Practical information Taiwan

13973  sq.mi

16 hour flight. Taipei is 6,074 mi from London. Among other airlines with only one connection such as British Airways and Cathay Pacific, Eva Air travels to Taipei from the UK via Bangkok, with 2 daily flights from London. China Airlines, the national airline, flies from the United Kingdom to Taiwan throughout the day, with connections in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna or Rome.

22954262 hab.

The Chiang Kai-Shek international airport is a 45 minute drive from downtown Taipei (22 miles) Taxis are the best means of travelling to the city Budget roughly TWD 400 (12 pounds). The Sung Shan local airport is 10 minutes away from the city centre by taxi. The trip will cost approximately TWD 175 (5 pounds). The bus transport network Chung Hsin TWD 72 (2 euros) and links the two airports to Taipei every 10 minutes.

Be careful with your credit cards. Theft and forgery networks are numerous and highly skilled. The island of Taiwan lies in a region with high volcanic activity. It is strongly advisable to seek information on what to do in case of an earthquake. The season of typhoons runs from July to October Alert bulletins are generally relayed by all the media. For information in Chinese and English, visit the website for the Central Weather Bureau at: www.cwb.gov.tw

Mandarin, also called Kuo-Yu, is the national language. Minnan is spoken by 70 % of the population. Several Chinese dialects are also spoken, such as the phonetic Foukian. Several Taiwanese speak English.

You should have a passport valid for at least six months after the return date. For stays of less than 30 days, a visa is not necessary. Beyond 30 days, a visa is mandatory. It costs 62 euros for a single entry and lasts for 60 days. Bring the visa request form, a photo and a justifying document of your round-trip ticket. Allow 48 hours for delivery.

Buddhists: 23.5 %; Taoists: 20.6 %; Ikuataoists: 4.5 % (a syncretic religion derived from the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism); Protestants: 2%; Roman Catholics: 1.5 %; Muslims: 0,3 %.

The currency is the new Taiwan dollar (TWD). You can exchange foreign currencies in banks, hotels and shops, though a receipt of your transactions will be requested on your return in order to convert any money back into pounds. Travellers cheques can be cashed in all tourist areas and American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club credit cards are most commonly accepted. There are also many cash machines in the cities. Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:30pm during the week and from 9:00am to noon on Saturdays.

The best means to discover the island is by renting a car. Driving is on the right. You must be 18 years old with an international driver's licence to be allowed to drive. Car rental agencies are locally-owned: Gordon's, Rent-a-car, Hung-Ji, Hsing-Fu. You will find them at the airport and in main cities. Make provision for fuel for long journeys, as the filling stations are closed at night and difficult to find at high altitudes. Roads are good and signs translated into English In Taipei, movement is very difficult and dangerous. The traffic jams and swarms of motorbikes in the city are imposing. Avoid driving.
To travel from one city to another, you can equally travel by air: Flights are numerous. Taipei/Kaohsiung: 24 pounds (40 minutes); Taipei/Hualien: 20 pounds (30 minutes); Taipei/Tainan: 24 pounds (40 minutes).
Buses are plentiful, run up to 11 p.m. and will cost you more than 40 pence per trip.
Taxis are equally plentiful. They are fitted with a meter, but you should negotiate a flat rate for excursions of several days. This will cost you roughly £1.20
Trains offer 3 classes. You can buy your tickets in hotels. Since 7 December 2006, Taiwan has had its own high speed train linking the north and south of the country in merely 1h20: much more practical than by air!
Boats travel to the Pescadores islands, from Kaohsiung, for 10 pounds

Main recommendations:
vaccines against hepatitises A and B are recommended. Protect children against yellow fever. Avoid raw food and drink mineral water. A preventive treatment against malaria is recommended (Savarine) during the monsoon, in summer. Hospital structures and care in the country are of quality. However, you should subscribe to good repatriation insurance before departure.
Fried snakes are a very popular dish on night markets in Taiwan. Experts say reptiles must be cooked very well in order to kill the worms that live in their body and can be responsible for meningitis.
Good to know:
there is always medical help available every Tuesday at the French Institute in Tapei.

Voltage is 110. Adapter needed.

Taiwan hosted 3.5 million foreign visitors in 2006.

To call Taiwan from the UK, dial 00 + 886 followed by the city code (Taipei: 2) + the 8_digit number.
To call the UK from Taiwan: 00 + 44 + the 10-digit number without the 0.