The most popular foreign language in Taiwan is English, which is part of the regular school curriculum; however, to be on the safe side, when take a taxi in Taiwan, it is strongly advisable to prepare a note with your place of destination written in Chinese to show the taxi driver
Time Zone:
Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Electricity:
Taiwan uses electric current of 110 volts at 60 cycles, appliances from Europe, Australia or South-East Asia will need an adaptor or transformer. Many buildings have sockets with 220 volts especially for the use of air conditioners.
Tipping
Tipping is customary charge 10% in hotel or restaurant.
Currency
The Republic of China's unit of currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (NT$), which has five denominations in paper money and five in coins. Paper money comes in NT$2000, NT$1000, NT$500, NT$200, and NT$100 denominations. Coins come in NT$50, NT$20, NT$10, NT$5 and NT$1 denominations.
For different currencies, please visit the Currency Converter at Currency Conversion 1, and Currency Conversion 2.
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at government-designated banks and hotels. Receipts are given when currency is exchanged, and must be presented in order to exchange unused NT dollars before departure.
Major credit cards such as American Express, Master Card, Visa, and Diners Club are accepted and traveler's checks may be cashed at foreign-exchange banks, some tourist-oriented businesses, and (by room guests) most international tourist hotels.
Weather
Taiwan enjoys a subtropical climate with warm weather all year round. The annual average temperature is 22 degrees Celsius with lowest temperatures ranging from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius (54-63 Fahrenheit). Summer starts from June. It begins to feel hot, with average low and high temperature respectively at 24 °C (75 °F) and 27 °C (80 °F). In the south part would feel hotter with temperature hitting 30 °C (86 °F).
Central Weather Bureau: http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/
