Brief History
Taiwan has a rich, colorful history. It became a protectorate of the
Chinese Empire in 1206, the year the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan
founded the Yuan dynasty. The island was made a prefecture (county) of the
coastal mainland province of Fukien in 1684, and in 1885, during the Ching
or Manchu dynasty (China's last reigning house), Taiwan was proclaimed a
separate province of China.
For centuries Taiwan has been familiar to the West as Formosa, a name
derived from the 16th century Portuguese mariners who, on sighting the
island from a galleon, named it "IIha Formosa!" (Beautiful Island!). The
official Chinese name for the Pescadores (Fishermen's Isles), a name also
given by Portuguese mariners, is Penghu. The archipelago is located in the
Taiwan Strait, and forms one of the 16 counties of Taiwan province.
The Dutch invaded Taiwan in 1624 and remained as colonists for 37 years.
The Spanish invaded and occupied northemmost Taiwan in 1626, but were driven
out by the Dutch 16 years later in 1642. The Dutch were finally dislodged in
1661 by invading forces from the mainland led by the Ming dynasty loyalist
Cheng Cheng- kung, whose latinized name, Koxinga, derives from his
ennoblement by the Ming court as Kuo Hsing Yeh, or Lord of the Imperial
Sumame. Koxinga hoped to use Taiwan as his base in the fight to overthrow
the Ching dynasty and restore the Ming dynasty.
In 1884 the French occupied northemmost Taiwan following a dispute with
China over the Yunnan-Indochina border. In March 1885 they also occupied the
Pescadores, but withdrew from both the Pescadores and Taiwan three months
later under the terms of a treaty with China.
The Japanese went to war with China in 1894 following a dispute over
Korea. By the treaty of Shimonoseki, concluded in 1895, Taiwan and the
Pescadores were ceded to Japan. Under another provision, Korea, over which
China had exercised suzerainty, was declared independent and, as expected,
was subsequently annexed by Japan. Taiwan and the Pescadores were restored
to Chinese rule at the end of World War II in 1945.
The principal city of Taiwan is Taipei, which since December 7, 1949, has
been the provisional capital of the Republic of China.
The Republic of China (ROC) was bom in the Wuchang Revolution which
erupted on October 10, 1911. The ROC was formally established on January 1,
1912 and brought the republican form of government to Asia. Dr. Sun Yat-sen,
the nation's founding father, sought to create a government "of the people,
by the people, and for the people" to replace the weak, corrupt bureaucracy
of the Ching dynasty.
Location and Topography
Taiwan is situated in the Pacific Ocean about 160 kilometers (100 miles)
from the southeastern coast of the Chinese mainland. Located about midway
between Korea and Japan to the north and Hong Kong and the Philippines to
the south, Taiwan is a natural gateway for travelers to and within Asia.
Shaped roughly like a tobacco leaf, Taiwan is 394 kilometers (245 miles)
long and 144 kilometers (89.5 miles) wide at its broadest point. The Central
Mountain Range bisects Taiwan from north to south and about two-thirds of
the island is covered with forested peaks. The rest of the island is made up
of foothills, terraced flatlands, and coastal plains and basins.
Taiwan province includes the Penghu Archipelago-a group of 64 islands
previously known as the Pescadores-and 21 other islands.
Climate
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 21.7
C (71.2F) in the north and 24.1C (75.7F) in the south. The rainy season, in
May and June, typically heralds the start of summer. Summers, which last
from May through September, are usually hot and humid with daytime
temperatures from 27 to 35 C (in the 80s In general, visitors should wear
lightweight clothing from April through No- vember, sweaters and coats are
necessary only from December through March and in air-conditioned
restaurants, cinemas, etc.
Population
In 1995, Taiwan's population exceeds 21 million, which makes the island
one of the world's most densely populated places. Except for the
approximately 350,000 aborigines, the people of Taiwan originate from the
Chinese mainland, most from the coastal province of Fukien.
Religions
The Chinese religious belief system has a guardian deity for almost every
aspect of human life. The Chinese deities revered in Taiwan, notably Kuan
Yin, Goddess of Mercy, and Matsu Goddess of the Sea, all had their origins
on the Chinese mainland, Taoism and other indigenous Chinese religions, and
such imported religions as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, also came to
Taiwan via the mainland, Today Buddhism and Taoism are the predominant
religions in Taiwan, along with significant numbers of Protestants, Roman
Catholics, and Moslems.
Languages
Mandarin Chinese is the Official language in Taiwan, though other
dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English, but most taxi
drivers do not speak English.
Electricity & Water
Electric current is 110 volts, 60 cycles, AC. Drinking water served at
hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled.
Vaccinations
Persons who have been in cholera-infected areas must beinoculated more
than seven days but less than six months before arrival. A smallpox
vaccination is no longer required.
Currency
The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan dollar(NT$).
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated and private
banks andhotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be
presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure.
Major credit cards are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at
some tourist-oriented businesses and by room guests at most international
tourist hotels.
Tipping
The standard tip is about NT$50 per piece of luggage. A 10% service
charge is automatically added to room rates and meals. All other tipping is
optional.
Business Hours
Banks are open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9
a.m. to noon on Saturday, while most commercial firms are open 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Government offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30
p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on
Saturday.
Department stores are open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and most other
stores are open from 9 or 10 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m.
Telephone
Overseas Calls
On private phones, the Overseas operator may be reached by dialing "100,"
and direct dialing is available as well. Person-to-person and
station-to-station calls are accepted. For information call the
Telecommunications Administration at (02) 321-2535. Overseas calls may also
be made on public facilities at ITA offices. Rates fo
AT&T USADirect Service World Connect Service is available from almost 90%
of public phones in Taiwan by dialing 0080-10288-0. You can simply pick up
the handset of any public phone and dial the access number with no need to
insert a phone cord or coin
Domestic Long Distance
These may be made on private phones or pay phones directly, or through
the telephone bureau.
City Pay Phones
The rate for public pay phones is one NT dollar for three minutes and
approximately NT$10 for domestic long distance calls. You can buy telecards
which cost NT$100 each to save trouble finding coins to make phone calls.
Transport
Airport limousine buses are available from CKS International Airportto
Taipei every 15 minutes, and tickets cost around NT$111 per person.
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