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Taiwan Travel Information
Travel Alert Status
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Time Difference
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Travel Climate
The Tropic of Cancer bisects the island, so the climate is sub-tropica with temperatures ranging from 12 to 35 degrees Celsius (54-95 degrees Fahrenheit).Northern Taiwan has two long seasons (summer & winter) and two short seasons (spring & autumn).
Spring, mid-March to mid-May, is mostly sunny and mild with brief spells of cloudy skies and rain showers. Spring's average daily temperature is 17-25C or 62-77F. Summer, mid-May through late September, is hot with an average rainfall of 10 inches a month, mostly from afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Autumn, late September to early November, is characterized by mild temperatures and afternoon showers. Winter, November through mid-April, is characterized by low cloud drizzle, fog and occasional winds.
The daily temperatures range between 17 - 24 degrees C (62-75F) in November, dropping to 12 - 19C (54 - 66F) in January and then rising to 14 - 22C (57 - 72F) in March. Occasionally, the temperature drops below 1OC (50F), especially in the mountainous areas.
The typhoon season usually starts in mid-June and lasts through October. An average of 12 typhoons form in the Western Pacific each year. The average daily temperature range in Taipei is 21 - 29C (70 - 84F) in May; 24 - 35C (75 - 95F) in July and August; 23 - 33C (73 - 91F) in September; and 20 - 27C (68 - 81F) in October.
Kaohsiung enjoys a milder, drier winter than Taipei, but summer temperatures average about the same.
As a result of its subtropical position and heavy rainfall, Taiwan's natural landscape is constantly green with the varied hues of forest, shrubs and coarse tropical grass. All but the peaks of the highest mountains are covered with vegetation.
Travel Currency
new Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Languages
Chinese: Mandarin (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Ethnic Groups
Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
National Holiday
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)
Geographic Coordinates
23 30 N, 121 00 E
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