Location and geography
Taiwan is situated in the Pacific Ocean about 160 kilometers from the southeastern coast China's mainland. To the west of Taiwan is the Taiwan Strait, facing the Fujian Province on China's mainland. The width of the Taiwan Strait is less than 200 kilometers and only 130 kilometer at the narrowest part. To the north is Korea and Japan and to the south is Hong Kong and The Philippines. Being so centrally located Taiwan is a great gateway for travelers to and within Asia.

Taiwan has more than 100 islands; the largest which is shaped like a tobacco leaf and is the 28th largest island in the world accounts for more than 97% of Taiwan's total area. The main island from north to south is 394 kilometers long and its width from east to west is 20-144 kilometers.
About two thirds of Taiwan is mountainous area. The central mountain range bisects the island from the north to the south leaving the other third of the island made up of foothills, terraced flatlands, and coastal plains.

Climate
Taiwan belongs to both tropical and subtropical zones therefore having some what of a subtropical climate with neither a severe winters nor intense heat in the summer. Taiwan however is known for an abundant rainfall and typhoons in the summer periods.
The average annual temperature is 22 degrees Celsius in the north and 26 degrees Celsius in the south. The summer season in Taiwan starts in May and continues to September. Taiwan's summers are hot and humid with the daytime temperatures varying from 27 to 35 degrees Celsius. Winters are short and mild and begin in December and continue until February. Average temperature lows vary from 12 to 16 degrees Celsius. Snow is a rare occurrence and when it does snow it only falls on the higher mountains.

Population
Taiwan's population is over 24 million, which makes Taiwan one of the world's most densely populated places in the world. Given that two thirds of the island is mountainous the majority of the people live in the other one third of the island that just adds to the population density.
Languages
There are two main languages spoken in Taiwan and they are Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese. Some people can speak some English but it is more common in the big cities with some of the younger people.

Economy
Taiwan is an economically developed country. Manufacturing and export include industries such as computer products, textile, electronic appliances, bicycles, foot wear, chemicals and many more.

Currency and tipping
The currency used in Taiwan is The New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The exchange rate in 2005 was around NT 32 to US$1. Other foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and some hotels.
Most Major credit cards are accepted but sometimes you may have to pay an additional charge for using a credit card. Traveler's checks may be cashed at some tourist hotels but are not widely accepted at other types of businesses around the island.
A 10% service charge and a 5% value added tax (VAT) are automatically added to room rates and meals in most hotels. All other tipping is optional but is usually not expected and in most cases not even accepted.

Visas
Tourist visas, business visas and can be obtained from ROC embassies, consulates, or designated representative offices in foreign countries. Landing visas can be obtained upon arrival at Chiang Kai-shek international Airport in Taoyuan or at Hsiaokang International Airport in Kaohsiung depending on your nationality.
For more detailed visa information see our Taiwan visa section on our website

Transportation

From the airport

Airport shuttles:
There are two international airports in Taiwan, one in the south at Kaohsiung and the main airport in the north in Taoyuan. Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taoyuan is 40 kilometers southwest of Taipei.
There are buses that depart the airport regularly for destinations all around the island. Most of the major hotels provide transportation to and from the airport for their guests. WHOSE travel can also arrange airport pickup for you.

Between Cities

Airlines:
There are several domestic airlines that have daily flights between the larger cities and the more popular island destinations. If you plan to travel on the weekends make sure you plan far in advance because it is difficult to get a seat on these flight with short notice. Weekday travel is certainly a lot easier to get a flight.

Buses:
Another option for travel between cities which is easy, convenient and comfortable is the various express bus companies. Most of these bus campaniles provide reliable and fast service. The buses are all air-conditioned and have large comfortable seats. Some of the companies have movies, video game and even seats that give you a massage. The fares varying depending on which company you use but are usually fairly reasonable. For bus information in Taipei call For bus information call: (02) 321-2000

Trains:
Taiwan also has a reasonably dependable train system that provides service all around the island. The cost for this type of transportation is reasonably priced and should be booked a head if you don't want to stand. For railway information in Taipei call: (02) 371-3558 or book directly on line here more Railway information.

In the city

Car Rentals:
There are a variety of car rental companies in Taiwan. A credit card or large deposit is required in order to rent a car, as well as an international or Taiwan driver's license. To rent a car ahead of time try this link here for Car Rentals

Taxis:
There are lots of taxis in Taiwan, they are not very expensive and can usually be hailed at any major intersection. The only problem is most drivers do not speak English. It would be a good idea to have a business card or have someone write down where you want to go in Chinese.

Accommodations
There is a wide selection of hotels in Taiwan to fit everyone's budget. The Tourism Bureau regularly evaluates the facilities and services of all the tourist hotels in Taiwan. The best are awarded four or five plum blossoms (the ROC's national flower), which is the equivalent to the stars awarded in the West. International tourist hotels are rated four and five plum blossoms and have larger bedrooms and better facilities. The tourist hotels are rated two and three plum blossoms and have smaller bedrooms and facilities, and lower prices.
You can book a hotel worldwide with WHOSE Travel Hotel online booking