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Taiwan Overview

Being one of the prime destinations in East and Southeast Asia, the island nation of Taiwan is not to be missed when visiting the region. This “beautiful isle” is full of surprises waiting for its visitors to discover – including its famous beef noodle soup and their sweet bubble tea! Read along as I tell you how to go round and about in Taiwan and other facts you should know!

Read more: Taichung Travel Guide| 10 Things to do in Taiwan’s “Cultural City”

Geographic Location of Taiwan

Taiwan is located 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) east of China, with the maximum length of the island nation at 394 kilometers (244.82 miles) and a maximum width of 144 kilometers (89.48 miles).

Taiwan GPS coordinates

The GPS coordinates of Taiwan are 23.6978° N, 120.9605° E

Nickname/s or Other Names of Taiwan

• “Formosa” – Ilha Formosa (in Portuguese)
• “Beautiful Isle”
• “Republic of China”

Fast Facts and Trivia about Taiwan

• Taiwan made gay marriage legal in 2019
• Taiwan’s official title is the “Republic of China,” distinguishing it from mainland’s “People’s Republic of China”
• They are famous for their “stinky tofu”
• The color white symbolizes death and is worn mainly on funerals
• Taiwan is the most mountainous island in the world. The island nation has the highest concentration of mountains of any island in the world. Almost ⅔ of the island is covered in mountains. 268 mountains in Taiwan are above 3000 meters above sea level!
• The living descendant of Confucius lives in Taiwan
• Kung Yu-Jen is the 80th generation descendent of Confucius. His father, Kung Tsui-chang, the 79th descendent, is an important figure in the country, serving as senior advisor to the president of the country.
• The longest rainbow ever recorded was in Taiwan on November 30, 2018. The scientists at the Chinese Cultural University recorded the longest rainbow ever, which lasted 8 hours and 58 minutes. In total, it included a total of 4 different rainbows appearing simultaneously.
• Taiwan is considered to be the “freest” country in Asia. In 2022, the Human Freedom Index rated Taiwan as the freest country in Asia and 14th in the world.

What is Taiwan known for

• Bubble Tea was invented in Taiwan! Believed to have originated in Taichung City, the Pearl Milk Tea was ‘born’ in Chun Shui Tang 春水堂.
• Taiwan’s iconic, bamboo-like Taipei 101 was the tallest building on earth from 2004 – 2010.

People in Taiwan are very welcoming and they try really hard to tell you what they mean when you are asking for directions or something from them. People in Taiwan are always smiling and are welcoming to tourists. The transportation system in Taiwan is also one of the best I have experienced. From train, bus, or taxi, you will never be late on your next appointment!

Best time to go to Taiwan

There are 4 seasons in Taiwan and  they are experienced during:

• Spring (April)
• Summer (May to September)
• Fall / Autumn (October)
• Winter (November to March)

Best months to visit Taiwan

• To make the most out of your visit in Taiwan, better visit between the months of March to May and October and November. The humidity is at an annual low making the climate very pleasant and easy to travel in.
• The rainy season in Taiwan runs between June and September

The Temperature Range in Taiwan is at 18.33 – 25.75 ॰C (65 – 78.35 ॰F)

How to get to Taiwan

Taiwan’s transport system is deemed to be one of the best and most organized in the world. Even if you are just visiting for a few days, you will easily understand the signages from every stop or station and it will tell where you will be going. Here are some of the options on how you can get to enjoy Taiwan:

By Land

Here are some of the main modes of public transportation in and around Taiwan:

• Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR)
• Taiwan Railway
• Charter Bus System
• Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
• City Bus
• Public Bicycles (You-Bike/E-Bike/City Bike/ iBike/ T-Bike)
• Taxi

– Details are discussed on the latter part of this blog!

By Air

The island nation of Taiwan has 4 major international airports, namely: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), Taichung International Airport (RMQ), and the Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA). There are direct flights that go to the world’s major countries, making Taiwan’s international aerial transport system a highly convenient one for direct flights and stopovers.

In the Philippines, several airlines also service a direct route going to two of these major airports. Here are the flight schedules:

Manila (MNL) to Taipei (TPE)

Cebu Pacific

*Daily

0705 H	0925 H
2240 H	0100 H (+1)

AirAsia

*Daily

0710 H	0915 H
2255 H	0115 H (+1)

StarLux

*Monday, Wednesday

1125 H

1340 H

EVA Air

*Daily

0340 H	0600 H
1250 H	1500 H
1850 H	2110 H

China Airlines

*Daily

1055 H	1305 H
1655 H	1905 H
1750 H	2010 H

Philippine Airlines

*Daily

0630 H	0845 H
1055 H	1305 H
1655 H	1905 H
1750 H	2010 H

Clark (CRK) to Taipei (TPE)

Cebu Pacific

*Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday

2130 H

2340 H

EVA Air

*Daily

1205 H

1415 H

StarLux

*Thursday, Friday

1030 H

1230 H

Manila (MNL) to Kaohsiung (KHH)

AirAsia

*Daily

1625 H

1820 H

By Water

Traveling in and around Taiwan via its waters is also easily convenient. Though these vessels do not operate every day, there are still routes in which you can access via boats / sea vessels.

*Marine Transport for Outlying Islands:

Penghu

Chiayi – Magong	1.5 hours	Around NT$ 1950 (Ph₱ 3427)
Kaohsiung – Magong	4.5 – 6.5 hours	Around NT$ 1548 – 3060 (Ph₱ 2721 – 5378)

Matsu

Matsu – Keelung

8 – 10 hours

Around NT$ 1200 – 3000 (Ph₱ 2109 – 5272)

Orchid Island (Lanyu)

Taitung Fugang – Orchid Island	2 – 2.5 hours	Around NT$ 2300 (Ph₱ 4042)
Kenting Houbihu – Orchid Island	2 – 2.5 hours	Around NT$ 2300 (Ph₱ 4042)

Green Island (Lyudao)

Taitung Fugang – Green Island

50 minutes

Around NT$ 1120 (Ph₱ 1969)

Little Liuqiu

Pingtung Donggang – Little Liuqiu	25 – 40 minutes	Around NT$ 380 – 410 (Ph₱ 668 – 721)
Pingtung Dapeng Bay – Little Liuqiu	25 – 30 minutes	Around NT$ 550 (Ph₱ 967)
Pingtung Yanpu – Little Liuqiu	25 – 30 minutes	Around NT$ 410 (Ph₱ 721)

Things to know about when visiting Taiwan

• The land area of Taiwan is around 36,197 km² (13,975.74 m²), slightly larger than the US State of Maryland and almost the same size as Belgium.
• The Four Official Languages spoken in Taiwan are Taiwanese (also called Taiyu, Hokkien, Holo, or Minnan), Mandarin, Hakka, and the Formosan aboriginal languages collectively. Notably, the English language is not one of them.
• The local Cellular Signal (Taiwan Mobile, Chunghwa Telecom, FarEasTone, Taiwan Star Telecom, Asia Pacific Telecom (APTG)) is fair and very good almost everywhere around Taiwan.
• The Local Socket Standard in Taiwan are: Type A (2 flat parallel pins) and Type B (2 flat parallel pins and a grounding pin). Minimum voltage (V) is at 110 V, and the frequency (Hz) is around 60 Hz.
• The currency used in Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)

The common Modes of Payment in Taiwan are:

• Card – 47%
• Cash – 9%
• Bank Transfer – 13%
• E-Wallet – 22%

Basic Taiwanese Phrases / Sentences you might need to know

• Hi / Hello – Ni Hao
• Goodbye – Chai-Kian
• Thank you – To Sia / Xie Xie
• You’re Welcome – Bu Yung Shie
• Please – Ching
• Excuse Me – Duei bu chi
• How Much – Lōa-chē / Chōe chî
• Good morning – Gau cha
• Good afternoon – Go an
• Good evening / Good night – Am an
• How are you? – Ni hao ma
• Delicious – Ke kou de

Famous food and delicacy in Taiwan

– Dishes

• Beef Noodle Soup
• Gua bao – Taiwanese burger
• Taiwanese fried chicken

– Delicacies

• Xiao Long Bao
• Oyster Omelette
• Pineapple Cake
• Stinky Tofu
• Chicken’s Feet
• Mango Shaved Ice
• Pig’s Blood Cake
• Zong zi – Sticky rice dumpling

Exploring in and out of Taiwan

This is quite a long read but here are the main modes of transportation in and around Taiwan.

• Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR)

(1) Regular Full Fare: NT$ 40 – 1530 (regular) / NT$ 260 – 2500 (business)

(2) Non-reserved seats: NT$ 35 – 1480

(3) Concession Tickets: NT$ 20 – 765 (regular) / NT$ 130 – 1250 (business)

(4) Group tickets (11 pax or more) – NT$ 35 – 1450 (regular) / NT$ 245 – 2375 (business)

• Taiwan Railway

(1) Pingxi / Shen’ao Line (Badouzi – Jingtong): NT$ 80 (regular); NT$ 40 (discounted)

(2) Neiwan Line (Hsinchu – Neiwan): NT$ 95 (regular); NT$ 50 (discounted)

(3) Jiji Line (Ershui – Checheng): NT$ 90 (regular); NT$ 45 (discounted)

(4) Northeast Line (Ruifang – Toucheng): NT$ 126 (regular); NT$ 64 (discounted)

(5) Xinzuoying – Fangliao Line (Xinzuoying – Fangliao): NT$ 184 (regular); NT$92 (discounted)

• Charter Bus System

(1) One-segment ticket (regular) NT$ 15 (Ph₱ 27); Two-segment ticket (regular) NT$ 30 (Ph₱ 53); Three-segment (regular) NT$ 45 (Ph₱ 80).

*Most passengers will only need a One-segment ticket. The bus driver will notify you if you need to pay more for a Two or Three-segment ticket.

*Note: Be sure to have the exact ticket amount as buses will not give change.

• Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

(1) Depending on the distance, a single journey ride starts from NT$ 20 – 65 (Ph₱ 36 – 115). The one-day pass which may be purchased at each station’s service counter is NT$ 150 (Ph₱ 264). On the date of validation you may take the MRT as many times as you like. However, each pass may only be used by one person at a time.

*Single-Journey Tickets

Ticket Types	Applicable Public Transports	Eligibility	Validity	Where to Purchase
Regular Single journey tickets NT$ 20 – 65	Taipei Metro New Taipei Metro Circular Line	Adults and children over 6 years old	Valid on the day of issue only	Available at: – Ticketing machines – All Metro station information counters
60% Discount tickets for the elderly and disabled (local residents only)	Taipei Metro New Taipei Metro Circular Line	– Senior citizens aged 65 and above must present their physical R.O.C ID card for verification – Disabled passengers with physical disability ID (within its expiration date) plus one companion – Indigenous people aged 55 and above who are registered in Taipei City or New Taipei City must present a physical copy of their Household Registration Record issued by Taipei City or New Taipei City for verification	Valid on the day of issue only	Available at all Metro station information counters

*Travel Passes

• Taipei Metro
• Taichung Metro
• Kaohsiung Metro
• New Taipei City Metro
• Taoyuan Airport Metro

*Taipei Metro Tickets

Ticket Types		Applicable Public Transports	Validity	Where to Purchase
One-Day Pass	One-Day Pass (for retail purchase) – NT$ 150	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro until end of service on the same day. Valid for one passenger at a time only.		Available at all Metro station information counters.
	One-Day Pass (Bulk Purchases) – discounts vary per quantity			1. Download the One-Day Pass Bulk Purchase Form from our official website. Fill it out and fax it to +886-2-25239284 (Customer Service Center), or call our 24-hour Customer Service Line on +886-2-218-12345. 2. Contact the retailer directly if you need a refund. No individual refunds can be made at Metro stations
Taipei Metro Multi-day Pass	24hr Taipei Metro Pass – NT$ 180	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro for 24 hours. Valid for one passenger at a time only.		Available at all Metro station information counters.
	48hr Taipei Metro Pass – NT$ 280	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro for 48 hours. Valid for one passenger at a time only.		Available at all Metro station information counters.
	72hr Taipei Metro Pass – NT$ 380	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro for 72 hours. Valid for one passenger at a time only.		Available at all Metro station information counters.
Taipei Metro Token One-Day Pass/Multi-day Pass	One-Day Pass, 24/48/72hr Taipei Metro Pass – NT$150/NT$180/NT$280/NT$380	1. One-Day Pass: You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro until end of service on the same day. Valid for one passenger at a time only. 2. 24/48/72hr Taipei Metro Pass: You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the gates, it is valid for unlimited travel on the Taipei Metro for 24/48/72 hours. Valid for one passenger at a time only.		Available at Multi-Payment Ticketing Machines (Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan Station, Songjiang Nanjing Station, Xingtian Temple Station, Nangang Station, Ximen Station, Longshan Temple Station, Banqiao Station)

*Taipei Fun Passes

Ticket Types		Scope of application	Validity	Where to purchase
Taipei Fun Pass	1-day Transportation Pass – NT$ 180	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line and bus services	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service on the same day. Valid for one passenger at a time only.	1. Available at all Metro station information counters. 2. Taipei Fun Pass website.
	2-day Transportation Pass – NT$ 310	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line and bus services	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service within 2 days. Valid for one passenger at a time only.
	3-day Transportation Pass – NT$ 440	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line and bus services	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service within 3 days. Valid for one passenger at a time only.
	5-day Transportation Pass – NT$ 700	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line and bus services	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service within 5 days. Valid for one passenger at a time only.
	1-day Transportation Pass (Maokong Gondola Version) – NT$ 350	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line, bus services, and Maokong Gondola	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro/Gondola gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until the end of service on the same day. Valid for one person at a time only.	1. Available at all Metro stations and Maokong Gondola information counters . 2. Taipei Fun Pass website.
Taipei Fun Pass	1-day Unlimited Pass – NT$ 1500	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line, bus services, and entry tickets for attractions	You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service on the same day. Valid for one passenger at a time only.	1. Available at Taipei Metro station information counters: Taipei Main Station, Ximen Station, Songshan Airport Station. 2. Taipei Fun Pass website
	2-day Unlimited Pass – NT$ 1900		You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service within 2 days. Valid for one passenger at a time only.
	3-day Unlimited Pass – NT$ 2200		You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until end of service within 3 days. Valid for one passenger at a time only.
Taipei Fun Pass	2-day Exploring Pass (Can be topped up) – NT$ 650	Attraction entries (including Maokong Gondola)	1. You can activate the pass at any time. It is valid for 2 days starting from the first day of use and can be used by one person for a single entry into many popular attractions. 2. The card also functions as an EasyCard with permanent validity after topping up, and can be used on the same public transports as general EasyCards.	1. Available at Taipei Metro station information counters: Taipei Main Station, Ximen Station, Songshan Airport Station. 2. Taipei Fun Pass website
	3-day Exploring Pass (Can be topped up) – NT$ 850		1. You can activate the pass at any time. It is valid for 3 days starting from the first day of use and can be used by one person for a single entry into many popular attractions. 2. The card also functions as an EasyCard with permanent validity after topping up, and can be used on the same public transports as general EasyCards.
	4-day Exploring Pass (Can be topped up) – NT$ 1050		1. You can activate the pass at any time. It is valid for 4 days starting from the first day of use and can be used by one person for a single entry into many popular attractions. 2. The card also functions as an EasyCard with permanent validity after topping up, and can be used on the same public transports as general EasyCards.
Taipei Fun Pass	Classic Version (Can be topped up) – NT$ 950	Attraction entries (full price ticket to the Taipei 101 Observatory and general entry to the northern branch of the National Palace Museum)	1. Tickets are valid for 14 days from first use at any of the attractions. 2. The card also functions as an EasyCard with permanent validity after topping up, and can be used on the same public transports as general EasyCards.	Please see the Taipei Fun Pass website.
Taipei Fun Pass	2-day THSR Holiday Tickets (Can be topped up)	Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro Circular Line, Taiwan High Speed Rail and entry tickets for attractions	1. THSR standard return ticket (the outward journey must terminate at HSR Taipei Station and the return journey must originate from HSR Taipei Station.) 2. You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until the end of service within 2 days. 3 The card also functions as an EasyCard with permanent validity after topping up, and can be used on the same public transports as general EasyCards.	For further information, please contact funpass@fontrip.com.tw or call +886-3-5910052.
	2-day THSR Joint Tickets		1. THSR standard return ticket (the outward journey must terminate at HSR Taipei Station and the return journey must originate from HSR Taipei Station.) 2. You can choose when to activate the pass. Once activated by scanning on a ticket reader on a bus or at the Metro gates, it is valid for unlimited travel until the end of service within 2 days. After expiration, the pass becomes invalid and cannot be used again.

• City Bus

– City buses are the most common means of public transportation in all cities in Taiwan. Many people choose city buses as their main means of transportation because of their frequency, convenience, and number of stops.

• Public Bicycles (You-Bike/E-Bike/City Bike/ iBike/ T-Bike)

– Public bicycles have frequently been seen as a way to solve the “last mile” problem, and connect users between public transit networks and their final destination. Since 2008, Taipei and other major cities have been promoting public bicycles and setting up more docking stations to conserve energy, reduce the city’s carbon footprint, and encourage a healthy lifestyle with exercise.

• City Taxis

– Taxis in Taiwan are mostly yellow in color, hence their nickname, “Xiao Huang”, which directly translates to Little Yellow. There are many ways to hail a taxi, such as phoning for one, using an app, or just stopping one on the street.

Want to know more about Taiwan?

Read more: Taichung Travel Guide | 10 Things to do in Taiwan’s “Cultural City”

*Note that the places, prices, and information written as of publication date and time are true and are given best during my visit. Changes may occur without prior notice. If you notice any changes to the information given above, you can e-mail me here so we can dish things up!*

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