1. Pre-departure Briefing Feb 1, 2019 | Croft 202, 4 pm
About Taiwan
Pre-departure Briefing
Feb 1, 2019 | Croft 202, 4 pm

2. Natural Taiwan
The Republic of China (Taiwan) is situated in the West Pacific between Japan and the Philippines. Its jurisdiction extends to the archipelagoes of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, as well as numerous other islets. The total area of Taiwan proper and its outlying islands is around 36,197 square kilometers.
At about the size of the Netherlands, but with a population of some 23 million, Taiwan is more populous than three-quarters of the world’s nations.
Mountain ranges with many peaks reaching over 3,000 meters—including East Asia’s highest, Jade Mountain (Yushan)—and forested foothills occupy more than half of its area.
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3. People and Languages
There are 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes in Taiwan.
The nation is home to nearly 500,000 new immigrants, most of whom hail from China and Southeast Asia.
While Taiwan may be described as a predominantly Han Chinese society, with more than 95 percent of the population claiming Han ancestry, its heritage is actually much more complex.
Sinitic (Chinese) languages spoken in Taiwan:
Mandarin Chinese
Taiwanese (Southern Min)
Hakka
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4. Visiting and Travelling in Taiwan
Citizens of 60 countries and territories are eligible for visa-exempt entry for a period of 30 or 90 days.
In addition to about 1,100 kilometers of conventional railway lines, Taiwan has a 350-km high-speed rail system along its west coast. The high-speed trains allow travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung in 94 minutes. These two cities are also equipped with state-of-the-art mass rapid transit systems.
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5. Eating in Taiwan
“The Taiwanese love to eat out and you won't go hungry if you start by 8pm; many restaurants tend to wind down by 9pm. Booking a few days to a week in advance is only necessary at more upmarket establishments.
Night markets: A cheap and boisterous experience of everything from snacks to sweets and seafood to noodle soups.
Restaurants: Asian cuisine, particularly Japanese, dominates, along with local fare.
Cafes: Growing rapidly in number, offer almost ubiquitously good brews along with homemade cakes and pastries.”
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6. Architecture National Palace Museum, Taipei Confucius Temple, Tainan
Hinoki Village, Chiayi
National Concert Hall, Taipei