General Information
Currency: NT$27.8 to US$1 in June 1996
Language: The national language is Mandarin Chinese. Other dialects, particularly Taiwanese and Hakka, are spoken with some English.
Credit Cards: Hotels, department stores, airlines, and major restaurants accept credit cards. Elsewhere, it is preferable to use cash.
Business Hours: Most people on the island work a five-and-a-half day week.
| Type of Operation |
Weekdays
|
Saturdays
|
|
Banks
Department Stores
Other Stores
|
09:00-15:30
11:00-21:30
10:00-22:00
|
09:00-noon
11:00-22:00
10:00-22:00
|
|
Goveernment Offices:
|
|
mornings
afternoons
|
08:30-12:00
13:30-17:00
|
08:30-12:00
|
(Note: Times may vary from business to business)
Tipping/Taxes: Tipping is optional. It is usual, however, to tip restaurant waiters and hotel porters. A 10% service charge and a 5% value-added to room rates and meals.
English Language Media:
China Post and China News/NT$12 per copy
ICRT (International Community Radio Taipei)
Taipei: FM 100.7 AM 576 (24-hour programming)
Useful Phone Numbers:
Tourist Hot Line: (02) 717-3737
Emergency: 119 Fire: 119 Police: 110 Overseas: Call 100
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: (02) 729-7227
CKS International Airport Service Counter: (03) 398-2143
English telephone Operator: (02) 311-6796
Adventist Hospital (Taiwan): (02) 771-8151
Taipei Municipal Police Headquarters: (02) 381-8341
|
Taipei City consists of 12 districts (區):
Climate
The climate of Taipei subtropical, characterized by high temperatures and humidity in summer because of its situation in a valley and the density of the population.
Average Temperatures
|
|
|
Average
|
Record
|
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
Min
|
Max
|
|
Jan
|
3
|
12
|
19
|
3
|
30
|
|
Feb
|
3
|
12
|
18
|
0
|
31
|
|
March
|
3
|
14
|
21
|
2
|
33
|
|
April
|
4
|
17
|
25
|
8
|
35
|
|
May
|
5
|
21
|
28
|
10
|
37
|
|
June
|
6
|
23
|
32
|
16
|
37
|
|
July
|
7
|
24
|
33
|
19
|
38
|
|
Aug
|
7
|
24
|
33
|
19
|
38
|
|
Sept
|
6
|
23
|
31
|
13
|
36
|
|
Oct
|
5
|
19
|
27
|
11
|
35
|
|
Nov
|
3
|
17
|
24
|
1
|
33
|
|
Dec
|
3
|
14
|
21
|
2
|
31
|
Leisure
When the workday ends Taipei goes into full swing until the small hours! Shopping at department stores and night markets; relaxing at tea and coffee houses, pubs, clubs, and restaurants of all types; attending movies, cultural shows, sports and KTV-all are options offered to visitors.Taipei city is safe at night, so relax and enjoy yourself !
Films And Cinemas
The newest Western and Chinese hit films are available in Taipei. In addition to matinees, evening shows start at around 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m. Some theaters even have midnight showings at around 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. For exact show times, please check daily newspapers.
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