Whether you are a buyer or an exhibitor, CETRA welcomes you to Taipei. To assist you in planning your trip in advance, we have prepared this guide with relevant and practical information so you may concentrate on what really matters --- Taiwan's numerous business opportunities.

1)Visas

All visitors coming to Taiwan, the Republic of China, are required to have valid entry visas through the embassies/consulates of the Republic of China or from an authorized overseas representative office.

Visa free entry

Nationals of 20 countries can enter Taiwan visa-free for 14 days. The visa-free service, first introduced in January 1995, is applicable to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, U.K., the U.S., Switzerland, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Requirements for 14-day visa-free entry are:
1. Passports valid for at least six months
2. Confirmed onward airline (steamship) ticket within 14 days
3. No violation of law recorded.

Landing Visa

Citizens of the above 20 countries may apply for a 30-day landing visa upon arrival for transit to another destination on the condition that the visitors:
1. Hold a valid passport with validity of more than six months
2. Possess a confirmed airline ticket which indicates that the holder is to leave the R.O.C. within 30 days.
3. Pay the visa fee of NT$1,500
4. Submit one identification photo
.

Note: The above two documents are not offered to those in Taiwan on group tour visas.

If it is necessary to stay more than 14 days and less than 30 days, the nationals of the specified countries should apply for landing visas with the visa office in the CKS Airport from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Tel: (03) 398-2629. The landing visa fee is NT$1,500.

Visitor Visas

Two-week to 60-day visitor visas are granted to foreign nationals who intend to visit Taiwan for tourism, study, training, joining relatives, business or other legitimate reasons.

Those who hold visitor visas valid for stay of 60 days without non-extension stamp may apply for extension. No extension of stay will be granted to those holding the visitor visas with durations of stay less than 60 days, except for situations caused by force majeure or matters of vital importance.

Application Fees

Foreign nationals from the countries with reciprocal visa agreements with the R.O.C. can usually obtain visitor visas without charge. For other foreign nationals visitor visa fees are: NT$1,000 for single entry and NT$2,000 for multiple entry visas.

2)Customs

Travelers are required to declare their possession of foreign currencies. Each outbound traveler is allowed to take with him/her up to US$5,000 worth of foreign currencies, NT$40,000 in cash and 20 coins.

Vaccination certificates are not normally required, except for those arriving from cholera infected areas.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, banks, major hotels, or the Bank of Taiwan at the TWTC Exhibition Hall. Be sure to obtain and keep the exchange receipts, as these will be required should you wish to reconvert unused NT dollars upon departure.
Official currency = New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)

1)foreign exchange rates

2)credit cards

Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and larger restaurants.

3)travelers' checks

Major travelers' checks may be cashed and converted at the Bank of Taiwan at the TWTC Exhibition Hall and at most tourist or business hotels.

1)CKS Airport<-->Taipei

Limousine buses which shuttle between CKS Airport and downtown Taipei are recommended. Buses leave every 15 to 20 minutes from the terminal on the left side of the arrival hall.

Airport Taxis

A 50% surcharge is allowed over the fare shown on the taxi meter for journeys from CKS Airport. The average fare (plus surcharge) to Taipei is about NT$1,200.

Hotel Limousines and Shuttle Buses

Major hotels provide this service to and from the Airport for their guests.

2) Taipei Sungshan Domestic Airport or Taipei Bus/Railway Station <--> Your Hotel

Taking a taxi is recommended between the two above locations and your hotel.

3) Your Hotel <--> TWTC

Taxis

Taxis are the most convenient way for visitors to get around in Taipei. However, very few drivers speak English, so always have your destination written down in Chinese or show this map guide to the drivers to indicate where your are heading before starting out. Most yellow taxis can be waved down along main streets. Taxi meters start at NT$50 for the first 1.65 km and NT$5 for each additional 350 meters. Waiting time is NT$5 for every three minutes. Between 11 pm and 6 am, the meters start at NT$50 for the first 1.375km, with NT$5 for each additional 290 meters, and NT$5 for every two and a half minutes of waiting time. Passengers must also pay an additional NT$15 surcharge above the meter fare for each trip due to a fare hike in 1995. Receipts are available upon request.

Buses

City buses are frequent and plentiful, and fares differ according to the distance traveled. A single section fare is NT$12 for air-conditioned buses. Pay upon boarding or getting off according to instructions.

Public telephones

Public pay phones are everywhere. Local calls cost NT$1 for every three minutes, and long distance calls within Taiwan can also be made from public pay phones. Green phones take NT$1, 5, and 10 coins. Overseas calls can be dialed directly to most countries, from major hotels or international public card phones, by dialing the code 002 followed by the destination code. The fee for international direct dialing is calculated every six seconds. NT$100 value-stored cards for beige-colored card-phones are used for dialing long distance & loALIGN=CENTERcal calls and are available at convenience stores, the CETRA bookstore (near the lobby of main entrance) and the Telecommunications Office (on the ground floor) at the TWTC Exhibition Hall. For English-language 24-hour directory assistance service, call: (02)311-6796. AT&T;, IODC (Int'l Operator Direct Connection), MCI and Sprint services are available.

Telegraph/Telex/Fax

The TWTC Exhibition Hall offers a full range of telecommunications facilities in its Telecommunications Office. Most hotels also have business centers which provide similar services.

A = over NT$4,500
B = NT$3,500 - 4,500
C = NT$2,500 - 3,500
D = NT$1,500 - 2,500

All tariffs listed are for single occupancy, before discounts and tax. Please contact the hotel for more information. Those wishing to visit Taipei International Trade Shows may send by fax a booking request indicating date of arrival, flight number, and length of stay to: CETRA Exhibition Department

Most people speak Mandarin Chinese and the Taiwanese dialect. English and Japanese are also widely spoken in trade circles.

AC 110 volts, 60 Hz

A 10% service charge (plus 5% V.A.T.) is usually added to bills in hotels and larger restaurants. The suggested tip in hotels is NT$50 per piece of luggage. All other tipping is optional.

There is nothing like mixing business with pleasure, especially in a city which offers so much.

NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM (國立故宮博物院)

Tel:881-2021 This complex houses the world's most priceless collection of Chinese historical treasures, including ceramics, bronzes, paintings and jade, carvings, etc., brought to Taiwan from the Imperial Palace in Beijing, China. Open 9:00-17:00 daily Admission: NT$50 English-language guided tours: 10:00 & 15:00

MARTYRS' SHRINE (忠烈祠)

Ceremonial changing of guards every hour in the daytime is a popular tourist attraction.

TAIPEI FINE ARTS MUSEUM

Tel: 595-7656 ext. 220 Modern art exhibits with galleries and lecture halls. Open 10:00 -18:00 daily except Monday.
Admission: NT$20

SHIHLIN NIGHT MARKET

JAOHO STREET NIGHT MARKET

Tel: 796-2666 Open: 10:45-12:00 Monday, Thursday, and Saturday

SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL (國父紀念館)

TAIPEI WORLD TRADE CENTER EXHIBITION HALL(台北世貿中心展覽大樓)

Taipei International Trade Shows on the Ground Floor

Some shows, such as the Cycle Show, COMPUTEX TAIPEI, GIFTIONERY TAIPEI and Taipei Electronics have become leading events of their kind in Asia.

Permanent Exhibition Floors 2 - 7

Visitors can inspect 300,000 export & import products displayed in 1,100 showrooms, and another 1,600 showcases in the Export Products Display Center on the second floor.

CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL HALL (中正紀念堂)

open:9:00-17:00 Honor guards at the Hall change every hour from 9:00 to 16:00, providing a popular tourist attraction. The CKS Memorial Hall is adjacent to the National Theater and Concert Hall.

LUNGSHAN TEMPLE (萬華龍山寺)

Built in 1738, this is one of Taipei's oldest and most colorful temples.

HUA-HSI STREET NIGHT MARKET (Snake Alley) (萬華華西街觀光夜市)

CHIEN-KUO HOLIDAY FLOWER & JADE MARKET (建國假日花市、玉市)

The markets under an overpass are open on weekends and holidays.

Water

Boiled or distilled water is recommended, as tap water is unsuitable for drinking. Bottled mineral water is widely available in hotels and convenience stores.

Pharmacies

Most brand-name cosmetics and medications are available in hotel arcades, chain stores, and drugstores.

Beauty parlors & barber shops

Many of the larger hotels have good hairdressing salons. Hairdressers are generally well up on the latest styles and cuts, and services offered include head massages and manicures.

Newspapers & Magazines

Two local English language dailies, the China News and the China Post, along with international newspapers and magazines, are available at hotels and newsstands.

Radio

The main English language radio station, the International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT), broadcasts on FM100.7 Mhz and AM576 Khz. BBC and Radio France are frequently relayed over ICRT at AM576 Khz.

Television

Some English and Japanese language programs appear on the three channels of local TV and cable TV stations. Most larger hotels relay CNN, Japanese NHK and other satellite channels.