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Taiwan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sunset at Lake Zhengqing near Kaohsiung Sunset at Lake Zhengqing near Kaohsiung Grufti Taiwan is situated about 160 kilometers off the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland, and between Korea and Japan in the north and The Philippines to the south. The island has always been known as one of the most beautiful in the Pacific. The Portuguese called it Ilha Formosa, which means "The Beautiful Isle". With its mountains that rise up high above the green-forested foothills, its terraced flatlands and coastal plains and basins and foremost with its friendly generous people, it's almost "paradise" (if you overlook the widespread environmental devastation caused by rapid development). It is not just the breathtaking scenery with waterfalls, lakes, hot springs or misty hillsides that make Taiwan well worth a visit. Pagodas and temples build on a culture that goes back beyond the beginning of western civilization. Next to nature and tradition there's also the modern Taiwan with skyscrapers that almost reach into heaven, with their feet firmly planted in a chaotic stream of traffic. Whatever you're looking for, you can probably find it in here. If you visit the capital city of Taipei, even if you're just passing through take a day or two to look around and to visit the Yangmingshan National Park. Other major cities are Taichung and the industrial city of Kaohsiung. Sidewalks are poor, but the streets are clean, if not somewhat disorganized. The most beautiful natural regions are Central Cross-Island Highway, the Hsitou's bamboo forests, Sun Moon Lake, Kenting National Park and the Yushan National Park and of course there's Yushan (Jade Mountain), Alishan and Taroko Gorge. If you think you have seen the whole island you also have to discover the Penghu Islands, off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Ancient temples, picturesque farms and windswept fishing villages, friendly people, fine beaches, coral reefs, and rugged coastlines are just a few keywords to get your attention. This is a great place for all kinds of water sports and don't forget to try the fresh seafood! __________History Edit This photo Taiwan's aboriginal peoples who originated in Austronesia and southern China have lived on Taiwan for 12 000 to 15 000 years. Significant migration to Taiwan from the Chinese mainland began as early as A.D. 500. Dutch traders first claimed the island in 1624 as a base for Dutch commerce with Japan and the China coast. Two years later the Spanish established a settlement on the northwest coast of Taiwan which they occupied until 1642 when they were driven out by the Dutch. Dutch colonists administered the island and its predominantly aboriginal population until 1661. The first major influx of migrants from the Chinese mainland came during the Dutch period sparked by the political and economic chaos on the China coast during the Manchu invasion and the end of the Ming Dynasty. In 1664 a Chinese fleet led by the Ming loyalist Cheng Ch'eng-kung (Zheng Chenggong known in the West as Koxinga) retreated from the mainland and occupied Taiwan. Cheng expelled the Dutch and established Taiwan as a base in his attempt to restore the Ming Dynasty. He died shortly thereafter and in 1683 his successors submitted to Manchu (Qing Dynasty) control. From 1680 the Qing Dynasty ruled Taiwan as a prefecture and in 1875 divided the island into two prefectures north and south. In 1887 the island was made into a separate Chinese province. During the 18th and 19th centuries migration from Fujian and Guangdong provinces steadily increased and Chinese supplanted aborigines as the dominant population group. In 1895 a weakened Imperial China ceded Taiwan to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki following the first Sino-Japanese war. During its 50 years (1895-1945) of colonial rule Japan expended considerable effort in developing Taiwan's economy. At the same time Japanese rule led to the "Japanization" of the island including compulsory Japanese education and forcing residents of Taiwan to adopt Japanese names. At the end of World War II in 1945 Taiwan reverted to Chinese rule. During the immediate postwar period the Nationalist Chinese (KMT) administration on Taiwan was repressive and corrupt leading to local discontent. Anti-mainlander violence flared on February 28 1947 prompted by an incident in which a cigarette seller was injured and a passerby was shot to death by Nationalist authorities. The island-wide rioting was brutally put down by Nationalist Chinese troops who killed thousands of people. Until recently accounts of this episode in Taiwan history had been suppressed by the KMT. As a result of the February 28 Incident the native Taiwanese felt a deep-seated bitterness to the Mainlanders. In 1995 a monument was dedicated to the victims of the "2-28 Incident and for the first time Taiwan's leader, President Lee Teng-hui, publicly apologized for the Nationalists' brutality. From the 1930s onward a civil war was underway on the mainland between Chiang Kai-shek's KMT government and the Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong. When the civil war ended in 1949, two million refugees, predominately from the Nationalist government, military, and business community, fled to Taiwan. In October 1949 the People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded on the mainland by the victorious communists. Chiang Kai-shek and his Nationalists continued to hold out on Taiwan, establishing Taipei as the "provisional" capital of the Republic of China (ROC). Throughout the Cold War, each side regarded itself as the sole legitimate government of China During the 1950s the KMT-controlled government implemented a far-reaching and highly successful land reform program on Taiwan. They redistributed land among small farmers and compensated large landowners with commodities certificates and stock in state-owned industries. Although this left some large landowners impoverished others turned their compensation into capital and started commercial and industrial enterprises. These entrepreneurs were to become Taiwan's first industrial capitalists. Together with refugee businessmen from the mainland they managed Taiwan's transition from an agricultural to a commercial industrial economy. Taiwan has developed steadily into a major international trading power with more than $218 billion in two-way trade. Tremendous prosperity on the island was accompanied by economic and social stability. Chiang Kai-shek's successor his son Chiang Ching-kuo began to liberalize Taiwan's political system a process that has continued since President Lee Teng-hui took office in 1988. In 2000, the KMT lost the presidency for the first time to the Democratic Progressive Party's Chen Shui-bian. ___________Practical Information Edit This Currency The local currency is the Taiwan Dollar (TWD) [Add Practical address] Telecommunications Edit This International Telephone Calls: The standard way to make a direct international calls is Dial 002 + country code + district code + phone number. For operator-assisted international calls, please dial 100. Direct dialing is available from those public phones with a yellow label attached. Domestic Long Distance Calls: These may be made on private phones or all public phones directly. Calls made in different area code are charged as long-distance calls. Local telephone calls: The rate is NT$1 for one minute. Calls are automatically cut off after 2 minutes. The area more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Currency Edit This The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money and four in coins. Bank notes comes in NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200 and NT$100 denominations. Coins come in NT$50, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1 denominations. For current exchange rates, use the Currency Converter at http://www.xe.net/ucc Foreign currencies can be exchanged at airports, government-designated banks and hotels. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Traveller's cheques may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, some more.. type: Money matters World66 rating: [rate it] Post Office Edit This The rate for domestic express letters are NT$5, and NT$12for prompt delivery. There is also a domestic super-express mail, which is expensive, but your letter is guaranteed to be delivered anywhere in just a few hours. International express mail service is available. The rate for international postcard (to Europe) is NT$14-15. type: Embassies and Consulates World66 rating: [rate it] Electricity and water Edit This Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles. Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners. Tap water is drinkable, but drinking unboiled water is not recommended. Most hotels provide boiled drinking water. Bottled water is easily available at convenience stores and supermarkets. type: Tourist information World66 rating: [rate it] Tipping Edit This A 10% service charge is automatically added to room rates and meals in some restaurants. Other tipping is optional and unexpected by the waiters and waitresses, so expect a puzzled look. type: Embassies and Consulates World66 rating: [rate it] __________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Spillover from the Asian financial crisis hit Taiwan in the fourth quarter of 1997 wreaking havoc on the stock and currency markets. While the economy remains sound (the government forecasts 6% GDP growth for 1998) the New Taiwan Dollar depreciated 20% in 1997. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low. Agriculture contributes only 3% to GDP down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China Thailand Indonesia the Philippines Malaysia and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers both legal and illegal. GDP: purchasing power parity—$308 billion (1997 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 6.8% (1997 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$14 200 (1997 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 35.7% services: 61% (1996) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 0.9% (1997) Labor force: total: 9.4 million (1997) by occupation: services 52% industry 38% agriculture 10% (1996 est.) Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1997) Budget: revenues: $40 billion expenditures: $55 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) Industries: electronics textiles chemicals clothing food processing plywood sugar milling cement shipbuilding petroleum refining Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997) Electricity—capacity: 23.763 million kW (1996) Electricity—production: 124.973 billion kWh (1996) Electricity—consumption per capita: 5 500 kWh (1995) Agriculture—products: rice wheat corn soybeans vegetables fruit tea; pigs poultry beef milk; fish Exports: total value: $122.1 billion (f.o.b. 1997) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7% electronic products 14.8% information/communications 11.8% textile products 11.6% (1997) partners: US 24.2% Hong Kong 23.5% Europe 15.1% Japan 9.6% (1997) Imports: total value: $114.4 billion (c.i.f. 1997) commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5% electronic products 16.3% chemicals 10.0% precision instrument 5.6% (1997) partners: Japan 25.4% US 20.3% Europe 18.9% Hong Kong 1.7% (1997) Debt—external: $80 million (1997 est.) Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1—32.45 (yearend 1997) 27.5 (1996) 27.4 (1995) 26.2 (1994) 26.6 (1993) 25.4 (1992) Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June __________People Edit This Population: 22,894,384 (July 2005 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.7% (male 2,349,077/female 2,156,755) 15-64 years: 70.7% (male 8,205,933/female 7,980,056) 65 years and over: 9.6% (male 1,107,708/female 1,094,855) (2005 est.) Population growth rate: 0.63% (2005 est.) Birth rate: 12.64 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.26 years male: 74.49 years female: 80.28 years (2005 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.) Nationality: noun: Taiwanese (singular and plural) adjective: Taiwanese Ethnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84% mainland Chinese 14% aborigine 2% Religions: mixture of Buddhist Confucian and Taoist 93% Christian 4.5% other 2.5% Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka, aboriginal languages Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% (2003) :::::::::::Alishan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Alishan is known throughout Taiwan for its beautiful morning views of jagged peaks jutting out of a sea of fluffy clouds. Just about every visitor to Alishan will make the short train journey on up the mountain to the prime sunrise-viewing location of Chushan. By the way the sunset at this popular resort is also pretty amazing. Alishan was first discovered during the early years of the Japanese occupation (1895-1945) for its abundant cypress forests. These cypress forests are also worth to explore. ________Day Trips Edit This [Add Day Trip] Alishan Forest Railway Edit This The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the only three steep-gradient alpine railways in the world, the others being from Darjeeling in India into the Himalayas and from Chile through the Andes to Argentina. Construction of the Alishan Forest Railway was commenced in 1899 by the Japanese. Intended to transport logs down the mountain, it has a 762mm gauge, a gradient of 6.25%, and a minimum turning radius of 40 meters. Traffic was opened on the 66.6-kilometer stretch between Chiai and Erwanping in 1912, and was extended up Alishan to a full length of 71.4 kilometers in 1914. The more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] :::::::::::Jungli Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see classic classic Yestreen Famous for its Sinming Night Market. Visitors can try various snacks and buy noted products of Taiwan here. All kinds of hardware, groceries, Hong Kong and Korean clothes, shoes, hats, stockings are available here. Held on Shinming Rd. between Jungyang W. Rd. and Mintzu Rd. in Jungli City, Taoyuan ::::::::::Kaohsiung Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_1 yestreen Kaohsiung's original name is actually "Dagou" or "Dahgu.This name persisted until 1920, when the city's name was changed to Kaohsiung. The city is situated in the South of the island. and is the island's largest industrial center. :::::::::Keelung Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see port port yestreen Situated in the northern part of Taiwan island, Keelung used to be called Jilong, which means hencoop. The name was later changed to Keelung which means "rich and prosperous land". The city occupies 132.7589 square kilometers of land, 95% of which are hills. The city is separated from the neighboring counties and cities by the mountains in the east, west and south. The northern part of the city faces the ocean and is a great deepwater harbor since early times. As the city is surrounded by mountains, communications between Keelung and other places were not very convenient in the past when transportation was not well-developed. Gradually, the isolation gave Keelung a chance to develop its own marine culture. After hundreds of years of battles and struggles, the city now becomes an international harbor city visited by numerous ships. Every year, Keelung holds the Mid-July Festival, which often attracts thousands of visitors. When you visit Keelung, don't miss the fine and exquisite cuisine near the temple and be sure to plan a trip to visit the emplacements, the tunnels, the beak head, the bay, the fishing port and the fishing market in Keelung. __________Sights Edit This [Add Sight] The Waterfalls of Pingshi Edit This Located just south of Keelung, inland from the northern tip of the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area, Pingshi was once an area that bustled with coal-mining activities. Only an old railway line threading through the mountains and forests is left from those glory days; now, instead of coal miners, the trains carry sightseers heading for the densest concentration of waterfalls in Taiwan. A unique local custom here is the release of "sky lanterns"-miniature hot-air balloons-at the time of the Lantern Festival, two weeks after the Lunar New Year. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Shiandung Cave Edit This It is one of Keelung's most popular religious as well as sightseeing attractions. This sea-eroded cave, more than 80 meters long,has walls decorated with lifelike carvings of the 18 Arhats of Buddhist lore. To get there exit the freeway at the Keelung interchange and take Jungyi Rd., then turn onto Jungshan 1st Rd. and continue along it to the Jungshan 4th Rd. and Renan St. intersection. Also, you can take No. 301 city bus on the Taibaili route and get off at the Shiandung Cave stop. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] __________Tours and Excursions Edit This Star Cruise Lines bring you the Super Star Gemini with three weekly departures from Keelong, Taiwan. Enjoy a few days crossing the high seas to destinations around the southern Japan islands. They have 2 and 3 night cruises departing on Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays. Nore information about the cruises in English can be received by contacting 04-2326-5191 or visiting this link http://www.whosetravel.com/Cruises.htm :::::::::Kenting Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see This moutain is not hight but sharp, can be seen every where in Kenting. This moutain is not hight but sharp, can be seen every where in Kenting. Jann-Jyh Chen Kenting is in the southern part of Taiwan. It is a popular beach area bordering on the tropical region of Taiwan. Don’t hesitate to rent a bike and explore the (flat) surroundings. Kenting is also a National Park of Taiwan, with many tropical plants such as palm trees, a few banana trees, and even sugar canes. Good place to swim and dive. :::::::::Sun moon lake Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see sml sml Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest and most beautiful lake- that is, when you should believe all the honeymooners and tourists who come over there. The clear blue water invites for swimming, but because this is not allowed, you’ll have to rent a boat and make a trip to the Kuanghua Island on the western side of the lake (or grab your chance when water skiing). It will take at least a day to see all the sights around the lake. There are several temples, such as the Wenwu Temple (dedicated to Confucius and Kuankung) and the Hsuanchuang Temple. Peacock Park is a mini zoo where you can visit the Butterfly Museum and have your picture taken at an idyllic spot. Tehuashe Aboriginal Village is located at the far end of the lake. Make the effort of rising early in the morning to catch a glimpse of Jade Mountain reflected in the water, just after the morning mists have disappeared. :::::::::::Taichung Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo_1 yestreen Taichung is a city with pleasant climate on the west coast of central Taiwan. The city is home to many manufacturers and in recent years has undergone a rapid growth of various cultural venues. Traffic in Taichung is better than in Kaohsiung or Taipei, though parking a car is still tricky. Taichung is relatively crime free compared to other cities of the same size, as long as you don't count overstaying a visa and working illegally as 'crimes'. Among the activities to catch when visiting Taichung: visit the world-class science museum, and hike the nearby hills. There are many famous night markets(ChungHwa night market, Feng-Chia university night market, Tung-Hai university night market, Chung-Shiao night market) in Taichung, which can provide you different night life experience. You can enjoy delicious foods, drinks and buy cheap and interesting stuffs in these night markets. _________Tours and Excursions Edit This Here are some suggested tours. Contributors March 21, 2005 change by giorgio [Add New] Green Island Taiwan Edit This photo If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Taiwan, Green Island is nature-lover's paradise. This island is sparsely-populated and can be circumnavigated in 30 minutes by scooter. Except for a small town on the southern part of the island the island has been kept free from commercial development. This offers the visitor unspoiled natural beauty both on and offshore. The climate on Green Island is tropical and weather is good year round. The activities on Green Island include diving, snorkeling, hiking, salt water hot springs and fishing. There is not a lot more.. World66 rating: [rate it] zipcode: 401 url: www.whosetravel.com address: Box 35-62 Taichung tel: 04-2326-5191 email: flights@WhoseTravel.com __________Museums Edit This Here are a few suggested museums. Contributors September 09, 2005 change by giorgio [Add Museum] National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Edit This National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts is the largest Fine arts museum in Taiwan. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 886(04)2372-3552 openingHours: Tuesday through Sunday - 9:00 ~17:00 Closed on Mondays url: www.tmoa.gov.tw address: 2,SEC. 1, WU CHUAN W. RD., TAICHUNG 403 TAIWAN National Museum of Natural Science Edit This Taichung National Museum of Natural Science is a world class science museum. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 886-4-23226940 openingHours: 9:00a.m.-17:00p.m. (closed on Mondays) url: www.nmns.edu.tw address: 1, Kuan Chien Rd., Taichung, Taiwan Taichung Cultural Center Edit This The city's spacious cultural center--adjacent to the National Museum of Fine Arts--holds regular local art exhibitions and other events in its galleries and halls. Outside is a network of tree-lined walking paths. World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.tccgc.gov.tw ____________People Edit This If you are a chess player and you are in Taichung on a Sunday night, go by Salut Pizza around 8:00 PM and challenge Karl Smith, the 6' 7" strategic powerhouse. Long recognized as one of Asia's strongest players, Karl takes on all comers every Sunday night. Salut Pizza is in the walking mall down from PJ's pub, at the intersection of Da Ye Road and Jin Cheng Road. _______Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This La Terrasse Bistro 43, Ta Sheng St. Tel: 04-2325-6982 Hours: 11:30am-9:30pm Outstanding food, great service, reasonable prices. The restaurant is located around the corner from the DNA Gym. The owner is Australian, but he has managed to learn some English after so many years abroad. ::::::::::::Tainan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo yestreen Make sure to visit the old Dutch fort. Tainan also is the headqaurters of a world famous screw manufactuer. Their machines can make thouands of screws a minute. Tainan is one of the oldest city in Taiwan. Tainan used to be the old capital of Taiwan and was later changed to Taipei. The weather at Tainan is hot and humid. Tainan is also know for the wonderful authentic Taiwanese food in the entire island. So, when you visit, don't forget to enjoy the food. _________Day Trips Edit This [Add Day Trip] Southern Cross-Island Highway Edit This South of the Yushan National Park is the Southern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Road No. 20), which connects Tainan on the west coast with Taitung on the east coast. The highway crosses the southern part of the Central Mountain Range and has a length of about 200 kilometers. Along this road you can find many different natural attractions such as waterfalls, canyons and hot springs and experience a variety of local specialties. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] :::::::Taoyuan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see photo yestreen The Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport is located in Taoyuan. :::::::::MIN SHENG ROAD Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see MIN SHENG ROAD: MIN SHENG ROAD is the most famous road in Taiwan. :::::::::Toroko gorge Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see toroko toroko One of Taiwan's premiere tourist attractions is the Toroko Gorge. The gorge is best explored from Hualien a town of 100,000 people. The Toroko Gorge is a spectacular marble canyon. The few human constructions actually add to the place. There are the red suspension bridges, temples set in mountains and, most famously, the Eternal Spring Shrine. The Shrine is built over a waterfall and dedicated to the 450 people who died making the Cross-Island Highway that runs along the gorge. The Highway certainly gives a feeling of how hard it was to build here. The amazing route is precariously cut right into the side of the gorge. Beyond Toroko, the road goes up into the high mountains of central Taiwan where there are incredible views of numerous peaks lined with terraced slopes. At one point, I drove into the clouds and had the mist blowing through the car. The mountain drive went up to 3,200 m (10,500 ft) high, the highest road in Asia outside Nepal and Tibet. The highest point was near Hohuanshan, where slippery grassy trails went to the peak.