Transportation:

• Travelling within Taipei Main City

Taipei metro/ Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)

The MRT is one of the most convenient modes of transport preferred by students when travelling in Taipei. Students can opt to purchase single ride tokens, one-day passes, 24hr Taipei Metro Pass as well as a stand EasyCard.

• Single ride tokens are valid only for a single ride and on the day of issue. It can be easily found at the ticketing machines for all stations. Prices of the ride vary according to the distance you travel.
• One-Day passes provide you the benefit of unlimited trips from activation till the end of service on the same day. These passes can be purchased at the information counters of all stations and are priced at NT$150.
• 24hr Taipei Metro Pass are valid for unlimited travel within 24 hours the first usage of the card These passes can be purchased at the information counters of all stations and are priced at NT$200.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Do take note of promotional offers where the 24hr Taipei Metro passes sell at a 10% discount of NT$180.

EasyCard is highly recommended if you are looking to travel long-term in Taiwan. The card functions as a pre-paid card and offers 20% off standard pricing for all trips. It can be purchased conveniently at the information centres of all stations. The EasyCard cost NT$100 with deposit, and the remaining value can be refunded upon return of the card.

Taipei City Bus

The Taipei City Bus takes you to many more places than that of the subway. However, navigation is more complicated for non-mandarin speakers and arrival timings are much more unpredictable to due traffic congestion issues during peak hours. A typical bus trip cost NT$15 and is payable by cash or EasyCard.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Use this website to plan your bus trips (link here!).

• Travelling out of Taipei Main City

Taipei Long Distance Bus

Taipei’s long distance buses enable you to travel within cities in Taiwan. Tickets for these buses can be purchased at the counters of the Main Bus Location next to the Taipei Railway Station or directly from the bus driver in cash but with no change given. There are 4 main bus companies for long distance buses.

Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport (Link here!)

U-Bus (Link here!)

Aloha Bus (Link here!)

Ho-Hsin Bus (Link here!)

Flying Chalks’ tip: Kuo Kuang is said to have the cheapest tickets, so do consider that if you are on a budget. Aloha and Ho-Hsin on the other hand have the most comfortable seats, but do be prepared to spend more. Ubus would be the preferred choice for those looking for a bus somewhere in the middle.
 

Taiwan Railway

The Taiwan Railway provides convenient access to areas outside of Taipei. Its extensive network includes two lines travelling down the west coast, three lines down the north and several other lines serving the island’s southern and eastern regions.

Taiwan High Speed Rail

Running along the western coast of Taiwan, the Taiwan High Speed Rail has currently 8 stations in service. Trains run from 06:00 – 24:00 daily and fares range from NT$500 to NT$2500 depending on the distance of travel. You can purchase your tickets online, at any convenience stores, or at the train itself. Do note that tickets are only available for purchase up till 1 hour before the train departure timing.

Banking Services:

There are 2 types of banks in Taiwan – government-owned and independent banks. Independent banks are recommended as they tend to provide better service quality than that of their government-owned counterparts.  You can head over to the post office or any local bank to open a bank account. China Trust Bank is one of the recommended banks to open an account due to the abundance of its ATMs in 7-Eleven outlets.

To set up a bank account, you would require:

• Original and Copy of passport and ARC
• At least NTD 100 for a deposit
• Supporting document for students under the age of 20 (Link here!)

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Should you not want to go through the hassle of opening a bank account in Taiwan, you can check with your local banks if they provide withdrawal services free-of-charge.  

ATM

After opening a bank account, you will be given an ATM card upon request. Ask for “Cirrus” or “Plus” cards, as this allows you to withdraw money from ATM machines outside of Taiwan. Cash withdrawals from ATMs of your bank are free-of-charge for most banks. However, banks charge NT$5-7 per withdrawal when using another bank’s ATM. You are allowed to withdraw between NT$90,000 and NT$150,000 per day. This limit can be adjusted by amending your account at the teller window of your bank. ATMs are usually conveniently located in 7-Eleven or Family mart.

Post office Services:

For a glimpse into shipping to and fro from Taiwan, click here!

Medical services:

NTU has an in-house Health Center on campus where you can receive first aid or urgent medical care during class hours. Appointments can be made on the same day.

After class hours (8am-5pm), you can opt to visit the NTU Hospital instead.

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Weather:

Taiwan has both tropical and subtropical climate. It typically has an average temperature of 22 C (71.6 F) all year round. There is no severe cold in winter, but it has brutal heat and high humidity in summer.  Generally, the best period to travel around Taiwan is November to April.

The annual average temperature of northern Taiwan is around 21.7C (71F) and around 24.1C (75F) in southern Taiwan. The coldest months are from January to March with the lowest temperature to about 10 C (50 F). The hottest months are from June to August with the highest temperature up to around 38 C (100 F). The average temperature for the rest of the months is around 25 C (77 F).

Taiwan is a humid place. The northern part, middle mountain area and western plain are abundant with rainfalls in different periods. June to October is the typhoon season in Taiwan. The months with the most rainy days are in plum rain season in May and June while thundershower mostly came in the afternoons in summer.