 

Shilin Night Market: http://www.taipeitravel.net 

National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: http://www.cksmh.gov.tw 

Lungshan Temple: http://www.lungshan.org.tw 

Yangmingshan National Park: http://www.ymsnp.gov.tw 

Northeast Coast National Scenic Area: http://www.necoast-nsa.gov.tw 

Central Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake: http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw 

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village: http://www.nine.com.tw 

Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area: http://www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw 

Lugang Township: http://www.lukang.gov.tw 

National Museum of Natural Science: http://www.nmns.edu.tw 

Yushan (Jade Mountain) National Park: http://www.ysnp.gov.tw 

Eastern Taiwan

Taroko National Park: http://www.taroko.gov.tw 

Forest Recreation Areas: http://recreation.forest.gov.tw 

Green Island and Orchid Island: http://tour.taitung.gov.tw 

Southern Taiwan

Kenting National Park: http://www.ktnp.gov.tw 

Alishan (Mount Ali) National Scenic Area: http://www.ali-nsa.net 

Penghu National Scenic Area: http://www.penghu-nsa.gov.tw 
 

Yachts berth at the idyllic Sun Moon Lake, a popular tourist destination in central Taiwan. (Tong Jia-yong, courtesy of the Tourism Bureau)

Taipei International Trade Shows (2011)

Taipei Int’l Machine Tool Show	Mar. 1-6
Taipei Int’l Cycle Show	Mar. 16-19
Taiwan Int’l Lighting Show	Mar. 18-21
Taipei Int’l Auto Parts & Accessories Show	Apr. 12-15
Taipei Int’l Automobile Electronics Show	Apr. 12-15
Taiwan Int’l Motorcycle Show	Apr. 14-17
Taiwan Int’l Electronic Vehicle Show	Apr. 14-17
Taipei Int’l Gift and Stationery Show	Apr. 21-24
Taipei Int’l Sporting Goods Show	Apr. 27-30
Computex Taipei	May 31-June 4
Int’l Flat Panel Display Exposition	June 14-16
Taipei Int’l Food Show	June 22-25
Taipei Int’l Food Processing and Pharmaceutical Machinery Show	June 22-25
Taipei Int’l Packaging Industry Show	June 22-25
Taiwan Int’l Hotel Restaurant and Catering Show	June 22-25
Taiwan Int’l Senior Lifestyle and Health Care Show	June 23-26
Taiwan Health	June 23-26
Taipei Int’l Woodworking Machinery and Supplies Show	July 7-10
Taiwan Sports Recreation & Leisure Show	July 15-18
Taipei Computer Applications Show	July 28-Aug. 1
Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition	Aug. 11-14
Semicon Taiwan	Sept. 7-9
Taipei Int’l Invention Show & Technomart	Sept. 29-Oct. 2
Taiwan Int’l Photovoltaic Forum & Exhibition	Oct. 5-7
Taipei Int’l Electronics Show	Oct. 10-13
Broadband Taiwan	Oct. 10-13
Taiwan Int’l Green Industries Show	Oct. 26-29
Taiwan Smart Green Building Expo	Oct. 26-29
Taiwan Exhibition & Convention Industry Show	Nov. 3-5
Kaohsiung Food Show*	Nov. 10-13

Venue: Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Halls
          * Kaohsiung Arena
Organizer: Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
               http://www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw
               http://www.taitra.org.tw
Subject to change without notice

Colorful kites fill the sky at the 2010 Shimen International Kite Festival. Every year, hobbyists and enthusiasts from around the world flock to Shimen Kite Park for this event. (Hao Chen-tai)

General Information for Visitors

Currency
National currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$ or TWD)
Exchange rate: NT$28.85 per US$1 (July 2011)

Time Differential
All territories in same time zone, UTC + 8 hours (no seasonal adjustments)

Credit Cards & Travelers’ Checks
Major credit cards are accepted widely. Travelers’ checks can be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, hotels and tourist-oriented stores.

Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Taiwan. A 10-percent service charge is often added to room rates and meals at hotels and restaurants.

Electricity
AC 110 V / 60 Hz

Visa Information
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Phone: (+886-2) 2343-2888
Website: http://www.boca.gov.tw

Customs Regulations
Directorate General of Customs
Ministry of Finance
Phone: (+886-2) 2550-5500 ext. 2116
Website: http://web.customs.gov.tw

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