As most people live in the western portion of Taiwan, that is where the greatest concentration of roads and railway systems are located. These roads and railway systems are well-developed. The government-owned airline in Taiwan is China Airlines. The largest airport in Taiwan can be found outside T’aipei and is the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, with another international airport located in southernTaiwan at Kaohsiung. The main ports in Taiwan are Chilung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Suao and T’aishung.

There are four classes of railway carriages – economic class Fu-shing, class Jue-kuan, and the highest class Tsi-chiang. A traveler can choose what class to use depending on time and money amount, as well as his purposes of a trip. Besides, there are short railroad routes, such as A-li, Gigi, Ping-shi, and Nei-wan. Tourists who visit Taiwan usually use short railroad routes in order to have more time for seeing more sights for a short period of time.It is necessary to note that internal airlines are a popular kind of transport in Taiwan. There is an active air service between large cities in Taiwan.

Flights are as popular as tours on buses. The underground is the most convenient type of transport. There are six lines of the underground in Taiwan. The price of a ticket is about 20-60 monetary units in the national currency. Taxi is available in all large cities. The journey price is 70Taiwan dollars for the first kilometer and five new Taiwan dollars for every 300 meters. On the whole, the taxi price in all main cities of Taiwan is set up by a municipal corporation. Consequently, the price can be different in this or that city. However, it is possible to set up a fixed price without the real meter record in long country trips.

There are all possible kinds of transport in Taiwan. However, there some recommendations that you should know before visiting Taiwan. There is an inland system of railroads which includes short railroad routes. These short routes are used by tourists to see more for a short period of time. As it can be very difficult to buy railroad tickets during a holiday, it is recommended to order tickets 14 days before a trip via phone or the Internet. Internal airlines are the other kind of transport that is very convenient to use.

Motor-cycles and bicycles are a very popular kind of transport in Taiwan. Bicycles are usually used within the campus. Many universities have special parking zones for motor-cycles and bicycles. If you are going to use a taxi you should know that additional 5 newTaiwan dollars are taken for every 2 minutes of stoppage and the general price of a trip increases at 20% after 11PM. Besides, additional 10 newTaiwan dollars are taken for a call and baggage placing. Summarizing, there are all possible kinds of transport in Taiwan. Consequently, you can choose any kind of transport that is convenient for you.

Tags : Taiwan, Transportation

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, has evolved through many stages since its founding in the eighteenth century. Rice fields have yielded to skyscrapers, and a modern, commercial city of millions has grown out of once quiet settlements. After climbing 508 metres up the Taipei 101 tower, the highest structure in the world, it can be seen easily from anywhere in the city, one can look down on the genuine Taipei amidst all the modern buildings: temples, markets, the National Palace Museum and in between them, the many old streets.

There was a swamp at the site of Taipei about 300 years ago, right where one of Asia’s most modern cities now stands. Only the Pingpu, the original people of Formosa, who lived in the higher lying regions around the Taipei Basin, were able to reach this area by canoe. Han Chinese from China came later to fish and trade, but they stayed on the banks of the Tarsui River and did not venture into the area of modern Taipei. In 1709, a Chinese farmer named Chen Lai Chang from Chuanchou laid the foundations of a farm house in Takala, which is now central Taipei. From that point onwards, the number of settlers continually grew. The original settlement was known as Manka.

From Manka to Tataocheng: The administration of Manka and the surrounding area was mainly handled by immigrants from various parts of mainland China. Because of differing views regarding the future of the administrative structure, tensions between the residents soon escalated. The violent confrontations that resulted came to an end in 1823.

One of the groups that was defeated fled from Manka, on the bank of the Tamsui River, to Tataocheng. There they began to make the land farmable land laid the foundations for a flourishing community. Tataocheng surpassed Manka in the nineteenth century, and became the centre of Taipei Prefecture in 1875.

Fast modernisation: When the Japanese colonised Taipei in 1895, they built their main district in Taipei, and the city continued to develop steadily thereafter, even after the departure of the occupiers in 1945 and after the break with mainland China. Within a hundred years, the once rural district had developed into the administrative, economic and cultural centre of Taiwan.

Manka, Tataocheng and Chengnei have all lost their original appearance, but a number of historically important sites have been preserved, including the Lin Family Villa and Garden, once the home of a very powerful clan in the nineteenth century, as well as the Peace Park and the 1919 Presidential Palace.

Modern city with established traditions: Today, all glass office high rises, luxury condominiums and modern shopping districts are situated along wide, tree lined boulevards. Elegant restaurants, stylish nightclubs and appearances by international stars are all part of people’s lives. Yet the traditional culture and way of life carries on below the contemporary surface.

Tags : Attractions, Taipei, Taiwan