Guide for our visitor　

Whether you are a buyer or an seller , Mantraco  welcomes you to Taipei. To assist you in planning your trip in advance, we have prepared this guide with relevant and practical information so you may concentrate on what really matters --- Taiwan's numerous business opportunities.

*ENTRY REGULATIONS

1)Visas

All visitors coming to Taiwan, the Republic of China, are required to have valid entry visas through the embassies/consulates of the Republic of China or from an authorized overseas representative office.

Visa exempt entry (non-extendible)

Nationals of 17 countries can enter Taiwan visa-exempt for 14 days. The program is applicable to Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, U.K., and the U.S. Requirements for 14-day visa-free entry are:
1. Passports valid for at least six months
2. Confirmed return or onward airline (steamship) ticket and visa for the next destination
3. No violation of law recorded.

Landing Visa

Citizens of the above 17 countries and nationals of Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary may apply for a 30-day landing visa upon arrival on the condition that the visitor:
1. Hold a valid passport with validity of more than six months
2. Possesses a confirmed returned airline (steamer) ticket or a visa for the next destination, and a confirmed air (steamer) seat reservation for his (her) departure.
3. Pay the visa fee of NT$1,500
4. No criminal record verified by the airport police.
5. Submits one identification photo.

Note: The above two documents are not offered to those in Taiwan on group tour visas.

If it is necessary to stay more than 14 days and less than 30 days, the nationals of the specified countries should apply for landing visas with the visa office in the CKS Airport from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Tel: (03) 398-2629. The landing visa fee is NT$1,500.

Visitor Visas

Two-week to 90-day visitor visas are granted to foreign nationals who intend to visit Taiwan for tourism, study, training, joining relatives, business or other legitimate reasons.

Those who hold visitor visas valid for a stay of 60 or 90 days without non-extension stamp may apply for extension. No extension of stay will be granted to those holding visitor visas with durations of stay less than 60 days, except for situations caused by force majeure or matters of vital importance.

Application Fees

Foreign nationals from the countries with reciprocal visa agreements with the R.O.C. can usually obtain visitor visas without charge. For other foreign nationals visitor visa fees are: NT$1,000 for a single entry and NT$2,000 for multiple entry visas.

2)Customs

A written declaration form is required for each inbound passenger upon arrival. Passengers must declare the amount of foreign currencies. If such amount exceeds US$5,000, or its equivalent in other foreign currencies, the currencies may be taken out of Taiwan within six months after arrival by the passenger himself under cover of a certificate issued by the Customs upon arrival. Each inbound traveler is allowed to bring in, duty-free, 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage, plus 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 1 pound of tobacco. No more than NT$40,000 in notes can be brought in by each passenger unless a permit from the Central Bank of China is obtained in advance.

*HEALTH CERTIFICATES

Vaccination certificates are not normally required, except for those from countries with yellow fever epidemics or visitors who have recently passed through such countries may be required to have proof of inoculation before entering Taiwan. Please contact the National Quarantine Service of the Department of Health, Taiwan.

*TIME DIFFERENCES

Taiwan time is GMT+8

*ClIMATE & CLOTHING

*CHANGING MONEY

Major foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, banks, major hotels, or the Bank of Taiwan at the TWTC Exhibition Hall. Be sure to obtain and keep the exchange receipts, as these will be required should you wish to reconvert unused NT dollars upon departure.
Official currency = New Taiwan Dollar (NT$)

1)foreign exchange rates (approximate figures in early 1998 and subject to fluctuation without notice)

*approximate figures listed in mid 1998 and subject to fluctuation without notice

2)credit cards

Major credit cards are accepted in most hotels and larger restaurants.

3)travelers' checks

Major travelers' checks may be cashed and converted at the Bank of Taiwan at the TWTC Exhibition Hall and at most tourist or business hotels.

* LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

1)CKS Airport<-->Taipei

Airport buses

Coaches which shuttle between CKS Airport and downtown Taipei, including Taipei World Trade Center, are recommended. Buses leave every 10 to 30 minutes from the terminal from the left side of the arrival hall. A one way ticket costs NT$120. The trip usually takes about an hour.

(1) AirBus
CKS Airport - Taipei World Trade Center - Grand Hyatt Hotel
(2) Taiwan Motor Bus
Route 1 to Sungshan Domestic Airport
Route 2 to Taipei Bus/Railway Station

Eva and Fego Buses also provide transportation to downtown Taipei. Please check their airport counters for detailed route information.

Airport Taxis

A 50% surcharge is allowed over the fare shown on the taxi meter for journeys from CKS Airport. The average fare (plus surcharge) to Taipei is about NT$1,200.

Hotel Limousines and Shuttle Buses

Major hotels provide this service to and from the Airport for their guests.

2) Taipei Sungshan Domestic Airport or Taipei Bus/Railway Station <--> Your Hotel

Taking a taxi is recommended between the two above locations and your hotel.

3) Your Hotel <--> TWTC

Some hotels offer shuttle buses to the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall. Some TWTC shows, like COMPUTEX TAIPEI and the Electronics Show, provide free-of-charge one-way shuttle buses from the Exhibition Hall to major hotels. Taxi travel within Taipei is both economical and convenient.

(1)Taxis

Taxis are the most convenient way for visitors to get around in Taipei. However, very few drivers speak English, so always have your destination written down in Chinese or show this map guide to the drivers to indicate where your are heading before starting out. Most yellow taxis can be waved down along main streets. Taxi meters start at NT$50 for the first 1.65 km and NT$5 for each additional 350 meters. Waiting time is NT$5 for every three minutes. Between 11 pm and 6 am, the meters start at NT$50 for the first 1.375km, with NT$5 for each additional 290 meters, and NT$5 for every two and a half minutes of waiting time. Passengers must also pay an additional NT$15 surcharge above the meter farefor each trip due to a fare hike. Receipts are available upon request. Tipping is not necessary.

(2)Buses

Air-conditioned city buses are frequent and plentiful, and fares differ according to the distance traveled. A single section fare is NT$15. Pay upon boarding or getting off according to instructions.

(3) MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)

Two lines are in operation. One from the Taipei Railway Station north through Shihlin to the port of Tamsui, while the other runs south-east from Fu Hsing North Road to Taipei Zoo on the outskirts of Taipei. All signs and map information are in both Chinese and English version. You may check route and fare information at MRT station or hotel counters.

* COMMUNICATIONS

Turquoise Green Pay Phones (for local & long-distance calls)
Turquoise green phones take NT$1, $5, and $10 coins. Local calls usually cost NT$1 for every three minutes, and long distance calls within Taiwan can also be made.

Beige-colored Card Phones (for local & long-distance calls)
NT$100 value-stored cards for beige-colored card-phones are used for dialing long distance & local calls and are available at convenience stores, the CETRA bookstore (near the lobby of main entrance) and the Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. (on the 2nd floor, Rm.2A29) at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall.

Making Overseas Calls
Overseas calls can be dialed directly to most countries from major hotels or the beige-colored card phones (with yellow labels), by dialing the country code 002 followed by the destination code. The fee for international direct dialing is calculated every six seconds.

International Prepaid Card (from Taiwan to overseas or vice versa)
Use a touch-tone phone and dial the code number enclosed on the card, either from Taiwan to overseas or overseas to Taiwan, including Norway, U.K. Germany, France, Canada, USA, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

Cellular Phones (Mobile Phones)
GSM roaming is applicable to countries from Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, China, Switzerland, UK, Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Portugal, France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Fax
The Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. (2nd floor, 2A29) in the TWTC Exhibition Hall offers fax services. Most hotels also have business centers which provide similar services.

* HOTELS

within 20 minutes to TWTC

within 40 minutes to TWTC

A = over NT$4,500
B = NT$3,500 - 4,500
C = NT$2,500 - 3,500
D = NT$1,500 - 2,500

All tariffs listed are for reference only. Those wishing to visit Taipei Trade Shows may send by fax a booking request indicating date of arrival, flight numbers, and length of stay to the official travel agent: Bobby Travel Ltd. Tel: 886-2-2723-5201, Fax: 886-2-2723-5187, E-mail: hxhih@ms21.hinet.net

* LANGUAGE

Most people speak Mandarin Chinese and the Taiwanese dialect. English and Japanese are also widely spoken in trade circles.

* ELECTRIC CURRENT

AC 110 volts, 60 Hz

* TIPPING

A 10% service charge (plus 5% V.A.T.) is usually added to bills in hotels and larger restaurants. The suggested tip in hotels is NT$50 per piece of luggage. All other tipping is optional.

　

* NATIONAL HOLIDAY

* BUSINESS HOURS

* PLACE TO VISIT

North Taipei

East Taipei

South-east Taipei

South-west Taipei

City Center

* AT A GLANCE

Water

Boiled or distilled water is recommended, as tap water is unsuitable for drinking. Bottled mineral water is widely available in hotels and 24-hour convenience stores.

Pharmacies

Most brand-name cosmetics and medications are available in hotel arcades, chain stores, department stories and drugstores.

Beauty parlors & barber shops

Many of the larger hotels have good hairdressing salons. Hairdressers are generally well up on the latest styles and cuts, and services offered include head massages and manicures.

Newspapers & Magazines

Two local English language dailies, the China News and the China Post, along with international newspapers and magazines, are available at most hotels and newsstands.

Radio

The main English language radio station, the International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT), broadcasts on FM100.7 Mhz and AM576 Khz. BBC and Radio France are frequently relayed over ICRT at AM576 Khz.

Television

Cable television is very popular in Taiwan. Some English and Japanese language programs appear on the three channels of local TV and cable TV stations. Most larger hotels relay CNN, Japanese NHK, and other satellite channels.

　

RECONFIRM YOUR FLIGHTS

Airport Departure Tax: NT$300

*USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

* MAPS

(1) Taipei City
The Map of Taipei is published by Vision International Publishing Co. All copyrights reserved. CETRA is not responsible or liable for the information and accuracy of the map.

(2) TWTC neighborhood
Bakery / Bus stops / Boutiques
Bookstore/ Chinese restaurants/ City Hall / Convenience stores / TICC Coffee Shop (afternoon tea: 14:00 ~ 16:40, Mon. - Fri. & 14:00 - 17:00, Sat.)
Fast food / Fruit shops / Florists
Hairstylists
Parking lots / Photo shops / Pharmacy / Pizza
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall / Steak houses
Tailor
Office supplies

(3) TWTC Exhibition Hall
Ground Floor:
Bank of Taiwan / CETRA Bookstore / First Aid Station / Information Desk /Post Office
Public telephones / Security / Toilets
Floor 2:
Cafeteria (Chinese buffet) / Export Products Display Center / Restaurant (buffet)
Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd.
Floors 2 - 6:
Export Mart
Floor 5:
Snack Bar (noodles, snacks and sandwiches)
Floor 7:
Import Mart

All information for your reference only, please contact us

when you have any question.

Telephone: 8862 2773 9323

Fax: 8862 2773 9320

E mail: grs@mantraco.com.tw

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