General InformationCurrency: 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
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