Taiwan Country & Tourist Information

Location
Between the South and East China Seas, off the southeast coast of the People’s Republic of China.

Area
36,188 sq km (13,972 sq miles).

Population
22.8 million (official figure 2006).

Population Density
635 per sq km.

Capital
Taipei.
Population: 2.6 million (2006).

Government
Republic since 1912.


Language
As is the case in mainland China, the official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, commonly referred to as guoyu (‘national language’). However, the native Taiwanese tongue, alternatively called taiyu or minnan hua, is still widely spoken as a first language by the island’s dominant ethnic group, which originally hails from China’s southern Fujian province.

Religion
‘Folk religion’ - a blend of ancient animist beliefs with the traditions of Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism - forms the core beliefs of most Taiwanese. Purer forms of Buddhism are also on the rise, along with Christianity.

Time
GMT + 8.

Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Chang Chun-hsiung since 2007.

Head of State
President Ma Ying-jeou since 2008.

Recent History
President Chen Shui-bian, from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was elected in 2000, ending more than 50 years of Nationalist (Kuomintang) rule. He was re-elected by a very narrow margin in March 2004, after a campaign focusing on formal independence for Taiwan. As a result, Beijing, which sees constitutional change as a dangerous step towards formal statehood for Taiwan, refuses to deal with Mr Chen.

Following elections in March 2008, Taiwan’s newly-elected president, Ma Ying-jeou, pledged to establish better economic and political ties with China. President Ma Ying-jeou said he wants to work towards a peace treaty with Beijing, but would only do so if China removed missiles pointed at Taiwan.

Telephone
Country code: 886. There is an extensive internal telephone system.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies.

Internet
Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services.

Media



Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 10 days.

Press
• Daily Chinese-language papers include the United Daily News, the Central Daily News, China Times, Taiwan Daily and Liberty Times.
• English-language dailies include The China Post, Taipei Times and Taiwan News.

Radio
• Broadcasting Corporation of China (BCC) has national and regional networks, while CBS-Radio Taiwan International, the national broadcaster, also beams services to mainland China and the rest of the world with programs in various languages and Chinese dialects.
• Public Radio System (PRS) is government run and broadcasts travel, weather and social information.
• International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) is the biggest English-language FM station.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1-3 Jan Founding of the Republic of China and New Year's Day. 
26-28 Jan Chinese New Year.
28 Feb Peace Memorial Day.
5 Apr Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1 May Labor Day. 
28 May (5th day, 5th moon) Dragon Boat Festival.
3 Oct (15th day, 8th moon) Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
10 Oct National Day.

2010
1-3 Jan Founding of the Republic of China and New Year's Day. 
14-16 Feb Chinese New Year.
28 Feb Peace Memorial Day.
5 Apr Tomb-Sweeping Day.
1 May Labor Day. 
May/Jun* (5th day, 5th moon) Dragon Boat Festival.
Sep/Oct* (15th day, 8th moon) Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
10 Oct National Day.

* Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information:

Taiwan Visitors' Association
5th Floor, 9 Minchuan East Road, Section 2, Taipei 104, Taiwan
Tel: (2) 2594 3261 (information hotline).
Website: www.tva.org.tw

Taipei Representative Office in the UK
50 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1 0EB, UK
Tel: (020) 7881 2650 or 2654 (visa section).
Website: www.taiwanembassy.org/uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 (visa section).

Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the USA
4201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Tel: (202) 895 1800.
Website: www.tecro.org

Taiwan Visitors' Association in the USA
1 East 42nd Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 867 1632. 
Website: www.go2taiwan.net


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