Taiwan Facts and Culture

What is Taiwan famous for?

• Family: The Taiwanese concept of family includes children, parents, extended family, elders and ancestors. Taiwanese often live in small and crowded... More
• Fashion: Western-Style clothing is common. A suit is the most appropriate attire for conducting business in Taiwan. In less formal situations,... More
• Visiting: First impressions are very important when dealing with Chinese people and a great deal of emphasis is placed upon the... More
• Recreation: Many Taiwanese enjoy golf, ping-pong, basketball, soccer, softball and badminton. Health clubs and gyms are used regularly. Senior men... More
• Cultural Attributes: Great importance on the concept of "face"." "Face" roughly equates to western concepts of status and respect. Chinese people regard... More
• Diet: When setting down chopsticks between courses, never place them in the rice bowl vertically or at an angle as this... More

What is the capital of Taiwan?

Capital	Taipei
Government Type	semi-presidential republic
Currency	New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Total Area	13,892 Square Miles 35,980 Square Kilometers
Location	Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Language	Chinese: Mandarin (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
GDP - real growth rate	2.2%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$47,500.00 (USD)

What is the population of Taiwan?

Ethnic Groups	Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Nationality Adjective	Chinese/Taiwanese
Nationality Noun	Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)
Population	23,603,049
Population Growth Rate	0.27%
Predominant Language	Chinese: Mandarin (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

What type of government does Taiwan have?

• Executive Branch: chief of state: President TSAI Ing-wen (since 20 May 2016; re-elected on 11 Jan 2020); Vice President CHEN Chien-jen (since... More
• Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal More
• Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan dual citizenship recognized: yes,... More
• National Holiday: Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911) More
• Constitution: previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947; revised several times, last... More

What environmental issues does Taiwan have?

• Overview: Named "Ihla Formosa", or Beautiful Island, by the Portuguese, Taiwan is a land of contrasts. It has everything from industrial... More
• Climate: The Tropic of Cancer bisects the island, so the climate is sub-tropica with temperatures ranging from 12 to 35 degrees... More
• Environment - Current Issues: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive... More
• Environment - International Agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status More
• Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west More

How big is the Taiwan economy?

• Economic Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy that is driven largely by industrial manufacturing, and especially exports of electronics, machinery, and... More
• Industries: electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing More
• Currency Name and Code: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) More
• Export Partners: China 25.3%, US 20.5%, Japan 9.2% More
• Import Partners: Japan 24.2%, US 16.1%, China 7.1%, South Korea 6.9% More

What current events are happening in Taiwan?
Source: Google News

What unique things can you discover about Taiwan?

• An abacus is an ancient Chinese counting tool.
• At birth, a child is considered to be one year old. At every Chinese New Year another year is added. A baby's first month is a very important celebration. Taiwanese have two birth dates, one based on the lunar calendar and one based on the western calendar. Fortune tellers often determine marriage partners' suitability by using their lunar calendar birth dates.
• Dr. Sun Yat-sen's The Three Principles of the People is a widely read book. The three principles are Nationalism, Mintsu, Livelihood, Minshens, and Civil Rights, Minchuan. The national anthem of Taiwan is also entitled, Three Principles of the People.
• If you need to call someone to you, you must use your whole hand, not just a finger.
• In Taiwan, smiling is a proper response in an embarrassing situation. The smile is offered as an apology.
• Official holidays are often based on the achievements of people and are celebrated to remember specific events that were important. These holidays include the Founding Day of the Republic of China on January 1; Women's Day; Children's Day; Youth Day; the birthday of Confucius, also known as Teachers' Day; Constitution Day; Taiwan's Restoration Day; and Double Tenth National Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the revolution that led to the overthrow of the Ching Dynasty and the founding of the Republic of China.
• Qigong is a form of traditional Chinese medical treatment based on energy-control and healing.
• Taiwan has one of the world's most dynamic export-oriented economies.
• Taiwan has the second highest population density in the world. In downtown Taichung City, the population density is as high as 32,000 persons per square kilometer.
• Taiwanese people put their family name or last name first. For example, everyone's name in the family would start with Chang. The only exception might be the mother, who can choose to keep her maiden name or combine it with her husband's.
• Tea is an important part of Taiwanese life. It is made from the most tender leaves of tea plants. The differences in the Taiwanese teas available are a result of the methods used to process the leaves. The length of the time taken for roasting and fermentation changes the color and taste of the tea.
• The capital of Taiwan, Taipei, is built in a big, flat basin that used to be a lake.
• The Chinese have an intricate culture which dates back at least 3000 years, making it one of the world's oldest surviving societies.
• The craft of knotting strings in various complicated ways to produce decorative cords was developed 300 to 400 years ago in China.
• Your Taiwanese friends may be anxious to please you, so instead of disappointing you, they will often agree to do what they are unable to do. Don't be surprised or frustrated if you learn that a 'yes' really meant ';maybe' or a polite 'no.'
• When a child loses a tooth they throw their tooth on the roof.

What can you learn about Taiwan in this video?

Taiwan Guide YouTube, Expoza Travel

What makes Taiwan a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Taiwan is a stable democracy with a strong and well-developed economy. Tourist facilities are widely available.

Crime

Although the overall violent crime rate in Taiwan is low, you should avoid high crime areas, namely areas where massage parlors, barbershops, and nightclubs operate as covers for prostitution and are often run by criminals. In contrast to these illegal fronts, ordinary barbershops and other legitimate businesses prominently advertise their services, and you can see the interiors through storefront windows. Illicit establishments generally do not advertise, and casual passersby cannot view their interiors. Several U.S. citizens have been assaulted in these establishments and in the areas near bar and nightclub districts. Taiwan’s public buses and subway are generally considered safe, but passengers in taxis – particularly women - should exercise caution when traveling alone in taxis late at night. In several parts of Taiwan, incidents of purse snatching by thieves on motorcycles have been reported. You should keep a photocopy of your passport, other identification, and credit cards in a safe place.

Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but you may also be breaking local law.

The emergency telephone number for Taiwan services (ambulance, fire, police) is 119. The number for police is 110. Victims of domestic violence or sexual assault may call 113. Taiwan Police also offers a 24 hour telephone line for foreigners in English: 0800-024-111.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Health facilities in Taiwan are adequate for routine and emergency medical treatment. Physicians are well trained and many have studied in the United States and speak English. State of the art medical equipment is available at many clinics and hospitals. Hospitals’ nursing services provide medication dispensing and wound care but generally not the daily patient maintenance functions found in U.S. hospitals. Taiwan regulations require ambulances to have emergency equipment and supplies and to be staffed by trained medical personnel (dial 119). For information on specific clinics and hospitals, please refer to AIT's website.

You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC’s website : http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/taiwan.htm Or Taiwan's CDC: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/mp.asp?mp=5

Safety and Security

Taiwan is a modern democracy with vibrant public participation. Political demonstrations are common, especially around election time. Since Taiwan democratized in the early 1990s, there have been very few cases of violence associated with political demonstrations. But even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational. You should avoid areas of demonstrations if possible and exercise caution if within the vicinity of any political demonstrations. The American Citizens Services Section of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) will post notices regarding demonstrations in Taiwan on the AIT website whenever it receives reliable information about them. In most cases, AIT will not send out a warden message when it has information on a planned demonstration.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While traveling abroad, you may find that road and driving conditions are significantly different from those in the United States. The information below concerning Taiwan is provided for general reference and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Roads in Taiwan's major cities are generally congested, and the many scooters and motorcycles that weave in and out of traffic make driving conditions worse. You should exercise caution when crossing streets because many drivers do not respect the pedestrian's right of way. Be especially cautious when driving on mountain roads, which are typically narrow, winding, poorly banked, and which may be impassable after heavy rains.