Taiwan

Taiwan is an island east of China and south of Japan. It is geographically very similar to Japan.

Visas

Many visitors don't require visas to visit Taiwan for stays of up to 30 days (Aus, US, Canada, Singapore, passport holders of EU countries). Japanese, British and Irish and NZ passport holders can stay visa-free for 90 days. South Africans must apply for a visa in advance.

As always, you should ensure that you have 6 months validity left on your passport.

Getting There

By Air

The main hub is Taipei, though it's also possible to fly into Kaohsiung from Singapore, HK, Macau and Japan (though expensive).

• Eva Air flies cheaply to Taipei from nagoya and KIX.

• Cathay Pacific Cathay are a fabulous airline and there are flights from Osaka and Nagoya to Taipei (direct).

• Jetstar are a budget airline with a bit of a lousy rep for cancellations/delays etc. But they are cheap. Flights from KIX to Taipei.

• China Airlines are a Taiwanese carrier, not to be confused with Air China. Flights from Nagoya and Osaka.

• JAL. I've never flown JAL - no comments.

• ANA Never flown ANA so no comments.

• Air Asia is a budget airline based in Kuala Lumpur. They are a terrific airline with some very, very good deals. Not so useful for flights from Japan, but if you are in SE Asia, you may be able to pick up a flight to Taiwan from Kota Kinabalua, KL or Bangkok.

Borders

Taiwan is an island so only ocean borders.

It is possible to enter the country via ferry from China.

See Taiwan Ferries for further information.

Money

Taiwan uses the Taiwan New Dollar. As of Dec 2010, it was roughly ¥100 to NT35. Check the latest on [www.xe.com XE]

ATMs are widely available in big and medium sized cities and many accept foreign cards with Cirrus/Plus/Maestro. Many Japanese bank cards will be useles - e.g. Hyakugo.

Bureaux de Change are not so common, even in Taipei, but you can change money at some post offices and at banks during regular banking hours. The Post Office at Taipei Main station is open til about 8pm in the evening. Hotels are also an option though for poorer rates.

Places

Taipei

• FLORAL EXPO - until April 25 2011, Taipei is hosting the international floral expo - it's a massive event with a tonne of halls/displays to see. Based around the parks/exposition spaces east of Yuanshan Metro Station. Whole day passes are available with tickets after 1pm and 5pm significantly cheaper.

• Taipei 101 - currently the second tallest building in the world (after Burj Khalifa) at 508m (helped by a 60*m spire). Its observation deck is actually 80m LOWER than that of Shanghai's World Financial Services Centre building. Costs NTD400 to go up. Pretty impressive building with great views. There are a tonne of decent places to eat in the food court at the basement of Taipei 101 as well as some great shopping.

• Confucius Temple -

• Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall - set at one side of the same square that boasts the National Theatre and National Concert Hall. Here you can see a ridiculously large statue of CKS. There is a small museum underneath the monstrosity.

• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Less impressive as a monument, but with a much more interesting museum. You can watch the changing of the guards here twice a day. The surrounding grounds are pretty lively - old men flying large kites, tai chi practitioners etc.

• Taipei Riverside Cycle-ways/park areas - there are a string of cycle-ways around Taipei that pass through parks and run alongside the river. They are a fantastic place to get a sense of what Taipei-ers do for recreation. Early in the morning, particularly around the riverbanks of Zhongshan, is a great time to visit. Groups of people practising tai-chi, cyclists, runners, basketballers, dudes playing croquet, groups of ladies practising samba, rumba etc. Really worth the visit between 6-9am.

• 2-28 Peace Park - a nice enough park with a memorial to those who were killed in a massacre on Feb 28, 1947.