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Changhwa
I
Chiayi
City
I
Hsitou
I
HuaLien
I
Kaohsiung
I
Kinmen
I
Lienchiang |
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Miaoli I
Nantou
I
Penghu
I
Pingtung
I
Taichung
I
Taipei
I
Taitung
I
Tainan |
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Taoyuan
I
Yilan
I
Yunlin
I
Orchid
Island
I
Green
Island |
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Taiwan's
total
land
area
is
only
about
3,6000
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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Taiwan
lies
on
the
western
edge
of
the
Pacific
"rim
of
fire,"
and
continuous
tectonic
movements
have
created
majestic
peaks,
rolling
hills
and
plains,
basins,
coastlines,
and
other
wonders.
Taiwan
sees
climates
of
many
types:
tropical,
sub-tropical,
and
temperate,
providing
clear
differentiation
between
the
different
seasons.
There
are
about
18,400
species
of
wildlife
on
the
island,
with
more
than
20%
belonging
to
rare
or
endangered
species;
among
these
are
the
land-locked
salmon,
Taiwan
mountain
goat,
Formosan
rock
monkey,
Formosan
black
bear,
blue
magpie,
Mikado
pheasant,
Hsuehshan
grass
lizard,
and
many
more. |
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The
government
has
established
6
national
parks
and
12
national
scenic
areas
to
preserve
Taiwan's
best
natural
ecological
environment
and
cultural
sites.
Take
in
the
splendor
and
sheer
heights
of
the
cliffs
at
Taroko
Gorge;
take
a
ride
on
the
Alishan
train--one
of
only
three
mountain
railways
in
the
world--and
experience
the
breathtaking
sunset
and
sea
of
clouds;
hike
up
to
the
summit
of
Northeast
Asia's
highest
peak,
Jade
Mountain.
You
can
also
soak
up
the
sun
in
Kending,
Asia's
version
of
Hawaii;
stand
at
the
edge
of
Sun
Moon
Lake;
traipse
through
the
East
Rift
Valley;
or
visit
the
offshore
islands
of
Kinmen
and
Penghu.
It's
fun
in
capital
letters
as
well
as
an
awesome
journey
of
natural
discovery! |
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The
cultural
aspects
also
not
to
be
missed.
The
blending
of
Hakka,
Taiwanese,
and
mainland
Chinese
cultures
has
produced
a
rich
plethora
of
cultural
and
social
color.
Whether
it
is
religion,
architecture,
language,
living
habits,
or
food,
it's
just
one
big
exciting
melting
pot!
Food
is
the
best
representative
of
this
cultural
mixing
and
matching.
Aside
from
cuisines
from
different
parts
of
the
mainland
such
as
Zhejiang,
Hunan,
Guangdong,
Yunnan,
Shanghai,
Beijing,
Sichuan,
and
others,
there
is
also
the
local
Taiwanese
cuisine
as
well
as
the
local
delicacies
of
each
area. |
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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,
Jade
Mountain,
which
is
nearly
4,000
meter
in
height.
Besides
mountains,
beautiful
coastal
scenes
are
also
part
of
Taiwan's
great
natural
asset.
UNESCO
World
Heritage
Sites |
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Shopping |
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In
Taipei
you
can
buy
almost
anything
you
can
think
of
from
designer
names
to
antique
curios,
electronics,
original
jewellery,
hand-painted
scrolls,
fragrant
tea
and
quality
toys
for
children.
Department
stores,
boutiques
and
small
shops
all
offer
quality
at
reasonable
prices
in
sleek
and
sophisticated
surroundings.
Night
markets
are
fun
to
shop
in.
While
they
only
accept
cash
and
vendors
rarely
speak
English,
shoppers
can
often
bargain.
The
best
selection
and
prices
for
souvenirs,
gifts,
casual
clothing
and
traditional
handicrafts
can
often
be
found
in
the
capital's
many
night
markets.
Taipei's
notable
shopping
districts
offer
a
good
selection
of
shops
where
visitors
can
get
good
buys.
Taiwan
is
also
a
shopping
heaven
for
females
of
all
ages.
From
large
department
stores
and
shopping
centers
full
of
top-end
designer
labels
to
small
markets
with
accessories
and
cheap
clothing,
the
goods
and
services
these
places
offer
are
guaranteed
to
ensure
that
your
shopping
experience
is
not
only
enjoyable
but
also
memorable. |
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Leisure |
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After
the
workday
ends
Taipei
relaxes
until
the
wee
small
hours
of
the
morning.
There
are
many
ways
to
spend
those
leisure
hours
from
shopping
in
department
stores
to
browsing
in
night
markets.
As
well,
there
are
cultural
shows
of
Taiwanese
Opera
and
cinemas
screening
English
language
films.
Coffee
houses
and
teahouses
provide
quiet
havens
to
sip
and
chat.
The
atmosphere
in
Taipei's
discos
and
MTV
and
KTV
lounges
is
decidedly
more
lively!
For
those
keen
on
sport
there
are
fitness
centres
and
swimming
pools,
ten-pin
bowling
and
golfing
on
world
class
courses.
Colourful
by
day,
Taipei
sparkles
by
night.
The
streets
of
Taipei
are
safe
by
night
so
get
out
and
enjoy
the
capital
when
neon
lights
shine. |
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Where
and
What
to
eat |
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Taiwan
is a
true
food
lover's
paradise.
Exquisite
Chinese
cuisines
and
a
wide
variety
of
international
foods
delight
hungry
visitors.
Restaurants,
cafes,
fast
food
outlets
and
snack
stalls
selling
local
specialties
are
conveniently
located
in
larger
cities.
International
food
courts
are
found
in
all
major
department
stores.
Taipei
offers
the
finest
Chinese
cuisine
in
the
world.
There
are
reasonably
priced
restaurants
on
almost
every
street
where
tourists
can
have
excellent
meals.
For
true
gourmets
major
hotels
have
superior
Chinese
restaurants.
As
well,
there
are
sophisticated
independent
restaurants
that
serve
regional
Chinese
cuisines
where
visitors
dine
in
style.
Budget
travellers
haven't
been
forgotten.
There
are
numerous
fast
food
outlets,
countless
snack
centres
-
generally
located
in
the
basements
of
department
stores
-
and
stalls
at
night
markets
where
inexpensive
meals
are
available
in a
lively
environment.
As a
major
tourist
destination
and
a
international
business
centre,
Taipei
also
has
restaurants
offering
European
and
American
cuisines
as
well
as
non
Chinese
Asian
fare
like
Indian,
Indonesian,
Korean
and
Japanese. |
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Getting
around |
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Visitors
to
Taiwan
are
pleased
to
discover
an
extensive
air,
road
and
rail
network
that
provides
an
economic
and
convenient
way
to
explore
the
island.
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Trains : The round island railway system makes travel between major cities easy and convenient. The easiest way to book train tickets is through the web site of the Taiwan Railway Authority (www.railway.gov.tw). Travel time from Taipei in the north to Kaohsiung in the south takes five to six hours. Fare for trains are quite reasonable with this journey, for instance, costing about $45.
Taipei Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT) : There are five major lines that cover most of inner and Greater Taipei. You can buy a day ticket in any station for NT$150 (about $7.50) that allows unlimited travel on the entire MRT network. Instructions in English on ticket machines simplify the purchase of tickets. These are generally priced around NT$20 - NT$80 (approximately $1 - $4) if you stay on the same line. Visit the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation for details.
Taxis: Easy to hail, cabs which abound in every major city are an affordable form of transport. Taxi meters start at NT$70 (approximately $4.30) for the first 1.65 km and NT$5 (approximately .30 cents) for each additional 350 metres. Waiting time is NT$5 for every three minutes. Tipping is not necessary. As most drivers do not understand English or other foreign languages it's best to have your destination written in Chinese.
Domestic airlines: Air travel is the fastest and most convenient method to travel between major cities in Taiwan. Nine domestic airlines provide daily flights between Taipei and other major centres as well as to offshore islands like Orchid Island, Kimen, Matsu Island, and Penghu. Travel time from Taipei to most destinations is between 30 and 50 minutes.
Bus: Reliable express buses connect Taipei with all major cities and scenic spots using the modern highway network. Travel time from Taipei to Kaohsiung, for example, takes five to six hours. Fares for buses are quite reasonable with this journey from north to south costing about $30.
Car Rentals: Due to heaving traffic and limited parking space self-drive is not recommended in larger cities. In rural and other less populated areas it's more suitable. |
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Information
&
Photos
Courtesy
of
Tourism
Bureau,
Republic
of
China
(Taiwan) |
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