Taiwan 🇹🇼

Flag of Taiwan

中華民國

Capital » Taipei
- Current Date and Time
  - GMT+ 8 hours all year
- Current Weather Forecast
- Taipei is also known for its lively street-food scene and many night markets, including expansive Shilin market.

Population » 23.6 million (est. 2023)
Major languages » Mandarin Chinese (official), Min Nan Chinese (Taiwanese), Hakka
Major religions » Buddhist 35.3%, Taoist 33.2%, Christian 3.9%
Life expectancy » 78.4 years (men), 84.5 years (women)
Currency » New Taiwan dollar
Country Code » +886
Internet TLD » .tw

Area » 36,188 sq km (13,972 sq miles)
An island state in East Asia, approximately 160 km off the coast of China.
Taiwan is located adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait – considered strategic importance
Highest point » Yu Shan 3,952 m

Map of Taiwan

Canadians do not require tourist or business visas for stays of up to 90 days.
- Once in Taiwan, Canadians may extend their stay for an additional 90 days by placing a request with the Taiwanese Bureau of Consular Affairs.
- Similarly, a visa is not required by UK, EU, US, NZ, Australian and some other nationalities for up to 90 days.
ROC Embassies and Missions Abroad (Taiwan)

From Taipei (台北) to Kaohsiung (高雄), this island nation has a lot to offer in a small package
Eastern two-thirds is mostly rugged mountain terrain; flat to gently rolling plains in west
Mountain roads are narrow, winding and poorly banked. Some roads can become impassable due to heavy rain and landslides during the monsoon and typhoon seasons.
- Consult the Directorate General of Highways for up-to-date information on road conditions.
Cannot find any ferry to Taiwan except from China (2019)
- Ferry from Okinawa, Japan stopped in 2008.
- Note: If travelling by ferry from China, you must already have a double-entry visa for China, prior to reaching Taiwan. There are no Chinese embassies in Taiwan. You will not be able to get a Chinese visa once in Taiwan.

Oysters and shellfish are a mainstay of Taiwanese cuisine. (Shellfish Allergy Alert)
Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise gay marriage.
Taiwan is the global leader in semiconductor production, with a 20 per cent share of the total global capacity, 37 per cent of the world’s logic semiconductors production capacity, and 92 per cent of the world’s advanced logic semiconductors production capacity.

The Global Peace Index 2023 annual report ranks Taiwan 33rd out of 163 countries worldwide.
- In the Asia-Pacific region, only New Zealand (4th), Singapore (6), Japan (9), Malaysia (19), and Australia (22) rank higher.
Earthquakes happen often and may disrupt train services.
The crime rate is low in Taiwan.
Violent crime is rare.
China, officially the People’s Republic of China (PRC), claims Taiwan, and is increasingly becoming less tolerant and patient and threatens to annex the country by military force.
- Is Taiwan part of China? Video by The Economist
- Taiwan has been governed independently of China since 1949, but Beijing views the island as part of its territory. Beijing has vowed to eventually “unify” Taiwan with the mainland, using force if necessary. (Council of Foreign Relations, 2023)
As of 2023, only 13 countries recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country » Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu.

This page was updated August 31, 2023