Taiwan

πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό Taiwan – Mini Travel Guide: Night Markets, Mountains & Modern Cities

Scroll down for vibrant street food, lush mountain scenery, and a fusion of traditional culture with cutting-edge urban life.

Basic Info

Population: ~23.5 million
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)
Time zone: UTC+8
Annual tourists: ~11 million (pre-2020)
Expats/digital nomads: Growing in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung
Foreign retirees: Limited but interest is increasing

🧭 Essential Information

  • Visa rules: Visa-free entry for many countries (14–90 days); eVisa available.
  • Laws/customs: No smoking indoors; respect queue etiquette; remove shoes when entering homes.
  • Languages: Mandarin Chinese; English spoken in tourist/business areas.
  • Currency exchange: Banks and major hotels; ATMs widely available.
  • Safety: Very safe; low crime rate; watch for typhoons in summer.

πŸ’° Cost-Related Factors

  • Cost of living: Moderate; cheaper outside Taipei.
  • Tipping: Not customary except in high-end restaurants/hotels.
  • Average prices: Street meal NT$50–150; hotel NT$1,500–3,500/night.
  • Budget options: Night market dining, hostels, EasyCard for transport.
  • ATM & cards: Cards widely accepted; cash preferred in markets.

🌀️ Climate & Weather

  • Pattern: Subtropical in the north, tropical in the south; hot, humid summers; mild winters.
  • Best time: Oct–Dec (dry, pleasant weather).
  • Hazards: Typhoons (Jun–Oct); earthquakes possible.

πŸ₯ Health & Safety

  • Healthcare: High quality; public and private hospitals.
  • Insurance: Recommended for visitors.
  • Vaccinations: Routine + Hepatitis A.
  • Food/water: Tap water not recommended for drinking; bottled water preferred.
  • Emergency: 110 (police), 119 (ambulance/fire).

🚍 Transportation

Excellent public transport: High-speed rail, local trains, MRT in major cities, buses, and taxis. EasyCard works for most systems.

πŸ“Ά Connectivity

Strong 4G and growing 5G network; affordable SIM cards at airports and convenience stores.

🏨 Accommodation

Range from budget hostels and capsule hotels to luxury skyscraper suites and mountain resorts.

🍜 Food & Drink

Top 10 Dishes

  1. Beef Noodle Soup
  2. Xiao Long Bao
  3. Gua Bao
  4. Oyster Omelette
  5. Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice)
  6. Bubble Tea
  7. Scallion Pancakes
  8. Fried Chicken Cutlet
  9. Stinky Tofu
  10. Pineapple Cake

Top 10 Drinks

  1. Bubble Tea
  2. Oolong Tea
  3. Plum Juice
  4. Winter Melon Tea
  5. Grass Jelly Drink
  6. Kaoliang Liquor
  7. Soy Milk
  8. Herbal Tea
  9. Fruit Smoothies
  10. Beer (Taiwan Beer)

Top 10 Desserts

  1. Mango Shaved Ice
  2. Pineapple Cake
  3. Sun Cake
  4. Grass Jelly Dessert
  5. Taro Balls
  6. Douhua (Tofu Pudding)
  7. Mochi
  8. Peanut Ice Cream Roll
  9. Red Bean Soup
  10. Sesame Balls

πŸŽ’ Things to Do

Top 10 Attractions

  1. Taipei 101
  2. Taroko Gorge
  3. Sun Moon Lake
  4. Alishan
  5. National Palace Museum
  6. Kenting National Park
  7. Jiufen Old Street
  8. Yangmingshan National Park
  9. Shilin Night Market
  10. Tamsui

Museums & UNESCO

  1. National Palace Museum
  2. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
  3. Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts
  4. National Taiwan Museum
  5. Pingxi Railway Line
  6. Fort Zeelandia
  7. Lukang Old Street
  8. Fo Guang Shan Monastery
  9. Keelung Maritime Plaza
  10. Tainan Confucius Temple

πŸͺ¨ Hidden Gems

  1. Penghu Islands
  2. Lanyu (Orchid Island)
  3. Green Island
  4. Qingshui Cliffs
  5. Wulai Hot Springs
  6. Shifen Waterfall
  7. Maokong Tea Plantations
  8. Taimali Coast
  9. Lukang Township
  10. Zhuilu Old Trail

πŸŽ‰ Festivals & Holidays

Lunar New Year
Lantern Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
Double Ten Day
Ghost Festival
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival
Taipei Pride

πŸ—£οΈ Useful Words

Nǐ hǎo – Hello
XiΓ¨xiΓ¨ – Thank you
Qǐng – Please
DuΓ¬buqǐ – Sorry
Duōshǎo qiΓ‘n? – How much?
CΓ¨suΗ’ zΓ i nǎlǐ? – Where is the bathroom?
Hǎo – Good
BΓΉ hǎo – Not good
ZΓ ijiΓ n – Goodbye

🌍 Culture & Lifestyle

Blend of Chinese traditions, indigenous heritage, and Japanese influences; strong emphasis on family and food culture.

🀝 Social Aspects

Polite, orderly, and welcoming; night markets and tea houses are key social hubs.