see also:

• travel for international conferences - visas and travel authorisations
• events and conferences relevant to ED professionals
• traveling to Republic of Korea (South Korea) for conferences
• travelling to Hong Kong for conferences
• Taiwan customs requirements
  • Some prescription medications are illegal in Taiwan
  • Taiwan has a visa-exempt entry scheme for nationals of designated countries, including Australia. Australians can use Taiwan's e-Gate service. To register for e-Gate, visit the e-Gate Enrolment Counters at the airport, located next to the e-Gate lanes at passport control.
  • Permits may be required for entering mountains in Taiwan.

• Taiwan consists of 168 islands that are spread all over the South China Sea
• The main island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, has an area of 35,808 square kilometres, with mountain ranges dominating the eastern two-thirds and plains in the western third, where its highly urbanized population is concentrated.
• Taiwan was colonised by Japan from 1895-1945
• The capital, Taipei, forms along with New Taipei City and Keelung the largest metropolitan area and lies on the northern tip
• With around 23.9 million inhabitants, Taiwan is among the most densely populated countries.
• composed of four major ethnic subgroups: Hoklos, Waishengren (mainland Chinese), Hakkas, and aborigines
• 84 percent of Taiwan's population are descendants of Han Chinese immigrants between 1683 and 1895.
  • Han Chinese, Han Taiwanese, Melanesians and Polynesians all come from Austronesian ancestry (also include indigenous ethnic minorities in Vietnam (Hoa people), Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Hainan, the Comoros, Indonesia, Micronesia, coastal New Guinea, and the Torres Strait Islands) which expanded in the region from c3000-1500BCE and reached Madagascar and New Zealand (1250CE)
  • The broad consensus on the Urheimat (homeland) of Austronesian languages as well as the Neolithic early Austronesian peoples is accepted to be Taiwan, as well as the Penghu Islands
    • Neolithic early Austronesian peoples are believed to have descended from ancestral populations in coastal mainland southern China, which are generally referred to as the “pre‑Austronesians” who migrated to Taiwan 10,000 and 6000 BCE
• most people speak Taiwanese mandarin with Traditional Chinese writing (some Han ethnic groups, particularly in the SW of Taiwan speak Hokkien or to a lesser extent, Hakka)
  • Han Taiwanese have a 10-fold lower prevalence of alcohol dependence compared to Austronesians largely thanks to ADH1B and ALDH2 genes.
• approx 1/3rd identify as Taoist and 1/3rd identify as Buddhist, although ~78% of temples are Taoist
• local currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD)
• the Taiwanese people in general are extremely polite, respectful and helpful towards tourists - if you are respectful to them and their culture

• 30,000yrs ago: Paleolithic Taiwanese likely settled the Ryukyu Islands - these peoples were similar to the Negrito peoples of the Philippines
• 11,500-9,500yrs BP: pre-sinitic peoples with foxtail millet cultivation from north-east China migrated south to become the “pre-Austronesians”
• 13,500-8,2600yrs BP: “pre-Austronesians” of east China domesticate rice
• 10,000yrs ago: Taiwan becomes an island as sea levels rose and the connection to the Asian mainland was submerged
• 7,900-7,500trs BP: early Austronesians in south-east China Fuzhou culture and Lingdao man enter Taiwan c 6000yrs ago
• 6,000-4000yrs ago: settled by “pre‑Austronesian” Fuzhou and later farmers of the Dapenkeng culture from what is now southeast China - these are the ancestors of modern Taiwanese Indigenous peoples and the originators of the Austronesian language family which spread to northern Philippines by 4200-4100 BP
• 2ndC BCE: southward expansion of the Han dynasty
• 1368-1644: Ming Dynasty in China
• 1624: the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established Fort Zeelandia on the coastal islet of Tayouan (in modern Tainan)
• 1626 the Spanish Empire occupied northern Taiwan as a trading base, first at Keelung and in 1628 building Fort San Domingo at Tamsui
• early 17thC: Hakka people migrate from southern and northern Guangdong to Taiwan to form the Hakka Taiwanese
• 1642: Dutch forces conquer the Spanish establishments
• 1668: the Dutch leave Taiwan due to indigenous resistance
• 17th century, large-scale Han Chinese immigration began under a Dutch colony and continued under the Kingdom of Tungning, the first predominantly Han Chinese state in Taiwanese history.
• 1683: annexed by the Manchu Qing dynasty of China which was considered tyrannical and foreign to the Han majority and this resulted in the formation of secret Hung Society formed with intent to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, and would later become the origin of the Triad crime organizations which would later be enlisted by the KMT to assassinate political opponents and attack political enemies, and after 1949, would move to Hong Kong, Taiwan, SE Asia and USA and to avoid Mao's suppression of them.
• 1895: ceded to the Empire of Japan in 1895
• 1945: Republic of China, which had overthrown the Qing in 1911, took control following the surrender of Japan
• 1949: resumption of the Chinese Civil War resulted in the loss of the Chinese mainland to Communist forces, who established the People's Republic of China, and the flight of the ROC central government to Taiwan where Martial Law was introduced (until 1987)
• 1952: Japan renounced sovereignty over Taiwan
• early 1960s: Taiwan entered a period of rapid economic growth and industrialization called the “Taiwan Miracle”.
• late 1980s and early 1990s, the ROC transitioned from a one-party state under martial law to a multi-party democracy
• 1991: ROC ceased to regard the CCP as a rebellious group and recognized its control over mainland China - had maintained its claim of being the sole legitimate representative of China
• 1996: democratically elected presidents replaces the one party state
• the People's Republic of China still maintains Taiwan belongs to China and achieving this remains one of its highest priorities however Taiwan is main producer of semiconductor chips and is under the protection of the US

• lies on the Tropic of Cancer, and its general climate is marine tropical
  • Kaohsiung lies below the Tropic of Cancer, so it is more tropical than Taipei in the north, with a smaller difference between winter and summer temperatures.
• northern and central regions are subtropical, whereas the south is tropical and the mountainous regions are temperate
• avg annual rainfall 2600mm
• as Taiwan is so humid, the “feels like” is quite a bit colder at lower temperatures and hotter at higher temperatures. So 10°C might feel like 0°C and 34°C might feel like 44°C - trying to sleep at 29degC overnight with high humidity is very difficult - you will need air conditioning
• hot, humid weather from June through September - typhoons are most common in July, August and September
• winter (November to March) is the best flower season, the northeast experiences steady rain, while the central and southern parts of the island are mostly sunny
• the most pleasant times (avg min temps 19-21degC and avg max temps 26-29degC) are April, May, Oct, early Nov
• late May-early June (late Spring) may see a lot of rain due to the Plum Monsoon
• summer is the most sunny but very hot (you need black umbrellas in the sun) and when it rains, it tends to rain very hard, especially in the afternoons
  • June in Taipei:
    • usual temp range 25-33degC with 75% rel humidity
    • avg monthly rainfall 355mm with 16 days of rain
  • August in Taipei:
    • as with July - it will be hot and sweaty! Temperatures range from avg lows of 26degC to avg highs of 33degC with avg rainfall 311mm with 14 days of rain
    • August is simultaneously one of the sunniest and rainiest months of the year (by volume) in Taiwan, with a lot of that coming in the form of at least one major typhoon.
    • Ghost Month, and the unique restrictions it comes with (which you don’t actually have to follow), also adds a hint of mystique to travels to Taiwan in August

• direct flights are available from Sydney but not from Melbourne:
  • Qantas/China Airlines
  • Virgin/China Airlines
• 1 stop excl. Sydney:
  • Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong is the fastest way
    • 9hr flight to Hong Kong then 2hr flight to Taipei
    • usually depart Melb either 1425hrs or 2350hrs and arrive Taipei 12-13hrs later
    • usually depart Taipei either 2115hrs or around 1900-200hrs

• Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid ice cubes. Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
• hepatitis A and typhoid - vaccination is recommended for both, but especially hepatitis A as there is a risk from food and water wherever you stay ¹⁾
• hepatitis B virus vaccination is highly recommended, particularly if at risk activities
• rabies and related lyssaviruses risk is low but vaccination is recommended for at risk activities
• Japanese encephalitis is a risk in those in rural or periurban settings in May-July, esp. eastern Taiwan (2-3x risk of other areas) near pig farms, but risk is low for travelers to urban areas
  • overall incidence rate in a largely vaccinated population of 0.10 cases per 100,000 person-years and a mortality rate of 0.006 per 100,000 population. Unvaccinated had 4-6x risk.²⁾
  • relative risk of working in agriculture, forestry, fishing, or animal husbandry, compared to other occupations, was 5.0
• dengue fever most commonly in summer in the tropical southern and central regions due to either A. albopictus or A. aegypti
  • lower incidence occurs in the remainder of Taiwan below 1000m elevation in summer due to endemic presence of A. albopictus
• zika virus are possible
• chikungunya is a new virus outbreak in 2019 near Taipei but only 21 people infected.
• bed bugs can be annoying
• Earthquakes happen often and may disrupt train services
• Tsunamis may occur
• Heavy rain and typhoons can lead to landslides and road blockages. Mountain roads are usually winding and narrow. Travellers have been injured in bus accidents on these roads.
• Extortion scams occur. These include minor car accidents and claims of sexual assault at nightclubs.
• scooters and motorcycles often weave in and out of traffic, and vehicles might not stop at pedestrian crossings.

• mosquitoes are the most dangerous
• wild boar roam the mountain sides
• Formosan Black Bear in the dense forests
• asian giant hornets - mainly dense forests
• six poisonous snake species that are common in Taiwan:
  • the brown spotted pit viper, the Chinese bamboo pit viper, the cobra (neurologic effects mainly - antivenom available), the many-banded krait (muscle weakness, NM breathing issues - antivenom available), the Chinese copperhead (DIC) and the Siamese Russell’s viper (rapid kidney failure)
• jellyfish stings
• Funnel-web Spider
• Giant Centipede - jungles
• Chinese bird spider - can cause intense sharp pain, swelling, loss of consciousness, organ failure, and eventually death

• Japanese-era mansions, temples, and villages with immense traditions
• snorkeling, and scuba diving
• diverse forest areas rich in wildlife species
• Taipei:
  • The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous monument, landmark and tourist attraction
  • Liberty Square
  • The National Taiwan Museum sits nearby in what is now 228 Peace Memorial Park
  • National Palace Museum is a vast art gallery and museum built around a permanent collection centered on ancient Chinese artifacts.
  • Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines
  • Taipei Fine Arts Museum
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.
  • many night markets, the most famous of which is the Shilin Night Market in the Shilin District.
  • Shenkeng Old Street https://www.nickkembel.com/shenkeng-old-street-taiwan/
  • Ximending
    • country’s first and largest pedestrian zone; themed cafes, quirky restaurants, and cocktail bars;
    • center of the neighborhood is the Red House, a well-known cultural landmark and marketplace where local artisans sell their wares.
    • The massive outdoor plaza behind it is the epicenter of the city’s LGBTQ scene and is surrounded by many different welcoming bars and shops. super cool street art
    • Tianhou (also known as the Ximending Mazu Temple, after the in-house deity Mazu, goddess of the sea) c1746, it’s one of three major temples in Taiwan from the Qing period. It’s located on a main thoroughfare but it’s very easy to miss the entrance. This beautiful Taoist temple filled with mythological creatures, smoky incense, lucky goldfish, and people paying respect to the gods is truly a surreal experience.
  • Maokong Gondola
  • Daan Forest Park
• north-west coast line:
  • Beitou Hot Springs - easily reachable by metro. Prices start at 60 TWD per person for a soak in Beitou Public Hot Spring
  • Tamsui is a popular sea-side resort town.
• north of Taipei:
  • Yangmingshan National Park is famous for its cherry blossoms, hot springs, and sulfur deposits.
• north east (east of Taipei):
  • Yehliu Geopark - peninsula with sandstone rock formations
  • Chiufen (Jiufen Old Street) - beautiful, quaint streets and alleyways; traditional teahouses; great food but very crowded?
  • Shifen waterfall
  • Houtong Cat Village - cat themed old coal mining village - the Houtong cat phenomenon started in 2008, and when a local resident and cat lover started encouraging locals to take in stray cats. The 200+ cats who live in Houtong today are mostly strays that have been sterilized and vaccinated and well taken care of. https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/houtong-cat-village/
  • Sandiaoling waterfall hike
  • Pingxi Crags hike “thrilling” but does that mean u need to be super fit?
  • Jingtong (an off-the-beaten-track old street)
• east coast:
  • Cross this one off the list due to earthquake damage
  • best explored on a road trip, though there are buses that go down the coast.
  • There is also a train line that hugs the coast a bit when heading south from Taipei, though it then veers inland
  • On April 3, 2024, a massive earthquake struck the Hualien region. The Suhua highway (Yilan to Hualien, as described in this article) is heavily damaged and only open three times per day at this exact spot (open to small cars only 8 to 9 AM, 12-1 PM, and 5-7 PM), so it is more difficult but not impossible to drive from Yilan to Hualien.
  • majority of people visit the two separately:
    • Yilan as day trips from Taipei, then taking the train from Taipei straight to Hualien City for visiting the region’s most famous sight, Taroko Gorge.
  • Yilan city - set on a lush plain, with the ocean on one side and mountains on the others, the district offers plenty of natural beauty, a variety of outdoor activities, as well as historic towns, and a wealth of cultural and other attractions.
  • https://www.nickkembel.com/east-coast-taiwan-yilan-hualien-taroko-gorge/
  • Taroko National Park - Taroka Gorge; hiking but its 2.5hrs drive from Taipei
  • Trains from Taipei to Hualien and onward to Taitung are running again. Hualien city has suffered moderate damage, while Taroko Gorge National Park is heavily damaged from the earthquake and closed until further notice.
• west coast:
  • if you like history and culture, stick to the west coast. If you like scenery and nature, head to the east coast of Taiwan.