12 things you need to know about Taiwan. Language, culture, climate, safety, food and attractions.

Taiwan, once known as the manufacturing hub of Asia, is now one of the best places to Travel and experience Asian culture. It's easy for Tourists to visit Taiwan, but there are still some things you need to know before heading to this place that the Portuguese once called "Formosa", meaning beautiful island.



1. Language barriers still exist in Taiwan

Although English is a required course in Taiwanese schools, many Taiwanese have little or no opportunity to practice English outside of school. Therefore, there are fewer people who can communicate in English. However, Taiwanese locals are more helpful. If you need help, locals usually use simple English plus body language to help you. In addition, police stations are also common here. Generally, there must be a police station within 2 kilometers of the city. If you need it, you can also go directly to the police station for help.

2. Taiwanese locals are very friendly

Taiwanese people are very willing to help tourists from all over the world, so much so that you often see lost tourists surrounded by locals, and everyone tries their best to communicate with the lost travelers and help them get to where they want to go. With this kind of help, language barriers are basically not an obstacle.

3. Weather conditions in Taiwan

Generally speaking, the four seasons in Taiwan are not very distinct. They can be divided into a long and hot summer and a short winter. The temperature in summer can be as high as 36 degrees Celsius (96 degrees Fahrenheit), while the average temperature in winter is 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). However, there may be extreme cold peaks sometimes, with the temperature dropping to around 5-10 degrees Celsius (41-50 degrees Fahrenheit). Summer is the rainy season. Usually, the northern part of Taiwan has more rainfall than the southern part, but even in winter, it may rain for several days in a row, especially in the north. The climate is changeable, so Taiwanese people will carry an umbrella with them when they go out to cope with the changing weather conditions.

4. Taiwan's summer is very hot

Taiwan's summer is around June, July, and August. The weather is very hot and humid, which makes people uncomfortable. But Taiwan's summer also has its advantages. Summer is a good season for outdoor activities. You can go to beaches, mountains, waterfalls and other places to play. In addition, the ultraviolet rays in Taiwan in summer are also very strong, so you must do a good job of sun protection.

5. Is it safe to travel to Taiwan?

Taiwan is one of the safest tourist destinations in the world. The crime rate in Taiwan is very low. Most Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful. Violent crimes are rare. Theft and purse snatching occasionally happen, so you still need to take care of your valuables (including passports and other travel documents). If you lose something, you can find it through the local police. In addition, Taiwan is an ideal tourist destination for single or female travelers.

6. Convenience stores in Taiwan are very convenient

In Taiwan, the services provided by convenience stores go far beyond the literal word "convenience". Seven-eleven and Familymarts, which are open 24 hours a day almost throughout the island of Taiwan, are a good example. In addition to providing a variety of delicious meals, fresh fruits, and daily necessities, convenience stores in Taiwan can also provide services such as sending and receiving packages, paying credit card bills, and daily bills. There are even seasonal ice cream flavors in each fruit season. No matter what you need, you can find what you need in a convenience store.

7. Signs in Taiwan are sometimes difficult to read

Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems to spell signs, so this may give non-Chinese tourists a bad experience. Taiwan is now doing its best to standardize it, but it will take some time, so this means that the English on the map may have a different English spelling than the signs on the streets of Taiwan itself.

8. Taiwan is a very comfortable place to visit

Most tourists will want to stay longer after Traveling in Taiwan for a while, because Taiwan's climate is very comfortable, the scenery is very beautiful, the cultural landscape is very attractive, and the living atmosphere in Taiwan is also very good.

9. You don't need to bring too much stuff to travel to Taiwan

Taiwan's stores have a lot of foreign goods (or local similar goods), so tourists don't need to bring too many items. You can buy them after arriving in Taiwan to avoid too much luggage.

10. EasyCard is a must-have

There is a card in Taiwan that can be used as cash for convenient payment called EasyCard, which will make your travel more convenient. Originally designed for use on local buses and MRT (subway), it can now be used in convenience stores, supermarkets, Youbikes and even parking lots.

11. What are the must-eat foods in Taiwan?

If you come to Taiwan, you must try the famous local beef noodles, oyster omelette, stinky tofu, braised pork rice, soup dumplings, etc. In addition, you must try Taiwan's rich and diverse breakfast. There are so many breakfast styles in Taiwan to choose from. In Taiwan, there are shops selling pasta and even steak early in the morning. In southern Taiwan, some places have a traditional breakfast of a big bowl of hot fish noodles or beef soup. In addition, all kinds of seafood, steamed and grilled, are not to be missed. Seafood porridge, steamed shrimp with garlic, grilled squid, and all kinds of hot stir-fry shops, fried chicken stalls and braised stalls on the streets are really great for people who love food. In addition, if you love sweets, Taiwan's bubble tea, various small dessert stalls, shaved ice (an ice product served with fruits, pudding, soft candy, and many other optional small desserts) and taro balls are definitely worth your praise.

12. Why can't Taiwan's tap water be drunk directly?

Many people think that Taiwan's tap water is too poor to be drunk directly. In fact, according to the tap water quality sampling results announced by Taiwan's earlier tap water company, Taiwan's tap water has always been within the qualified rate range, and the unqualified rate is less than one thousandth. In other words, Taiwan's tap water does meet the "drinking water quality standards" and can be drunk directly in theory.

However, even with data support, drinking tap water raw is still questioned by most people, and even Taiwan's tap water company does not recommend drinking tap water raw. It may also be that the Taiwanese people have a deep-rooted habit and dare not drink tap water. In some places in Taiwan, the tap pipes are old and there are problems with whether the water storage towers are cleaned regularly. Sometimes when there is too little rainfall, groundwater is temporarily extracted to solve the problem of insufficient water supply. Based on the above, it is recommended that tap water must be boiled before drinking.