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		Basic Information About Taiwan

Brief History		The island of Taiwan was first incorporated into the Chinese empire in 1206 under the Mongol Yuan dynasty as a protectorate. In 1684 it was added to the coastal province of Fujian胕y which time a number of other powers were also staking their claim. The Portuguese gave Taiwan the name Formosa, by which it is still sometimes known; their tenure was brief and they were soon replaced by the Spanish and later the Dutch, who both sought to control the lucrative trade routes commanded by Taiwan. Taiwan's links with China were established by waves of immigration over the centuries, mostly from Fujian and Guangdung provinces on China's southeastern coast. With the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644, a resistance movement led by Jeng Cheng-gung (commonly known as Koxinga) drove out the Dutch and established Taiwan as his base of operations. In 1895, the Japanese became the new colonial masters of Taiwan under the treaty of Shimonoseki苖hey were to remain for 50 years, making an indelible mark on Taiwan. After WWII, Taiwan was reclaimed by the Nationalist Chinese Government. Since that time, Taiwan has gradually developed into an economic power in the Asia-Pacific region, becoming a major manufacturer of computers and many other precision products. In recent years, it has also developed into a multi-party democracy and one of the most dynamic countries in the region.

Location and Geography		Taiwan is situated in the Pacific Ocean about 160 kilometers from the southeastern coast of mainland China. Located about midway between Korea and Japan in the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines in the south, it is strategically located as a regional commercial hub. Shaped like a tobacco leaf, the main island of Taiwan is 394 kilometers in length and 144 kilometers wide at its broadest point. The Central Mountain Range is the spine of the tobacco leaf. Over two-thirds of the island consists of foothills and mountains.

Climate		Taiwan is subtropical in the north of the island and tropical in the south. In summer (May to September) the temperature ranges from about 25 degrees Celsius to 33 degrees Celsius with humidity reaching 78%. Winter is relatively short (December to February), with temperatures of around 16 degrees Celsius. Winter can be quite cold especially in the mountains. Taiwan is also prone to typhoons, which generally occur between July and October.

Population		As of March 1997, Taiwan's population exceeded 21.557 million, of which approximately 2.6 million live in Taipei and 1.44 million in Kaohsiung, the island's two largest cities. With an overall population density of 596 people per square kilometer, Taiwan has one of the highest population densities in the world. Apart from a small aboriginal population of Polynesian and proto-Malay provenance, the majority of the island is inhabited by ethnic Chinese. A high proportion of these trace their ancestry to Fujian province. Many Chinese from other parts of China moved to Taiwan with the Nationalist government in 1949.

Languages		Mandarin Chinese is the official language of Taiwan although other dialects of Chinese are also spoken. The dialect of southern Fujian is the most common of these, and is known in Taiwan as Taiwan dialect. Many young people in Taipei and other major cities also speak some English or Japanese. Taxi drivers generally do not speak English and it is advisable, when using taxis, to have the address of your destination written out in Chinese.

Religion		Buddhism, Taoism, and a broad range of folk belief and superstition form the broad base of Taiwanese religious culture. There is a host of guardian deities, such as Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy; Matsu, Goddess of the Sea (whose importance reflects the dependence of Taiwanese on the sea for their livelihood); and Guangung, the embodiment of martial valor and honor. There are also many Christian (both Catholic and Protestant) and Muslim inhabitants on the island.

Electricity and Water		Taiwan uses electric current at 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many modern buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners. These sockets are generally located near an opening in the wall. Tap water is drinkable but drinking unboiled water is not recommended. Most hotels will provide boiled drinking water. Bottled spring water is easily available at convenience stores and supermarkets.

Currency		The currency of the ROC is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$). Foreign currency can be exchanged at most large banks, tourist hotels and international airports. The New Taiwan Dollar has four denominations in paper money and four in coins. Paper money comes in NT$1000, NT$500, NT$100, and NT$50 denominations. Coins come in NT$50, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1 denominations.

Business Hours		Banks are open between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. Government offices usually open from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 8:30 a.m. and noon on Saturdays. Government offices and banks have a five-day working week in the second and fourth weeks of each month. Department stores are generally open between 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Convenience stores are mostly open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Communications		Public telephones are either coin-operated or card-operated. All local and domestic long-distance calls are timed. The basic charge for a local call is NT$1. Telephone cards can be purchased at most convenience stores and from Chunghwa Telecom offices. For English-speaking directory assistance in Taipei call Fax facilities are available from some convenience stores, major post offices and tourist hotels.

Vaccinations		Visitors to Taiwan from countries with yellow fever epidemics or visitors who have recently passed through such countries may be required to have proof of inoculation before entering Taiwan. Further information can be obtained from the National Quarantine Service of the Department of Health, Taiwan.

Visas		Visa-free entry for 14 days (non-extendable) is granted to nationals of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA who have a passport valid for at least 6 months, a confirmed onward or return ticket and no criminal record. Visa-free entry may be obtained at CKS International Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport, Keelung Harbor, Hualien Harbor, Taichung Harbor and Kaohsiung Harbor. Landing visas of 30 days' duration (non-extendible) can be obtained at CKS International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport by nationals of the above entities and nationals of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Switzerland on payment of NT$1,500. The same conditions as for visa-free entry apply. Nationals of the USA and Austria (who have reciprocal agreements with Taiwan) are exempt from payment of the visa charge. Tourist visas must be applied for before arriving in Taiwan. Tourist visas are valid for 60 days and are eligible for two 60-day extensions for a maximum stay of six months

National Holidays in 2000		On the national holidays listed below, offices and banks are closed. Many shops will remain open for at least part of the day. January 1 Foundation Day of the Republic of China commemorates the founding of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. February 4~7 Chinese Lunar New Year the most important and colorful event in the Chinese ceremonial calendar. some private companies will be closed for a longer period. February 28 Peace Memorial Day a day of commemoration for the February 28 Incident. April 4 Tomb Sweeping Day a day when Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to pay respects. June 6 Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat races are held and glutinous rice dumplings are eaten in remembrance of the poet and statesman Chuyuan, who lived during the third century BC. September 12 Mid-Autumn Festival China's harvest festival, this is a day when families reunite to look at the harvest moon and eat moon cakes. October 10 Double Tenth National Day commemorates the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China on January 1, 1912. November 12 Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Birthday commemorates the birth of the founding father of the Republic of China. December 25 Constitution Day commemorates the inauguration of the constitution of the ROC.