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Info on Taiwan
IntroductionTaiwan is a modern industrialised megalopolis clinging to the fringes of an ancient culture; a string of teeming cities at the feet of a glorious mountain range. It's traditional noodles from a 7-Eleven, aboriginal tribes in mini-skirts and a day of temple rituals followed by waterslide rides. The human tide of Taipei will sweep you off your feet, but if you step outside the city limits you'll discover why Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa, 'the beautiful island'. Mountain peaks puncture a sea of clouds, slick black volcanic rock wraps the coastlines and waterfalls shroud themselves in mist: Taiwan is a computer-generated Chinese watercolour. But it is precisely Taiwan's history with China that has caused the most friction and heartache for the Taiwanese. The continuing tug-of-war between the People's Republic of China on the mainland and the Democratic Progressive Party on Taiwan is often prone to take on the pasty complexion of a civil war albeit one that has not, as yet, developed into an all-out brawl. Mainland China insists on the truth of 'one China' while Taiwan has managed the impossible tightrope act of agreeing, in principle, to one China but acting, in practice, like an independant republic. In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within its governing structure. Throughout this period, the island has prospered to become one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and China and the question of eventual reunification. The Republic of China was founded as Asia's first constitutional republic in 1912 by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Since the ROC government moved to Taiwan after the Chinese mainland fell to communist Chinese forces in 1949, the area over which the ROC government exercises administrative control is called the Taiwan area. This area encompasses Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and a number of smaller islands. Taiwan, a leaf-shaped island straddling the Tropic of Cancer, is a mere 160 km across the Taiwan Straits from Mainland China's Fujian Province. For centuries Taiwan has been known to the west as "Formosa", a name derived by 16th Portuguese mariners who, on first sighting the island, named it "Ilha Formosa", 'island beautiful'. Since the Nationalist Government moved to Taiwan in 1949 it has undertaken a vigorous program of reconstruction. During the decades that followed Taiwan has developed into a major economic power of the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan's success story continues at it is one of Asia's most developed countries and the world's 14th largest trading nation.
History / Culture /EventLittle archaeological evidence remains from Taiwan's early history. People - probably Pacific Islanders at first - may have lived here for about 10,000 years, with migration from China beginning in the 15th century. In 1517 Portuguese sailors reached Taiwan and named it Ilha Formosa, or beautiful island. The Dutch invaded in 1624 and built a capital at Tainan - two years later they lost the island to a Spanish invasion, but returned the favour by booting the Spanish out in 1641. During the 1660s the Ming and Manchu dynasties arrived on the scene, kicking out the Dutch and wrestling one another for control of the island. The Manchus eventually won, making Taiwan a county of Fujian Province and triggering a flood of Chinese immigration. Japan took Taiwan from China in 1895 and held on to it until the end of WWII, when it was handed back to China. When Communist forces took control of China in 1949, the president, General Chiang Kaishek, and his nationalist party, the Kuomintang, fled to Taiwan to plan their reconquest of the mainland. They're still planning. One and a half million Chinese also left the mainland for Taiwan when Mao took control. The leaders of both Communist mainland China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) claim to be the voice of all China, but the international community has, almost without exception, chosen the mainland. In 1971 the Kuomintang lost the Chinese United Nations seat, and in 1979 the USA withdrew its recognition of the Republic. When Chiang Kaishek died in 1979 and was replaced by his son Chingkuo, Taiwanese started muttering the word 'dynasty', and criticism of the one-party system rose. In 1986, those opposed to Chiang formed the Democratic Progressive Party, and were granted seats in the legislature. Two years later Chiang died and was replaced by the first native-born president, Lee Tenghui. Taiwanese politics is divided among those who want reunification with China (the Kuomintang line), those who want Taiwanese independence and those that want the status quo preserved. In 1995 relations between the two Chinas, always chilly, plummetted to a new low. Lee Tenghui's high-profile visit to the United States brought mainland China out in a rash of nervous jealousy. Determined to isolate Taiwan and sway the minds of its voters, China held intense military exercises near the Taiwanese coast. In response, the United States donned its global cop hat and sent a couple of warships to monitor the situation. Despite the region's sudden high concentration of itchy trigger fingers, the first direct presidential election was held without incident, and Lee Tenghui was returned to office. Taiwan's fortunes took a turn for the worse in September 1999 when a massive earthquake hit the island, the largest in its history, leaving over 2000 islanders dead and piles of rubbles strewn over the country. Even in this time of crisis, however, the snippety relationship between mainland China and the wannabe republic continued. A defiantly sulky China demanded that any country entering Taiwan to offer earthquake relief get permission from the Chinese government first: a demand that was met with less-than-hearty agreement from humanitarian organisations and other countries around the world. March 2000, Taiwan elected its next president Chen Shui-bian, the candidate of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, who believe in a formal declaration of independence for the island. The upset ended 55 years of Nationalist rule and alarmed China, which regards Taiwan as a rebel province. You'll need to get hold of a lunar calendar if you want to have any hope of attending Taiwan's big events - very few of them occur on the same date every year. If fireworks and crowds crank your engine, visit Yenshui, Luerhmen or Peikang for the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the first moon. Kuanyin's Birthday, on the 19th day of the second moon, is a good time to see temple festivities in full swing. During the Ghost Month, the seventh lunar month, ghosts from hell walk the earth. No one travels, swims, gets married or moves house, but everyone visits Taoist temples. National Day (10 October) is celebrated with gusto, fireworks and a light show in Taipei. Chinese New Year (first day of the first lunar month) should be avoided at all costs.
EnvironmentWetlands and Water Birds in TaiwanBy Roger C.J. WangTaiwan is an island of diverse geography. The island, which straddles the Tropic of Cancer, is in both semi-tropical and tropical climate zones. In addition to the Central Mountain Range that extends from north to south for some 270 km of the island's total 394 km, Taiwan is made up of volcanic mountains, foothills, tablelands, and coastal plains and basins. The island is also home to many wetlands. Swamps, coastal areas, marshes, lakes, ponds, and estuaries all fall under the wetland category. An estuary is made up of a mixture of fresh and salt water and is the most prevalent type of wetland in Taiwan. Of the many complex ecological terms, wetland is one of the most straightforward. In Chinese, as in English, the parts that combine to form the term also have to do with water and land. Specifically, the Chinese term for wetlands and water birds is formed by the characters for wet for earth. Striking a pose--the cormorant is a water bird that relies on wetlands for survival The most productive habitat Wetlands act as bridges from sea to land, creating a surprisingly fertile area in which flora and fauna thrive. In recent decades wetlands have been erroneously considered 'wastelands' because they were thought incapable of supporting life. A wetland at first glance doesn't look like the place where a flourishing ecosystem would occur. Submerged in water, wetlands seem to lack the fresh air to support life while a coastal wetland's alt content would appear too high for non-salt-water species. Furthermore, tidal changes which cause extreme temperature swings would lead the untrained eye to believe that they are prohibitive to survival. In fact, wetlands are the most productive habitats in the world--even more so than tropical forests. Wetlands are home to a variety of plants including reeds and mangroves. These types of plants thrive in wetland environments and provide enough food for the entire ecosystem. The ecosystem supports a plethora of life-forms including insects, amphibians, small mammals, fish, and birds. Of the animals found in a wetland, birds are by far the most noticeable. The majority of birds found in these areas belong to the wader family and include herons, egrets, sandpipers, and plovers, to name a few. Most of these birds stop in Taiwan when migrating from northern areas such as Siberia, Manchuria, Japan, and Korea on the way to Indonesia or the Philippines--their southern wintering areas.
Black-faced spoonbillsThe wetlands of Taiwan are important stopping grounds along the East Asian migratory route. While some migratory waders simply stop to rest and feed before continuing their long journey, others winter in Taiwan. The most famous wintering bird is the endangered black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor). This is an egret-like wader averaging 73 cm in height. In recent years, only about 400 black-faced spoonbills have been reported world-wide, and over 250 of these birds winter in Taiwan. Almost all of them stay in the Tsengwen River estuary, found in the town of Chiku, Tainan county. In 1992, the black-faced spoonbill was formally recorded in the Asian Waterfowl Census conducted by the Asian Wetland Bureau. In the same year, the Tainan county government decided to build an industrial area where these birds roost. As the proposed plan would destroy the entire roosting area, wild bird societies all across the island united to protest against the plan. Unfortunately, just as discussion was taking place, a black-faced spoonbill was found dead from shotgun wounds, and another was badly wounded. It is strongly suspected that the plan to build an industrial area and the bird killing were directly related. The furor drew national and international attention to the proposal. Under pressure, the Central Government withdrew the Tainan county government's industrial development plan. But this was not the last challenge the black-faced spoonbill would face. Soon after, two large companies attempted to build an oil refinery and steel mill on the wetland north of the birds roosting area. This time, almost every environmental NGO (non-governmental organization) in Taiwan came together to protect the threatened wetland. The threat to the black-faced spoonbill, which was barely saved by the Environmental Protection Administration, has served as a warning to all about the need to protect the habitats of water birds.
Competing for spaceThe struggle to save remaining wetlands from development projects is a complex one. Industries have always been attracted to Taiwan's west coast and its low plains--the rest of the island is mostly mountainous and thus prohibitive toward development. Furthermore, wetlands are particularly attractive to factories which rely on easy access to water. Rapid industrialization without an initial concern for the environment has had tremendous negative effects upon animals and the habitats they rely upon. Ever-increasing measures are being taken by the government and organizations such as the Chinese Wild Bird Federation (CWBF) as they work together to protect both wetlands and their inhabitants. For more information about wetlands and waterbirds, please contact the CWBF at (02) 706-7219 or write e-mail to: cwbf@iis.sinica.edu.tw. The organization also has a World Wide Web homepage on the net: http://com5.iis.sinica.edu.tw:8000/-cwbf.
GeographyTaiwan is situated in the western Pacific about 160 km (100 miles) off the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland. Positioned midway between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to the South, Taiwan is a convenient gateway to Asia for travellers coming from around the world. About two thirds of the island is covered with lush forested mountains. Jade Mountain at 3952 metres above sea level is the tallest peak in Taiwan, indeed the highest mountain in northeast Asia. The island's natural beauty includes sun-splashed beaches and tranquil lakes, gushing waterfalls and soothing hot springs plus an exotic array of tropical flora and fauna. With an annual rainfall of more than 1500 mm the island ranks as one of the most agriculturally productive places in all of Asia. The wettest month is June. Spread over an area of 35, 563 sq. km, Taiwan is approximately half the size of Tasmania, Australia's island state.
LocationEastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Climatetropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year Most areas of Taiwan enjoy a subtropical climate. Warm and mild all year round, visitors can comfortably tour Taiwan in any season. The temperature rises above 25 degree between June and September and drops below 15 degree between November and March when there is occasional snowfall on the higher mountains. In summer there are occasional typhoons but these do not have a long-term impact on the island.
HolidayNational holidayRepublic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
Holiday in 2002Jan. 1: Founding Day of the Republic of China Feb. 11: New Year's Eve Feb. 12-14: Chinese New Year Feb. 28: Peace Memorial Day (Work make-up day: March 2) April 5: Tomb Sweeping Day May 1: Labor Day June 15: Dragon Boat Festival Sept. 3: Armed Forces Day Sept. 21:Mid-Autumn Festival Oct. 10: Double Tenth Day
LanguageThe number of native speakers of Chinese greatly exceeds that of any other language in the world. Although many Chinese dialects are mutually unintelligible, all tend to be grouped together under the classification of "Chinese." Nevertheless, the Chinese people shared what is known as the "National Language" in Taiwan, "Common Language" on the Chinese mainland, and "Mandarin" in the English language. Mandarin is based on the Beijing dialect. Languages or dialects belonging to the Chinese language family usually have several similar characteristics: a monosyllabic or simple phonological system; tones to distinguish different meanings; a syntax that depends on word order; and a lack of inflection, grammatical gender, and pluralization. To represent the sounds of Mandarin, people in Taiwan use the Mandarin Phonetic Symbols system, collection of 37 phonetic symbols with marks that signify Mandarin's four tones. Two Romanization systems for Mandarin are also prevalent in the ROC; Wade-Giles and Gwoyeu Romatzyh. The Hanyu Pinyin system used on the Chinese mainland is also gaining popularity in Taiwan. The national language of the Republic of China is Mandarin Chinese but most island residents also speak Taiwanese, the local dialect. Even if you're visiting Taiwan for a short period of time mastering at least a few essential Mandarin phrases will make your stay more fulfilling. It's wise to carry the name and address of your hotel as well as your destination in Chinese characters. The concierge of your hotel will help with this task.
People & PopulationThe island of Taiwan, situated off the southeast coast of China and separated from the Chinese mainland by the Taiwan Strait, is located in the Western Pacific between Japan and the Philippines. With a total area of about 36,000 square kilometers, the island is 394 kilometers long and 144 kilometers at its widest point. Taiwan's most prominent geographic feature is its 270-kilometer central mountain range, which has more than 200 peaks over 3,000 meters high. At 3,952 meters, Mount Jade is the highest point in East Asia. Foothills from the central mountain range lead to tablelands and coastal plains in the west and south. The eastern shoreline is relatively steep, and volcanic mountains over 1,000 meters high dominate the island in the north. Over 60 percent of the island is classified as mountainous. Lying on the Tropic of Cancer, Taiwan has a subtropical climate, except for the extreme southern tip, which is tropical. Warm ocean currents give the island a climate conducive to the growth of lush vegetation and two or three rice harvests per year. Rainfall is abundant, with an average annual precipitation of 2,515 millimeters and the highest recorded rainfall reaching more than 5,600 millimeters. Thundershowers and typhoons often bring heavy downpours in the summertime. November through February is the island's driest period. Summers are long and humid, while winters are short and usually mild. In the coldest months, snow is visible on the high mountains. The mean monthly temperature in the lowlands is 16 degree in the winter, and ranges between 24-30 degree the rest of the year. Due to Taiwan's subtropical climate, plant life is diverse and plentiful. Low altitude flora is closely related to that of southern China, mountain flora is similar to that of western China, and high alpine flora resembles that of the Himalayan region. Acacia is ubiquitous in the lower hills, and bamboo groves and forests are found throughout central and northern Taiwan. Native plant species are numerous, accounting for roughly 40 percent of the total. Taiwan's population has exceeded 22 million. Except for the approximately 390,000 Aboriginal people the inhabitants of Taiwan originated from the Chinese mainland. Most came from the coastal province of Fukien. The largest city in Taiwan is Taipei with more than 2.7 million people. The surrounding Taipei Country adds another 3 million people. Other large cities are Kaohsiung with 1,435,000 residents, Taichung with 860,000 and Tainan with 708,000.
Business HoursBanks are open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday~Friday. Most commercial firms are open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday~Friday and from 9 to noon on working Saturdays. Department stores are open daily from either 10:30 or 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and most other stores are open daily from 9 or 10 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m. Government offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday~Friday.
Electicity and WaterElectrical power used throughout Taiwan is 110-volt, 60-cycle AC. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled.
VaccinationsVaccinations are not normally required for entry into Taiwan.
Services for Inbound TouristsThe CKS International Airport Tourist Service Center maintains three travel service counters, one each in the greeter's lobby and the north and south inbound concourses. Personnel offer a variety of services in several different languages. Travel information is also provided around the clock on seven display racks at the three service counters, transit lounge, and inbound arrivals area. There is also an interactive, multimedia travel information inquiry system for travelers in the greeter's lobby. The Kaohsiung International Airport Tourist Service Center was established on January 15, 1997, with the opening of the new terminal at the airport, and provides travel information and related inquiry services to international travelers arriving in southern Taiwan.
TransportsTaiwan has international airports at Taoyuan, near Taipei, and Kaohsiung. You can fly to Taiwan from just about anywhere in the world except, ironically enough, mainland China. Ferries run between Okinawa in Japan and Keelung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. There are also weekly boats between Kaohsiung and Macau. You'll need to pay about US$10 to leave the country. Taiwan has international airports at Taoyuan, near Taipei, and Kaohsiung. You can fly to Taiwan from just about anywhere in the world except, ironically enough, mainland China. Ferries run between Okinawa in Japan and Keelung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. There are also weekly boats between Kaohsiung and Macau. You'll need to pay about US$10 to leave the country. Flights go between all the major cities. With buses you can choose between government or private (cheaper, faster but more dangerous). A train line circumnavigates the island and the service is good. There are four classes - the first three are more expensive than buses, the fourth is cheap but slow. Long-distance share taxis are expensive.
Off the Beaten Track
LanyuAbout 62km (38mi) off the south-east coast of Taiwan, Lanyu is a rocky, volcanic island with a tropical climate. Lanyu is very different from the rest of Taiwan: most of the inhabitants are Yami aborigines, culturally closer to the Philippines than to China.Traditionally, the Yami speak their own dialect (which is nothing like Chinese), build houses underground to avoid typhoons, and live by cultivating taro and sweet potato and catching fish. Of course, Lanyu is not untouched by the modern world, and you'll see Levis about as often as loincloths. There are a few small Chinese business on the island, and fairly easy access to taxis, TV, beer and cigarettes, so don't expect an unspoilt tribal paradise. Unspoilt or not, Lanyu is a beautiful place. The coastal scenery - jagged, black volcanic rock - can be breathtaking, if not exactly conducive to swimming. One of the best ways to occupy yourself on Lanyu is to walk the island's circumference, 37km (23mi) all up. There are a few places to stay and eat, and you can camp out if you ask nicely. Small prop-planes fly between Lanyu and Taitung or Kaohsiung, or you can take the not-too-pleasant boat trip from Taitung via Green Island.
MaolinMaolin, an hour's drive from Kaohsiung (Taiwan's second biggest city), has to date avoided tacky developments and relies instead on the natural beauty of its mountainous surroundings. There are a couple of makeshift hotels in Maolin village, but most visitors camp out. The area around the village is a web of river walks and scenic hikes, punctuated by suspension bridges and waterfalls. About 15km (9mi) from Maolin is the aboriginal village of Tona. The residents have carved out a niche in stonecraft, producing large works as well as tables, chair seats and small decorative pieces to sell to tourists. There's a small hotel and some very simple restaurants in the village. Just past Tona is Tona Hot Springs, one of the few natural hot outdoor springs in Taiwan that hasn't been spoiled by commercial development. You'll really need a motorcycle or car to get around Maolin, although you can get to the Maolin village by public bus.
Penghu IslandsAn archipelago of 64 islands halfway between Taiwan and the mainland, starkly beautiful Penghu looks nothing like Taiwan. Flat and covered in brush and grasslands, the Penghu Islands lure visitors with the promise of sandy beaches, quaint fishing villages, turquoise seas, delicious seafood and sunny skies. Gorgeous from May to September, the islands are windswept and cold for the rest of the year. Makung, on Penghu Island, is the archipelago's only city, with a population of 60,000. It's a picturesque place, with a fishing harbour, outdoor markets and temples, including Taiwan's oldest. Two other large islands, Paisha and Hsiyu, are linked to Penghu by bridge. Paisha's most famous attraction is a 300-year-old banyan tree - walking underneath it is like entering a cave. Hsiyu is the archipelago's most beautiful island, with a coastline of hidden coves. At its southern tip is Hsitai Fort, built in 1883. On a clear day (should Taiwan ever have such a thing), you can see the big island of Taiwan and the mainland from the fort. Makung is the only place on the archipelago with hotels, but the best seafood restaurant is on Hsiyu. You can fly to Makung from every major city in Taiwan, or get a boat from Kaohsiung. If you want to visit any of the smaller islands you'll need to charter a boat.
Attractions
TaipeiTaipei is a boisterous and expensive city, and it lets you know it. About 6 million people live in and around Taiwan's capital, lured by the excitement of a bustling city on the move. And for the most part, they're not disappointed. Real estate is virtually unobtainable - Taipei residents have long dispensed with the dream of home-ownership - and the government is encouraging businesses to set up elsewhere in Taiwan. Despite this, the notion still prevails that to make it big in Taiwan, you have to set up in the heart of the capital - even if the air is perpetually toxic. Taiwan's capital is packed full of people, cars and smog - a real hotbed of renao, or liveliness. It's not a relaxing stopover, but the food is excellent, the people are friendly and there are some top-notch sights. At first glance, Taipei is an intimidating confusion of sprawls, but given time and patience the logic at the heart of the city's layout will slowly begin to dawn. Even so, unless you read Chinese characters, the system of romanised Chinese characters used in Taiwan (called the Wade-Giles system) will leave even those with impeccable senses of direction floundering. There are frequent calls for the replacement of this perverse, unintelligable system with the reasonably successful 'Pinyin' system used in China. But this plan has met with staunch opposition: if it works on mainland China, the thinking goes, it must be bad.
TienhsiangThe highlight of Tienhsiang is the nearby Taroko Gorge, probably Taiwan's most beautiful scenic spot. The gorge is 19km (12mi) long, sheer cliffs dropping away to a rushing river of white water. The Eternal Spring Shrine, just above the entrance to the gorge, straddles a waterfall: it was built as a memorial to the 450 workers who died building the Taroko highway. The town itself is a lovely little resort at the top of the gorge, nestled between towering cliffs. Relaxing and tranquil, there's not much to do in the town itself, but there are plenty of walks nearby. Exactly 1km (about half a mile) uphill from Tienhsiang, the tunnel hike is, as its name suggests, a walk which leads through a dripping tunnel, past outstanding scenery, to the Paiyang Waterfall and beyond. A little further out of Tienhsiang, Wenshan Hot Springs is a very pleasant, natural spring. Tienhsiang is popular with honeymooners, so visit during the week if you want a bit of quiet solitude. A third of the way down the east coast, Tienhsiang is serviced by buses and tours from Taipei.
AlishanIf you've spent a bit of time in Taipei, the mountain resort of Alishan will be a refreshing change. A couple of lungfulls of the crisp, mountain oxygen here will get the blood rushing and the heart leaping. The locals are so full of joie de vivre that they'll probably pull you out of bed at 4am to join them in the traditional dawn climb of Chushan. It's almost worth it for the 'sea of clouds' view. Once you've recovered from this exertion, take a soothing ride on the steam train which makes a 9km (5.5mi) run from Alishan to Monkey Rock. If Chushan has merely whetted your appetite, Yushan, Taiwan's highest mountain, is a heart-attack-inducing 3952m (12,963ft). You'll need to get a class A mountain permit if you want to make the climb. Try to get to Alishan during the week - 5000 camera-clicking tourists can take the shine off a Chushan sunrise, and weekends here are known as 'people mountain people sea'. There are plenty of places to stay, but not much in the way of mid-range hotels: expect to bed down in a dormitory or pay big bucks. Alishan is smack-bang in the middle of the island and buses go from Taipei and other large cities, or you can get a train from Peimen.
TainanTainan, on the southern west coast, is Taiwan's temple town. Designated the provincial capital for over 200 years until the 1880s, Tainan still has a firm grip on Taiwan's traditional culture. It's also one of the best places in the country to witness Buddhist parades and festivals. There are hundreds of temples in Tainan: some of the most interesting are East Mountain, a busy Taoist temple where people come to communicate with dead relatives or exorcise ghosts, Mito, with its magnificent statue of the 1000-armed goddess Kuanyin, Chuhsi, Tainan's largest and most beautiful temple, set in an athletic park, and Kaiyuan, a classical Buddhist temple with spacious grounds and plenty of pagodas. To see temple building in action, visit the suburb of Luerhmen, where three temples are constantly trying to outdo one another for the title of 'biggest temple in Taiwan'. Choose your favourite and donate some cash to building expenses - your name will be engraved on a temple artefact in gratitude. If all this religious exertion becomes too much for you, get back to earthly things at the nearby Woozland waterslide park. Other non-temple sights include a museum and shrine to national hero Koxinga and the Great South Gate, the remains of Tainan's city walls. Tainan is also a great spot for night-life and Chinese food. You can get here by plane or train from Taipei, and by bus from just about anywhere.
ReligionTraditional Chinese religions include Buddhism, Taoism and folk beliefs. Taoism is indigenous to China while Buddhism was introduced from India. Some Taiwanese follow Protestant faiths or the Roman Catholic Church.
Electricity / WaterElectricity is 110 Volts, 60 cycles AC. Australian travellers will need to take plug adaptors for local sockets. Ensure that your hair dryers and razors can be switched to 110 Volts. Drinking water served in hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. Bottled water is widely available.
Business HoursBanks: Monday - Friday 0900 to 1530 Commercial Firms: Monday - Friday 0900 to 1700 Government Offices: Monday - Friday 0830 to 1230 and 1330 to 1730 Department Stores: Sunday - Saturday 1000/1100 to 2100 Most other stores are open from Sunday to Saturday: 0900/1000 to 2200
Communications:- Telephones: Coin operated NT$2 telephones are found in larger towns and cities. - Facsimile: A 24-hour fax service is provided at the CHT main office for the transmission of documents or pictures within Taiwan or overseas. International hotels also provide a fax service for their guests. - E-mail: If you are travelling with a portable computer and a modem all you need is an International Direct Dial (IDD) line with an RJ-11 phone jack to access your ISP. There are also numerous cyber cafes in larger towns and cities. - Mail: The rate for domestic letters is NT$5 and NT$12 for express delivery. International express mail service is available. Most hotels can post letters and postcards. For additional information visit: ROC Post Office. - When dialing Taiwan telephone numbers from Australia use the country code prefix of 886 and then the city code. Taipei is 886 2 while Kaohsiung is 886 7 and Taichung is 886 4.
MediaThere is abundant coverage of world events in Taiwan although much of it is in Chinese. A host of cable TV operators blanket the island with most of them offering a number of English language channels including CNN. Larger hotels provide cable TV to their guests. Additionally, Taiwan has three local English language newspapers, Taiwan News, Taipei Times and China Post. Check search engines to locate the URLs for these newspapers. The radio station ICRT (International Community Radio Taiwan) is a good source of English language news.
Time DifferenceTaiwan is 8 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight savings time. The time in Taiwan is two hours behind Eastern Standard Time (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).
Taiwan NativesAustralia isn't the only country with an indigenous population. Taiwan also has a rich and diverse Aboriginal culture. Several mysteries surround Taiwan's nearly 390,000 aborigines. Scientists don't know exactly how long they have lived on the island or where they came from. The best guess is that the forefathers of the Aboriginal people living in Taiwan today came from either the Malay peninsula/Indonesian archipelago, Mongolia or Polynesia at least 10,000 years ago. Considering the diversity that exists between nine defined tribes, some scholars have speculated that Taiwan's aborigines may have origins in all three areas!
ShoppingIn 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.
Shopping MarketGuanghua Market (Computers and Parts, CDs, Curios)This market is a strange mixture of the old and the new, selling computers and parts, software, electronic games and gadgets, CDs, and second-hand books. The selection is vast and the prices are competitive. This is also a place to shop for the greatest variety of antiques, reproductions, and cruios at reasonable prices. Haggling is not unusual here. A serious shopping visit should take two hours, a mere cultural-research visit one-hour.
Where is it:
Opening Hours:
Chienkuo Holiday Jade & Flower Market (Curios, Trinkets, Handicrafts)The Holiday Jade Market (ChineseHandicraft mart) is open Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Here rows of vendors offer bargains in Jade, curios as well as other products. The adjacent Holiday Flower Market features what seems like a mile of flowers, plants and all the trimmings with a decidedly carnival like atmosphere. The Chinese Handicraft Mart has a wide variety of arts and crafts such as woodcarvings, lacquer ware, hand scrolls, marble ware, brocade, ceramics and jewellery. It's a perfect place to do all your gift shopping!
Where is it:
under an overpass on Chienkuo S. road, between Jenai and Hsinyi Rds.
Snake Alley (Huashi Jie)It is a busy alley, fronted by a traditional Chinese-style fate and covered with a roof. This is Huashi Street, (pronounced Huashi Jie), formally known as Snake Alley, a terribly popular spot turned into a tourist night-market by the city government over a decade ago. Until just a few years back this was next door to a notorious red-light district, but the pimp 'n' hooker trade has been severely toned down. There are a few places here where you can eat snake, snake-blood-and-bile soup, turtle meat and soup, and otehr potent dishes, all believed to increase a fellow's potency. Try to visit Snake Alley at night, when the action picks up. Allow for about 1-2 hours of visit.
Location: From WanHua Train Station to HuaShi Street.
How to get there:
KuangChou Street Night MarketThe night market on KuangChou Street is adjacent to the one on HuaHsi Street and in style and size it is as good as the latter. it consist mainly of sidewalk vendors who sell everything you need from snacks and clothes to daily articles, all at very low prices.
Address: KuangChou Street, Taipei
Kungkuan Night MarketThis night market, located closed to National Taiwan University and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, is at the hub for travel between central Taipei and the suburbs of Mucha, Chingmei, Hsintien, Chungho, and Yungho. This makes it convenient for the dense crowds of people who come here to shop and, especially, to savor the area's unique snack foods.
Where is it: Roosevelt Road, Taipei
LiaoNing Street Night MarketThis night market stretches along Liaoning St., between Changan E. Rd. and Chunghsing High School. It is an excellent place to taste authentic Taiwanese snacks such as stinking tofu (bean curd), pearls milk tea, beef dumplings and fried noodles. Address: Liaoning St, Taipei
NingSia Road Night MarketAlthough the Ninghsia Night Market is not as flourishing as it used to be it is still the best place for residents in the neighborhood to get together for late-night snacks. Business starts after sunset and consists mainly of roadside food stalls. Address: Ninghsia Rd., Taipei
Tihua StreetA walk through the Dihua Street area gives visitors a feel of yesterday's Taipei. The old-town market has scores of shops selling a variety of traditional goods such as Chinese medicines and herbs, temple icons and incense, spices and dried food, colourful bolts of cloth and bamboo and wooden crafts. Tihua is definitely a fascinating piece of the past. The section of Tihua Street north of Yungchang Street is Taipei's most completely preserved and historic old street. For over a hundred years this has been the city's largest wholesale and retail market for sundry goods. A cornucopia of restaurants, pubs, teahouses, fast-food stores, bakeries, bookshops and some leading department stores are located here. You may purchase designer label clothing at the boutiques offering international brand-name fashions and accessories or inexpensive casual wear at the export garment shops in this area. Shoe stores offering a variety of footwear can also be found easily. Street vendors in the maze of alleys sell clothes, trinkets and costume jewellery at bargain prices. Established jewellery stores offer gold and other fine jewellery and can give certificates of guarantee. Several movie theatres in the area show both Western and Chinese films until midnight.
Where is it: Tihua Street, Wanhua District, Taipei
ShihLin Night Market (Clothing, Footwear, Souvenirs, Local Snacks)The ShihLin Night Market sells a tempting array of regional foods, clothing and souvenirs. All types of shops, pubs, restaurants and nightspots are located in this interesting night market. Buses and the MRT easily reach this area. Snacks sold here include congee, sausages, dumplings, and seafood and shaved-ice sweets. To the north of the city proper, this vast and rambling night market has scores of stalls that sell clothing, footwear, souvenirs and delicious snacks and fruits. Here you will experience the sights, sounds and smells of Chinese culture. This is the 'king' of Taipei night markets!
Address: Between WenLin Road, AnPing Street & TaTung Road, Taipei.
SungShan (Rauhe St.) Night Market (Clothing, Trinkets, Local Snacks )This is a great place to sample local colour and to buy handicrafts such as teapots and bamboo knickknacks, clothings, traditional Chinese toys, tapes, CDs, electronic gadgets and other souvenirs. Vendors at roadside stalls also sell a variety of local snacks and fruits.
Where is it: Northern end of Keelung Road.
Fine JewelleryAside from fasion jewellery and fine jewellery designed by leading designers, some of Taiwan's special districts, like the Hengyang Rd. area, also sell traditional Chinese-inspired jewellery. Collectors value finely crafted items like lucky dragons, the phoenix and the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Corner of Heng Yang Rd. and CHongQing South Rd., Taipei This area is Taipei's oldest jewellery district and many shops have operated here for a number of decades. The prices are reasonable and threre are many designs to choose from. This is the best place to find very good jewellery at prices you can afford. Corner of Renai Rd., Sec. 4 and Anho Rd., Taipei Near the Intersection of AnHo Rd. and ReNai Road is Taipei's famous jewellery land where many noted jewellery designers display their works. If you like fine jewellery this is the area where you can shop and compate.
Chinese CostumesIntricately made and very colorful, qipaos (slit skirt dresses), cotton jackets, embroidered shoes and embroidered purses are traditional Chinese fashion statements. The items are available at many places in Taiwan. Many hotels have specialty stores carrying Chinese art objects. B1, Lai Lai Sheraton Hotel, Taipei The shopping arcade in the basement of the Lai Lai Sheraton is home to many fashion boutiques which carry reasonably priced traditional Chinese clothing, shoes and accessories. Among these products are embroidered shoes, embroidered purses, traditional qipao and embroidered handkerchiefs. You can have your qipao custom-made here.
Little Princess Shoe Store, Ximending, TaipeiEmbroidered shoes are an essential part of ancient Chinese fashion. Because of the current Sino craze any fashion-loving woman must have a pair, especially a pair of embroidered flower shoes or embroidered pearl shoes that have been enhanced with a touch of modern-day fashion. Many modern styles have also evolved from this traditional footwear such as baby-doll shoes, sandals and cotton shoes bringing new life to traditional embroidered shoes.
Hengyang Rd. and Boai Rd., TaipeiThe area around Hengyang Rd. - Boai Rd., located across from the Ximending commercial area, contains many dressmaking shops where you can have a qipao or other traditional Chinese attire made.
Yongle Market, Dihua St., TaipeiOn Dihua St., where one can find delicacies from all over the island, is a building called "Yongle Market". The fabric stores here sell all kinds of materials. Tailors can also make traditional Chinese clothing. The Sung Chiang Battle Array--Taiwanese Martial Arts Show By Bernado Tuso Photos by Sung Chih-hsiung Two files of warriors march into the square and come to a halt, marking the beginning of the show. A man wielding a pair of wicked axes is followed by another hacking and slashing with a huge sword. Then comes a demonstration of Chinese boxing and a mock duel between two men, one fighting with a staff and the other with a sword and rattan shield. Then another duel, a man flashing two swords against another with a spear....and so on, through a veritable catalogue of traditional Chinese martial arts using enough weapons to fill a museum. This is a scene from a "Sung Chiang battle array," a form of martial performing arts that was once highly popular in Taiwan and, to a reduced extent, still is--especially in the southern part of the island. The performance is now presented in two distinct types. One has performers in sportswear practicing boxing, weapons manipulation, and offensive and defensive formations and maneuvers. The other features performers in Ming dynasty costume parading and performing martial arts as the heroes and heroines of the Northern Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1127) portrayed in the epic novel Shui Hu Chuan, translated as All Men are Brothers or, more directly, as The Water Margin. The performances vary but all include the same tactics, which add up to a total of 108. Among these, the "eight trigrams" tactic is the most important.
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Taiwanese OriginStories accounting for the origin of the Sung Chiang battle array also vary. Some claim that it was developed by Sung Chiang, the leader of a gang of 108 righteous bandits in the Shui Hu Chuan, for whom it is named. More recent research shows that it bears a close resemblance to the yuan yang, or mandarin duck, tactics of a Ming dynasty general named Chi Chi-kuang who successfully defended the southeastern coast of China against the ravages of pirates, mostly Japanese. Mandarin ducks (the yuan is the male, the yang the female) are always seen in faithful pairs, and Sung Chiang tactics are also always performed in pairs. Unlike many other traditional Taiwanese folk arts, the Sung Chiang battle array has never been recorded as existing in mainland China; it is purely Taiwanese. It was well used in the island's early days by Cheng Cheng-kung, or Koxinga, the Chinese pirate-patriot who fought to preserve the remnants of the Ming dynasty against the Manchus who overthrew the Ming and established the Ching dynasty in 1644. Unsuccessful against the Ching forces on the mainland, Koxinga attacked the Dutch who then occupied Taiwan, driving them out in 1661. Many of Koxinga's also pirates, whose heroes were Sung Chiang and the other characters of the Shui Hu Chuan. Sung Chiang's rallying cry, in essence not unlike that of Robin Hood, was "Do justice for heaven; be loyal and righteous." Koxinga used this slogan in his fight against the Manchus and, undoubtedly, the Dutch. Taiwan was a sparsely populated, practically virgin island when Koxinga and his people arrived. To aid in the development of the island's economy and protect it against possible invasion by the Manchus and the Dutch, Koxinga trained and armed the peasants. Many of the weapons used in the Sung Chiang battle array are actually the farm tools--rakes, sickles, hooks, umbrellas--used by the early peasantry. Despite the best efforts of Koxinga's followers, it was not long before Taiwan succumbed to the Ching court. But the popularity and usefulness of the Sung Chiang battle array exercises did not diminish. In fact, they probably increased as feuds ran rampant among different groups of settlers--those from Chuanchou, those from Changchou (both in Fukien province), and the Hakkas. The performances declined during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945) and today they are seen only during festivals, especially the birthday celebrations for Matsu (Goddess of the Sea), Emperor Paosheng (God of Medicine), and Cheng Huang (City God). Sung Chiang performances are accompanied by drums and gongs, and by standard bearers acting as commanders. Chinese boxing (a kind of kung fu) is given prominent play. What makes the Sung Chiang battle array particularly fascinating, though, is the wide variety of weapons used, the countless changes of formations and tactics during the performances, and the spectacular range of martial arts included. Sung Chiang performing groups are organized by temple priests, who have traditionally been at the forefront of martial arts training. The most famous martial arts temples in Chinese history, for example, were the Shaolin Buddhist temple in Sungshan, Honan province, and the Taoist temple at Mt. Wutang in Hupei province, each of which had an army of thousands. A full-size Sung Chiang team has 108 members; smaller ones have 72 or, at a minimum, 36. Most of the teams are made up of men, but there are also teams made up of women and youths. Performances usually take place in temple courtyards. The combination of traditional Chinese martial arts and weapons is based on the epic novel shui Hu Chuan, or All Men are Brothers. Superstition and Ritual Injuries often accompany Sung Chiang performances, since they resemble vigorous military exercises. Because of this, a body of superstition and ritual has grown up around them. The number of team members actually present at a performance must not exceed 107; when difficulties arise, spirit money and incense must be burned; women born in the Year of the Tiger are not allowed at the beginning of a performance; all team members must pray to Sung Chiang before a performance starts; and, at both the beginning and end of a performance, the performers gather at the temple gate (most often, performances take place in temple courtyards), raise their weapons high, and shout "Ho! Ho! Ho!" The Sung Chiang battle array culture seems doomed to decline further in Taiwan as the island's society becomes more urbanized and more farm youths move to the cities. But there is some hope. A renewed recognition of the value of traditional culture has begun to emerge, and movements are under way to preserve its various aspects. The Council for Cultural Planning and Development, for one, has placed the Sung Chiang battle array on its list of folk performances that should be perpetuated for future generations to enjoy.
EducationOrganization of Educational Administrative Agencies1. The Ministry of Education (MOE) One minister takes charge of the Ministry of Education. His administrative officers consist of one political and two administrative vice ministers. (1) Offices within the MOE include seven departments, six bureaus, four offices, three task forces, a computer center, and ten committees, in charge of planning, supervision and the review of educational programs at various levels. (2) Office of MOE in Central Taiwan includes one director takes charge of the office and two deputy directors assist him. Divisions within the office include eleven divisions. (3) There are also MOE affiliated museums and institutes: twenty four museums and education institutions in charge of promotion and guidance of cultural activities, compilation and screening of textbooks and related publications, the collection and exhibition of cultural works and books, the collection and the demonstration of scientific teaching aids, and research and improvement of Chinese medicine. (4) MOE affiliated schools include 50 national universities and colleges, one university preparatory school, 77 senior high schools, 82 senior vocational schools, eight experimental elementary schools, which are affiliated to teachers colleges, a experimental elementary school, which is affiliated to a university, five supplementary advanced education schools, and fifteen special schools. (5) Overseas units include: offices posted in foreign countries for the handling of international cultural and educational contacts and cooperation as well as assisting Chinese students who are studying abroad.
2. Taipei Municipal Department of Education (TMDE) One director and two deputy directors are responsible for the Taipei Municipal Department of Education. (1) Offices within the TMDE include seven sections and eight offices. (2) TMDE affiliated institutes include: a social education hall, a library, a fine arts museum, an astronomic science education hall, a traffic museum for children, a zoo, a stadium, a training center, and a recreation center for children. They are responsible for the collection and exhibition of cultural artifacts, books and publications, promotion of social education activities, traffic safety, operation and management of the recreation center and in-service training for primary and secondary school teachers. (3) TMDE affiliated schools number: two municipal colleges, 22 municipal senior secondary schools, 57 municipal junior high schools, 140 municipal primary schools, 133 municipal kindergartens, 32 municipal supplementary schools, and three municipal special schools.
3. Kaohsiung Municipal Department of Education (KMDE) One director is in charge of the Kaohsiung Municipal Department of Education. He is assisted by two deputy directors. (1) Offices within the KMDE include six sections and five offices. (2) KMDE affiliated offices include: a social education hall, a library, a fine arts museum, a history museum, a stadium, and the Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center. They are in charge of the collection and exhibition of cultural artifacts, books and publications, promotion of social education activities, exhibition and performance of artistic and literary activities, in-service training for primary and secondary school teachers. (3) KMDE affiliated schools include: a municipal open university, 16 municipal senior high schools, 33 municipal junior high schools, 83 municipal primary schools, 66 municipal kindergartens, 40 municipals supplementary schools, and three municipal special schools.
4. County (City) Bureaus of Education (BOE) One director takes charge of a county (city) BOE. He is assisted by a chief education supervisor. Under the county (city) BOE are four units: study regulation, social education, compulsory education, and physical and health education. Besides, there are a compulsory education guidance team and several education inspectors. Some counties and cities set up extra units to supervise secondary and special education. They are charged with duties to promote and administer educational programs in the county (city).
Teacher Qualification
Pay Schedule for TeachersPublic schools have a set of unified criteria governing the compensation plan for teachers. Private schools, however, set their own pay scale, in principle, based on the criteria of the public school as well as on their own financial status. The amount of compensation may be different. A brief introduction to the pay standards for teachers of public schools at all levels is as follows:
On-the-job Training and Advanced Study for TeachersAn on-the-job training and advanced study program is designed to provide teachers after a required length of services, with an opportunity to pursue advanced education so as to enhance their knowledge and enable them to catch up the progress in academic fields and adapt to incessantly renovating education materials and methods. The program and its history are briefly introduced as follows:
1. On-the-Job Training Center for Elementary School Teachers:
2. On-the-Job Training Centers for Secondary School Teachers:
3. On-the-Job training or advanced study can be offered by any institutes (public or private universities, colleges, and graduate Programs) with education curriculum:
4. Sabbatical Leave and Advanced Study System for College Teachers:
The MOE encourages teachers to actively engage in advanced studies. The "Methods for Encouraging Teachers' Continuing Education and Researches" promulgated in 1996 regulates the manners through which continuing education and research can be conducted, as well as the classification of leaves, and the incentives to be offered. Such studies have been listed as a reference factor for employment and a condition to qualify as a school principal or director.
Welfare Benefits for School TeachersAmong private schools welfare benefits for teachers may be different depending on the system made by the board of directors of the school. For teachers of public schools, welfare benefits are basically identical, some undertaken by special organizations and the others handled by agencies which concurrently take care of welfare benefits for civil service employees.
For Public SchoolsA brief introduction for the welfare benefit system is as follows:
For Private Schools
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