About Taipei
- Brief introduction
- Go to Taipei by plane
- Go to Taipei by train
- Go to Taipei by bus
- Climate
- Time zone
- Language
- Currency
- Visas
- Electrical Power Supply
- International Direct Dial(IDD)
- Liability and Insurance
Brief introduction top
Taipei is located in northern Taiwan with approximated 2.62 million population. Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, and it is a vibrant blend of traditional culture and cosmopolitan life. Visitors will have an unforgettable experience in this remarkable city. For further information, please refer to the website of the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan at http://www.taiwan.net.tw/lan/cht/index/index.asp
Go to Taipei by plane top
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
Taipei's international airport is officially called Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport(IATA: TPE). However, be aware that as this name was only adopted in September 2006, the old name, Chiang Kai Shek International Airport (often abbreviated as CKS), is still commonly used. The airport is located about 30 km from the city, and freeway buses ply the route, picking up and dropping off passengers at most of the five star hotels as well as Taipei Main Station and the domestic airport (Songshan Airport), which is located in downtown Taipei. There are also bus services connecting the airport to nearby cities and Taichung in central Taiwan. Travelers to other destinations need to change transportation in Taipei.
There are three transportation options at the airport: bus, taxi, and pre-arranged sedan. An MRT line is under constuction, but it will not completed until February, 2011 . Here are the options from cheapest to most expensive:
Express airport buses cost between NT$120 and NT$150 depending on the bus company, and there are stops at both terminals. Most Taipei routes are dived into West and East, with each company operating a service every ten to fifteen minutes on each route. The western line buses terminate at Taipei Main Railway Station and also make a stop at Yuanshan MRT Station on the Xindian line (NB: The Airbus company buses on the western line meander through local towns before joining the freeway and therefore take much longer than the blue and white Guoguang buses which enter the freeway directly). Buses plying the eastern route terminate at the Taipei Grand Hyatt Hotel and make a stop at Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT Station on the Nangang and Muzha lines. There is also a bus connecting to the domestic Songshan Airport. Ticket counters display route maps showing all stops.
In addition, there are some non-express buses which are slightly cheaper, but pass through towns such as Taoyuan, Nankan or Kueishan before arriving in Taipei.
When returning to the airport, express buses can be caught at various stops throughout the city. One major one is accessible via Exit 9 at the underground mall beneath Zhongxiao West Road (in front of Taipei Main Railway Station) or Exit 5 if you are coming out of the Taipei Main Station MRT, and another is at the terminal at the Songshan Domestic Airport. Other stops are outside major hotels and also in front of Minsheng MRT Station. For people taking early morning flights, the earliest available buses to the airport leave at around 4AM from the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (201 Dunhua South Road Section 2).
A one-way taxi fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$900 (generally NT$1000-1200 from the airport). In Taipei, don't make the mistake of asking a taxi driver to take you to the Taipei airport (Songshan) if you actually mean Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. The international airport is actually about an hour's drive from Taipei, while Songshan is located in downtown Taipei.
A one-way pre-arranged sedan fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$1300-1500. Generally these sedans are pre-arranged through your hotel and the sedan company or driver will meet you as soon as you exit baggage claim. Since the price is not much more than taking a taxi, it is usually recommended that you ask your hotel if they offer this service, if you are interested in a more comfortable half-hour ride to the hotel.
Direct bus connections between the airport and other cities in Taiwan are also available. U-bus also runs shuttle buses every 30 min from both terminals to THSR Taoyuan station (15 min away), from where you can continue your journey by high-speed train.
The closest hotel to the airport is the CitySuites Gateway Hotel, 10 minutes to Cing-pu High-speed Rail Station; 3 minutes to Taoyuan International Airport. [5]
Songshan Airport (Domestic airport)
Songshan Airport which is at the top end of Dunhua North Road is the city's domestic airport, and there are flights arriving and departing for all major cities on the island and the outlying islands every minute.
Go to Taipei by train top
All inter-city trains, including those operated by the Taiwan High Speed Rail, arrive and depart from Taipei Railway Station on Zhongxiao West Road, Sec 1 - opposite the 53 story Shinkong Mitsukoshi Building. Taipei Main Station is a huge facility. Ticket counters are on the first floor and platforms in B1. There is also a food court on the second floor, several underground shopping malls, an auditorium on the 5th floor, and MRT stations serving three lines. In addition to ticket counters, the first floor also has a tourist office, small supermarkets, a post office, stores selling aboriginal handicrafts and several booths offering head and neck and full body massage (NT$100 for every ten minutes).
Go to Taipei by bus top
Private and government intercity buses arrive and depart from the Taipei Bus Terminal (also called Taipei Intercity Bus Terminal). The terminal is a few minutes walk to the west of Taipei Railway Station (to the left and behind the station when facing the building from Zhongxiao West Road).
A convenient way to reach the terminal is via the underground ¡°Taipei Shopping Mall¡± (located at the rear/north side of the station) ¨C ¡°4 South¡± is the nearest exit to the terminal. NB: For refreshments or snacks, the terminal only has convenience stores; for fresh drinks, passengers will need to go to the underground ¡°Taipei Shopping Mall¡± where there is a juice bar near exit ¡°4 North¡± (directly across from the exit for the terminal) and a coffee shop near exit ¡°10 North¡± Generally speaking, the buses operated by private companies are more comfortable and sport such amenities as wide reclining seats and individual game and video monitors. The government run buses are blue and white and are called guoguang hao. All intercity buses are known as keyun and can be distinguished from the local city buses called gongche by the fact that they do not have a route number, but only the name of the destination.
Climate top
Taipei has a subtropical climate, with an average temperature of 27 oC(81 oF) in the daytime and cooler at night in September. Participants are recommended to bring a light jacket. For further information, please refer to the website of the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan at http://www.cwb.gov.tw
Time zone top
The time in Taiwan is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+ 8). There is no daylight-saving scheme, so this time difference remains constant year-round.
Language top
Mandarin and Taiwanese are the common used languages in Taiwan, though other dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English, which is the most widely studied foreign language.
Currency top
Taiwan¡¯s unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money and five in coins. Paper money comes in NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100 denominations, and coins come in NT$50, NT$20, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1 denominations. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the airport, government-designated banks. Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, JCB, and Diners Club are accepted, and traveler's checks may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, some tourist-oriented businesses, and most international tourist hotels. The exchange rate in recent months has been approximately NT$34 for US$1. For exchange of other currencies, please visit the website at http://www.xe.com/ucc
Visas top
Visas are required to enter Taiwan, and can be obtained from Taiwan R.O.C. embassies, consulates, or designated representative offices in visitors¡¯ native countries. Citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland and most other EU members, may enter Taiwan visa-free for thirty days or more provided that their passports do not expire within six months.
Countries eligible for Visa-exempt entry:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands , New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K. and U.S.A.
Countries eligible for Landing Visas:
1.Nationals of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovak
2.Holders of USA passport with validity less than 6 months
Requirement:
A passport valid for at least six months:
For more information on visa requirements, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at http://www.mofa.gov.tw
Electrical power supply top
The power supply for electricity is AC 110 Volts/ 60 Hz. Power outlets only accept flat two-parallel pin plugs, type A. Please bring your own electrical outlet adapter to adjust the AC plug on your equipment. Participants from areas with different currents may bring a transformer to operate their electrical and electronic appliances.
International Direct Dial(IDD) top
International Direct Dial (IDD) calls can be made by dialing the international dialing code 002 + country code + city code + local number.
Liability and Insurance top
The Organizing Committee will endeavor to provide an enjoyable conference. However, neither the Organizing Committee nor the Organizer accepts any liability whatsoever for any injury, illness, damage or loss suffered by an attendee during his / her stay in Taiwan. Participants are advised to take out their own comprehensive travel insurance in their respective countries.