Xiaoliuqiu (aka Little Liuqiu or Lamay Island) is a small island paradise off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. The island is known for its clear water, amazing coral reefs, white sand beaches, and quiet laid back atmosphere. Only a short half hour boat ride from the Taiwan mainland, the island is easily accessible. In addition, the island is small enough that you can round the entire island by scooter in a matter of minutes.
Background: In 1622, a Dutch ship crashed on the island, two years before the Dutch began to rule Taiwan, and all but one of the crew members were killed by the aboriginal tribe living on the island at the time. In retaliation, the Dutch sent a force to massacre the natives on the island. 300 men, women, and children were suffocated alive in a large cave, and the rest of the people were put into slavery by the Dutch. This was known as the Lamey Island Massacre. Later Chinese people began inhabiting the island in 1645. Later the island fell into Qing, Japanese, and ROC rule. Currently the island is a township of Pingtung County with a population of over 10,000 people. Most of the people on the island rely on fishing and tourism for a living. The island also has one of the largest concentrations of temples in Taiwan. Xiaoliuqiu started to become a major tourist destination after 2004, reaching over 400,000 tourists per year. How to get there: The only way to get there is via ferry from Donggang's Dongliu Ferry Terminal. The ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. There is a ferry leaving from Donggang roughly every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. Price: Ferry ride: 410 NT per round trip Scooter rental: about 300 NT per day. There is a gas station on the back side of the island. Snorkeling: about 300 NT per hour Scuba diving: around 2500 NT for 2-3 hours When to go: Anytime! Xiaoliuqiu is a tropical island that has warm water and temperatures (above 25 degrees Celsius) year round. Map: Please see below:
0 Comments
The photo sample above was taken from the National Development Council website.
On February 8th, 2018, Taiwan rolled out the Act for the Recruitment of Foreign Professionals, which included the employment gold card four-in-one visa to entice foreign special professionals to come and seek work opportunities in Taiwan. Details and common questions about this new type of visa/work permit can be answered below.
Please note that this blog not a comprehensive guide but only gives basic information about the gold card based on the information on the National Development Council website. Q: What is the Taiwan employment gold card? A: The employment gold card is a four-in-one visa, work permit, alien resident certificate, and re-entry permit. It also provides other benefits to foreigners as mentioned below. Q: What benefits does Taiwan's employment gold card have? A: The benefits associated with the employment gold card or special professional work permit are as follows:
Q: Who can apply for and obtain Taiwan’s employment gold card? A: Foreigners that are specialists in their field. This includes Taiwan dual citizens and citizens of Macau and Hong Kong. Q: What are the requirements for the employment gold card? A: The full requirements for foreign special professionals can be found here. The exact requirements vary by industry. However, the requirements generally require that an applicant show that they are a special professional or senior professional that has made special contributions to their field of work or received national recognition in one of the following 8 accepted professional industries: 1. Science and technology 2. Economy 3. Finance 4. Education 5. Culture and Arts 6. Sports 7. Law 8. Architectural Design Q: Does the exemption from tax on overseas income (alternative minimum tax, or AMT) for the Taiwan gold card only last for the first three years? A: Yes, this tax benefit only lasts three years, the same as the tax benefit for 50% of income above 3 million. Q: How is the three years calculated for tax benefits for AMT and 50% of income above 3 million? A: The three years start from the first tax year in which the foreign professional becomes a tax resident (stays for 183 days or more in a calendar year). However, if the foreign professional does not meet the qualifications for tax resident, they can defer this tax benefit to the following year, but no longer that five years after the work permit or gold card was first issued. Q: If I apply for a gold card but I am not a tax resident, when will the three years expire? A: As explained above, you can defer the 3 year tax benefits to future years, but no longer that five years after the work permit or gold card was first issued. Q: If I meet the 160,000 NT per month salary requirement, can I get a gold card? A: Not necessarily. You also need to prove that you are a special professional in your field. In general this means proving your past work experience and awards to the government. Q: Can I still get a Taiwan employment gold card without meeting the 160,000 NT salary per month requirement? A: You can bypass the 160,000 NT per month requirement if you meet other requirements proving you are a special professional in your field. Q: How will my dependents get visas? A: As long as you have first been approved for your gold card or special professional visa, your dependents will be able to receive their dependent visas. If they enter Taiwan using the visa free program, they will need to come on the same flight as you, otherwise they will have to leave Taiwan and receive their dependent visas at the Taiwan office overseas, or receive them before they leave if you are coming on different flights. Q: If I switch from a normal ARC to an employment gold card, will my dependent's visas be affected? A: No, there will be no changes to your dependent's visas. Q: How many year of experience do I need for the employment gold card? A: Typically at least 5. Q: How long does it take for the government to approve a gold card application? A: After the application is submitted, it will take about 1 month to receive an approval or rejection. Please also note that there is a government fee associated with each application. Q: What is the difference between an employment gold card and a work permit for a foreign special professional applied by a Taiwan company? A: They are basically the same, both have the same tax benefits, but the differences are as follows: 
Zhaishan Tunnels (aka Jhaishan Tunnels) are winding military tunnels running underground in Kinmen connecting to the ocean. During the Chinese Civil War, they were used to protect ships from bombing raids. The tunnels are open for tours, and besides having great acoustics the tunnels are also strikingly beautiful.
Background: The tunnels were completed in 1966, but due to budget constraints the tunnels had to close in 1986. I assume this is because the tunnels required constant dredging. The tunnels were made into a national heritage park and opened for tourists in 1998. The tunnels are over 350 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 3.5 meters high. Hours: Every day 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Price: Free How to get there: Take Zhuhai West Road Sec. 3 out of Kincheng south to Guguang lake. Follow the brown signs to the tunnels; there is a large parking lot and park in front of the entrance. Map: Please see below: 
Hehuan Mountain (aka Hehuanshan or Mt. Hehuan) may be the most popular place to see snow in Taiwan, partly due to the fact that it has the highest public road in the country (located at Wuling (武嶺). Most people in Taiwan live at or near sea level in a tropical/subtropical environment that never has snow. However, it does snow in Taiwan at many places with higher elevations, such as Yangmingshan, Jade Mountain, Alishan, Snow Mountain, etc. If temperatures get low enough between December and February, snow is possible to fall wherever the elevation is high enough in Taiwan. However places like Hehuanshan are special because you can drive a vehicle right to the top.
Background: Hehuanshan lies at the edge of Taroko National Park on the border of Nantou and Hualien Counties. The road from Nantou to Taroko Gorge passes through the saddle on Hehuanshan between the the East Peak and Main Peak, and is the highest accessible public road in Taiwan (also known as Wuling 武嶺). Near this place, the Wushe incident and Taroko War took place (see below for more details). During the Martial Law period in Taiwan, a ski lift ran on the mountain, but has since been abandoned due to lack of consistent snowfall. The Taiwan military also has its winter training grounds near the mountain. Recently Hehuanshan has been a popular place for hiking and taking photos, and has been an Instagram hot spot. Hours: 24/7 unless otherwise closed by the department of transportation When to Go: It snows on Hehuanshan usually December to February. You can check the current weather for Hehuanshan here and live video feed of the mountain and ground conditions here. Price: Free How to Get There: Take provincial highway 14 from Puli, and keep going after your reach Qingjing Farm. Alos you can take Provincial Highway 8 from Taroko Gorge National Park. Stop when you reach the very top of the road, the Wuling parking lot. Traffic Control: Buses and large truck are not allowed. Sometimes chains are required (no one has chains in Taiwan). Map: Please see below: 
Tax season is here. In Taiwan, taxes must be filed from before May 31st. As a foreigner, you might be wondering how to file a tax return and what the regulations are. Luckily Taiwan has made it easy by creating an online tax filing system that you can complete from your computer, although you do still have to physically send some forms to the tax office. Let us answer some common questions about tax filing that might come up:
Forward: The following is Q+A for tax year 2018 only, based on information provided on Taiwan's Ministry of Finance website. Q: When should I file Taxes? A: Between May 1st to May 31st. Tax payments are due by June 13th. Q: What makes me eligible for paying Taiwan taxes (or what makes me a tax resident)? A: You become a Taiwan tax resident if you stay in Taiwan longer than 183 days, or you have household registration（戶籍） in Taiwan and visit for at least one day. The address in your ARC is not household registration, it's a registration process from the local administrative office (戶政事務所）. If you stay less than 90 days in Taiwan, you do not have to file taxes, and VAT or sales taxes are reimbursable. If you worked in Taiwan and stayed over 90 days, you need to pay taxes on your Taiwan salary even if your income came from overseas. If you stayed in Taiwan between 90-183 days, then you need to pay a fixed rate of 18% income tax （your company may have deducted this from your salary already). If you have Taiwanese dual citizenship and Taiwanese house registration, then you need to pay taxes if you have stayed in Taiwan for over 31 days. Days are cumulative in a tax year, and it doesn't matter what you came for during these days. How do I count the days I stayed in Taiwan? Please note that the day you come to Taiwan doesn't count, but the day you leave does. It's a good idea to keep track of the number of days you have been in Taiwan via the stamps on your passport. Q: What is the income tax rate?/ How much is Taiwan tax? A: The income tax rate for non-residents is 18% (you can get a tax refund if you pay 18% taxes and then become a tax resident). The tax rate for residents is as follows (source: Taiwan Ministry of Finance): 
The Ancient City of Kinmen (Quemoy) is one of the most historically rich places in Kinmen and in Taiwan. Not to be confused with Kincheng (the largest city in Kinmen) this walled city was built in the 1300's during the Ming Dynasty as a defense for the region, a role that it has played throughout its history. Although most of the original gates and walls have been destroyed, all of the citiy's four gates have recently been rebuilt. Walking through these ancient streets you can feel hundreds of years of history speaking to you.
Background: This city was originally constructed at the time of the Hongwu Emporer during the Ming Dynasty in 1387, and was originally called the Kinmen Guard City of 1000 Households (金門守禦千戶所城). The city was damaged in the fight between Kongxia and the Qing Dynasty in 1680, but was later repaired. However the Qing military headquarters of Kinmen were later moved to Houpu, which meant the city was left to ruin. When the ROC retreated to the island in 1949, they tore down what remained of the walls for other uses, leaving only parts of the foundations. In1997 thanks to donations from the Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc. at the south of the city, the Kinmen Government was able to rebuild the ancient gates of Kinmen City. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free! How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take Xihai Road Sec. 2 to Shuitou Village, then turn left onto Zhushui Road. You will drive right through the city! Map: Please see below. 
The Luku Incident Memorial is a reflective arch statue in Shiding District of New Taipei that commemorates what is known as "the largest political event of the nation’s White Terror era." The incident involved two brothers that had started a communist party holdout in the mountains of Shiding. The resulting response, from the then martial law-era ROC government under then Dictator Chiang Kai-Shek, was thousands of police officers arresting hundreds of innocent people, with many of the people being falsely imprisoned and executed.
Historical Background: Two brothers, Chen Pen-chiang and Chen Tung-ho (陳通和), created an armed communist party holdout in the Luku village of Shiding District. They also organized a youth group consisting of underage villagers, however this group did not participate in any illicit activity. In response, on Dec. 28th, 1952, about 10,000 police officers and ROC armed soldiers raided the village over the space of four months, blocking off roads and arresting everyone while trying to remove the communists. Around 400 people in the surrounding areas were arrested, with 200 of those people being tortured and 35 killed. According to the Taipei Times: "Among the 200, 12 were not indicted or released for turning themselves in, while 98 were given prison sentences, 19 of whom were underage." Due to the terrible injustice dealt to the village and the surrounding people, the Luku Incident Memorial was erected in the year 2000. For more information on the incident, check out the articles written by the Taipei Times here andhere. You can also check out the Wikipedia article in Chinese here. How to get there: Travel south on Academia Sinica Road in Nangang, and then take Jiuzhuang Street Sec. 2 (舊莊街二段) all the way up the mountain. The memorial sits at the border between Taipei City and New Taipei City. Map: Please see below: 
Beishan Broadcasting Tower (aka Beishan Broadcasting Wall) is a tower on the north central coast of Kinmen used by the military to broadcast messages, propaganda, and music across Xiamen harbor to communists on the other side. The tower still sends broadcasts daily, and is a unique wartime relic that is definitely worth visiting.
Background: The tower has 48 speaker holes and can broadcast up to 25 kilometers away. The tower was built as part of "physiological warfare" to the other side. Every day the broadcasting tower still plays messages to China, including Teresa Teng's music (鄧麗君), a Taiwanese singer who was one of the most influential and famous Mandarin speaking singers of her time. Broadcasting times: 09:00-09:45 10:30-11:00 13:00-13:30 14:00-14:30 15:00-15:45 16:00-16:30 Hours: 24/7 Price: Free: Map: Please see below. 
Qijin Island (aka Cijin Island or Chijin Island) has one of the most accessible sandy beaches to any urban area in Taiwan. Besides the nearly 10 Km stretch of sandy shores, the island also has an old street with tasty snacks, a seafood market, a lighthouse, an ancient fort, a star tunnel, a shell museum, and much more. It is one of the most popular destinations in Khaosiung and definitely worth a trip.
Background: Qijin Island was first settled by a Chinese fisherman named Hsu Ah-hua (徐阿華) in the 1600's, discovered after he took shelter there during a typhoon. He brought many families with him from Fujian to settle there. They created the first Mazu temple there, Chi Jin Mazu Temple in 1673. The lighthouse dates from 1883 and was built in the English style. The fort on the hill to the north of the Island was completed in 1875 during the Qing dynasty. After WWII, Qijin was made a district of Kaohsiung City. In 1979, Taiping Island and Dongsha Island were added under the district's administration. Qijin Island used to be a sandbar peninsula, but was separated from mainland Taiwan at its southern tip to make a second entrance into Kaohsiung Harbor in 1967. There were plans for a cross harbor gondola but they were scrapped due to the height needed to cover the harbor. How to get there: By Passenger Ferry: Ferry's leave from Gushan near Xiziwan MRT station about every 10 minutes 24/7 (every half hour at after midnight). By Car/Scooter: Take the underwater tunnel on the south side of the island. Scooters can cross, but not bicycles. Price: Passenger ferry crossing: 40 NT Bicycle ferry crossing: 50 NT Motorcycle ferry crossing: 80 NT Showers: Free! Hours: 24/7 Map: Please see below: 
Oucuo beach is perhaps the nicest beach in Kinmen. It features a long flat white sand beach and beautiful views of the Taiwan strait. Also, there is also an abandoned army tank stuck in the sand there that is popular for visitors, if you can find it.
Background: Oucuo beach is named after the nearby Oucuo Village, the traditional settlement of the Ouyang (歐陽) family, who started the settlement during the Ming Dynasty around 400 years ago. The area around the village has been a coastal defense station since the Ming dynasty all the way into the Chinese Civil War. One main attraction on the beach is the abandoned M18 army tank sitting in the sand on the south side. The US based M18 Hellcat tank was sold to the ROC after production stopped in 1944, and served a crucial role in holding back the communists during the Chinese Civil War. I'm not sure why this tank was abandoned on the beach; maybe this is a military secret. But it has soon become an Instagrammer's paradise and top attraction in Kinmen. How to get there: By scooter/car: Take Jinshan Road south of Kincheng until you reach Oucuo Village. The beach can be reached via a narrow concrete road going south behind the village. Hours: 24/7 Showers: Only foot wash (free), no showers. There are bathrooms next to the foot wash. See below for photos. Map: Please see below: |
Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living and working in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
January 2019
Categories
|
RSS Feed
Powered by
