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[ General Information ] [ Time ] [ Climate ] [ Languages ] [ Currency
]
[ Business Hours ] [ Telephones ]
Taipei--capital of the Republic of China--is well known as a regional business center,
but there is much more about the city. I would like for you to get to know Taipei.
Enjoy its international flair, and discover its well-known places of interest as
well as it's less familiar nooks and crannies. There is excitement everywhere in
Taipei, and you can sense it and see it--in art, in culture, and in the daily lives of the
people themselves.
 | General Information
The total area of Taipei city measures 27,177 hectares (67,942.5 acres), Taipei city
has a fairly dense population.
Taipei city is in northern Taiwan and rests in a basin surrounded by mountains and
criss-crossed by rivers. The mountains north of the city, in Yangmingshan National
Park, dominate the landscape. Within the basin, the Tamsui and Hsintien rivers
meander through to the southeast, while the Keelung River crosses the city to the
northeast.
There are many interesting scenic spots in the areas surrounding Taipei..All of theses
outlying areas are easily reached by train or bus, and can be seen in a comfortable
half-day or full-day trip, depending on the time you have available. |
| Time
Taiwan time is GMT plus 8.
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| Climate
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, and the average annual temperature in Taipei is 23.6ºC
(74.5ºF). Summers last from May through September and are usually hot and
humid. Winters, from December through February, are short and mild, with occasional
fog and rain. Snow sometimes falls on Yangmingshan, to the north of the city.
The monsoon season, known in Chinese as "plum rains," is May to June. The
typhoon season is July to September. The typhoon early warning system is highly
efficient and there is no danger as long as warnings are heeded. Planes may be
delayed or diverted, however.
In General, visitors should wear light-weight clothing from April through November;
sweaters and coats are necessary only from December through March.
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| Languages
The national language of the ROC is Mandarin Chinese, though other dialects, such as
Taiwanese, are spoken as well. Many people can speak some English, which is the most
widely studied foreign language.
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| Currency
The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The
exchange rate, around NT$33 to US$1 in mid-1998, has fluctuated greatly in recent years.
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels.
Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange
unused NT dollars before departure.
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| Business Hours
Most of the people on the island work a five-and-a-half or five day week.
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| Telephones
International phone calls may be made from most of Taipei's top hotels (guests only),
or at the International Telecommunications Administration (ITA) office at 28 Hangchou S.
Rd., Sec. 1, Taipei (next to the CKS Memorial). The number for directory assistance
in English is 02-2311-6769.
Domestic long distance calls may be made directly on private phones, blue-green pay
phones, or through the phone company's offices.
The rate for local calls on public pay phones is NT$1 for 3 minutes. After 3
minutes, the connection will be automatically severed and the called must redial for local
calls.
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Last Updated: 1999/01/10
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