With two thirds of the island covered in mountains, Taiwan has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Taiwan is via camping. Below is a very basic level FAQ on camping in Taiwan for foreigners that have never experienced it.
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any camp ground or camping products in Taiwan. The following FAQ is only based on our opinion after years of camping in Taiwan, and should not be considered absolute fact. If in doubt, make sure you check with the local police station or other government office to make sure you are following local regulations while camping in Taiwan. Planning your trip to Taiwan? Here are some top travel tips for you:
How do I book a campsite in Taiwan? Please be sure to check out camping options in Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here.
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Riding a bicycle around Taiwan may be the best way to enjoy the island. Taiwan is known as the bicycle kingdom not just because it is one of the top manufacturers of bicycles in the world, but also because the Island of Taiwan has many amazing world-class roads waiting for cyclists to discover such as hundreds of kilometers of coastline, mountains above 3000 meters, and the world's deepest marble gorge. If you are a fan of cycling, you definitely need to check out this amazing island.
Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here. Looking for a bike tour of Taiwn? Search KKday here to search for options.  Throughout the year, Taiwan is full of festivals and holidays. Besides the three major festivals and National Holidays when people are off from school and work, there are also many smaller religious festivals and events throughout the year. In this guide, we will provide a month-by-month breakdown of the major festivals and holidays in Taiwan.
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 Tomb Sweeping Day is an important holiday in Taiwan when Taiwanese people can visit their ancestor’s graves, worship, pay respect, and clean tombs. In this blog, we will explain the history of the holiday, its significance, and how it is practiced now in modern Taiwan.
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 The Lantern Festival in Taiwan is an exciting time when many cities and counties in Taiwan put on colorful displays of lanterns for visitors to enjoy. There are usually lanterns in all the big cities including Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. In this guide, we will share how Taiwan celebrates the Lantern Festival and how you can get involved.
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 Lunar New Year (also known as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year) is the biggest holiday in Taiwan. It is like Christmas in the West and is a time of family togetherness and welcoming a new year. In this blog, we will let you know the customs and culture during the Lunar New Year in Taiwan and how to celebrate.
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When is the Lunar New Year in Taiwan? 
Taiwan has one of the strongest economies in the world, with a high purchasing power parity per capita and GDP PPP. Although the average wage in Taiwan is low, prices are also lower, meaning purchasing power is on par with developed countries. In this guide, we will answer basic questions about Taiwan's economy.
□ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's economy to those who have not yet been there.
Is Taiwan a developed Country? Yes, with a GDP PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) nearly equivalent to that of Australia, it has one of the highest living standards in Asia. Also, it has one the best quality of life for expats in the world according an article by InterNations. Is Taiwan safe? Yes, Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world according to Prescavve, due to low crime and high economic freedom and devolopment. What currency does Taiwan use? New Taiwan Dollar. Who is on Taiwan money/dollar bills? Who is on the New Taiwan Dollar? What does Taiwan money look like? What does the Taiwan dollar look like? 1 NT: Chiang Kai-shek 5NT: Chiang Kai-shek 10 NT: Older Chiang Kai-shek 50 NT: Sun Yatsen 100 NT: Front: Sun Yatsen Back: Chung-Shan Building 500 NT: Front: Youth baseball Back: Formosan sika deer and Dabajian Mountain 1000 NT: Front: Elementary Education Back: Mikado pheasant and Yushan (Jade Mountain) 1 NT: Chiang Kai-shek 
5NT: Chiang Kai-shek
10 NT: Older Chiang Kai-shek/ Newer Sun-Yatsen
50 NT: Sun Yatsen
100 NT Front: Sun Yatsen
100 NT Back: Chung-Shan Building
500 NT Front: Youth baseball
500 NT Back: Formosan Sika deer and Dabajian Mountain
1000 NT Front: Elementary Education
1000 NT Back: Mikado pheasant and Yushan (Jade Mountain)
How much is the Taiwan dollar worth?
Check this now. As of jan 3rd 2018 it is worth 29 US dollars. Why is it called the New Taiwan Dollar? This is because during Japanese rule, Taiwan used Taiwan Yen. After WW2, Taiwan was given back to China, and the government of China changed the currency to Taiwan dollars. But, during the Chinese civil war, the Taiwan dollar experienced hyper inflation, and so was later replaced by the New Taiwan Dollar. What type of economy does Taiwan have? Taiwan is an advanced liberal economy, and the 7th largest economy in Asia. It is a member of the WTO, ADP, and APEC, and an observer of the OECD. When does the Taiwan stock market open? The Taiwan stock market is open on weekdays (M-F) from 9:00 am to 1:30pm Taipei time. What is made in Taiwan? 98% of Taiwan exports are industrial goods. Electronics are the most important part of Taiwan’s economy. Taiwan is the largest supplier of computer chips. Semiconductors, LCD panels, computer memory, as well as boats, hardware, scooters, and agricultural products are also made in Taiwan. What are the biggest companies in Taiwan? Foxconn, TSMC and Pegatron, Quanta Computer, and Cathay Life Insurance are the biggest companies in Taiwan. Other companies include Acer, Asus, and HTC. Which bank should I use in Taiwan? Most banks will let foreigners set up an account. Some handy accounts to have when shopping are with Cathay Pacific, which has the Costco credit card, CTCB which is PX Mart, and Yushan Bank which is alligned with Carrefour. How do I open a Taiwan bank account? Typically you can walk in to any bank, and open an account if you bring your passport and/or ARC. If you do not have an ARC, then you will need to apply for a Taiwan uniform ID number at the immigration office first. If you are from a list of countries that is high risk because of money laundering it may be harder to open an account. Also, if you are American you will have to sign a W9 or similar form because of FACTA. How much is food in Taiwan?/ How much is food in Taipei?/ How much does Taiwan food cost? Check here. An average cheap meal in Taipei is 80-160 NT. In the south it may be 10-20 NT cheaper. Why live in Taiwan? Taiwan is one of the best countries in the world with one of the best qualities of life. Taiwan boasts delicious food, great weather year round, amazing tourist sites, friendly people, cheap cost of living, and economic opportunity. How much does it cost to live in Taipei? Average rent is 17,220.13 NT for a one room apartment, but can range from 10,000-25,000NT. Food is 80-160 NT for a cheap meal in Taipei. How much does it cost to live in Taichung? The average rent for a one room bedroom in Taichung is 9,444 NT, but can range from 7,000 NT to 14,000 NT. How much does it cost to live in Kaohsiung? Rent is 8,375.00 NT on average for for a one room apartment, but can range from 6,000 NT to 12,000 NT. How does Taiwan make money? Where does Taiwanese wealth come from? Taiwan makes most of its money by exporting electronics. Electronics are the most important part of Taiwan’s economy. Taiwan is the world’s largest supplier of computer chips. Also, over 70% of Taiwan’s GDP comes from the service industry. How does Taiwan increase its crops? Irrigation systems and dams, modern machinery, pesticides, and GMOs. What does Taiwan import? Taiwanimports a huge variety of items. The top ten imports in 2016 were as follows:
What does Taiwan export? The top ten exports in 2016 were as follows:
From where does Taiwan import oil? Taiwan imports nearly 99% of its oil from the Middle East and Persian Gulf countries. Where does Taiwan import from? Taiwan’s biggest imports come from China/HK, Japan, the US, Europe, and ASEAN countries. Where does Taiwan get its water? From reservoirs and rivers that originate mostly in Taiwan’s mountains. How much money does Taiwan have? The average net worth of a Taiwanese household in 2015 was NT 11 million, roughly 370,000 USD. Taiwan also has 447.21 billion in foreign exchange reserves. Have any more questions about Taiwan's Economy? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list! Please like, follow, and share to help everyone know that Taiwan is a friendly and inviting place for foreigners to do business! 
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's schooling landscape to those who have never been there.
Are there foreign schools for my children in Taiwan? Yes, there are a number of American and European schools in Taiwan. Please click here for a full list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_schools_in_Taiwan What is Preschool like for kids in Taiwan? Check out ourPreschool guide here. Is Taiwan Safe? Yes, Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world according to Prescavve, due to low crime and high economic freedom and devolopment. How to study in Taiwan? How do you Study in Taiwan? There are many coffee shops, book stores, and libraries with free internet. Here is a map of working café’s made by Alexander Synaptic: 
Preface: This blog has taken me countless hours over a few years to compile, so if you want to share the information or photos in this blog, please provide a link and proper citation back to this web page.
The New Taiwan Dollar is the national currency of Taiwan (ROC), and it includes five main bills and five main coins that are currently in circulation. It is one of the sure signs that Taiwan is a free and independent nation. Have you ever wondered what the meaning or significance of the designs on these bills? Well in this blog we will explore these in depth. 
The nursery or "infant room 嬰兒室 Yīng'ér shì," where the baby will stay for three days after birth.
Taiwan is a safe, inexpensive, and convenient place to give birth. Taiwan has a world class healthcare system, capable doctors, and top of the line medical facilities. If you are hesitant about whether or not you want to give birth in Taiwan, let me tell you now that there is nothing to worry about, and having a baby in Taiwan will be fine. I have created this brief guide here for you so that you can understand a little more about what it is like to give birth in Taiwan.
Forward: Please note that I am writing this blog and FAQ section from the perspective of an American father, married to a Taiwan National, covered by Taiwan's National Health Insurance. I have recently gone through the birth of two children in Taiwan, born in 2017 and 2020. One was born in a private local clinic and the other was born in a public city hospital.
This blog will begin with my experience, and at the end there is a frequently asked question (FAQ) section.
Taiwan's Alien Digital Citizen Certificate is a useful tool to authenticate your identity on the internet, so that you can take care of many government related tasks related to your personal data online. With this certificate you can pay taxes, check your health records, check your pension accounts, receive invoice lottery winnings, check your credit history, and much more.
The main reason I applied for my Digital Citizen Certificate was to check my pension account. There is pretty much no other way to access your Taiwan pension information except with this card. Similarly, when you need to share information efficiently, you can generate a QR code to provide quick access to online data, documents, or websites. This makes it much easier for people to scan and retrieve details without having to go through complicated steps or processes. 
Buying a house in Taiwan can be confusing and stressful. It is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. To even consider buying a house in Taiwan, you have probably lived here for years, so many of the things I will mention in this blog may not be new to you.
I have spent quite a few years looking for houses and saving money for a down payment, as well as figuring out all the costs and other factors involved in purchasing the right house. Also, I recently just bought a house in Taipei in 2021. I have created this guide and FAQ to help people understand the buying process, finding the right house, and saving the right amount of money needed to make a move. For our blog covering our actual experience buying a house, see this blog here. For our blog covering our actual experience renovating a house, see this blog here. The following is my personal insight as an American looking for houses mainly near Taipei City. □ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
Buying a scooter as a foreigner in Taiwan can be a confusing and stressful experience. If you do not live near the MRT in Taipei, chances are that you have thought about at least buying a scooter. Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation, but by scooter. If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. To make you buying experience smoother, we have created this guide to let you know what to expect and answer any questions.
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Here is an easy checklist for buying a car or scooter in Taiwan: Before buying the scooter:
Life in Taiwan as a foreigner is amazing. Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for foreigners to live. Life is convenient, there is a high standard of living, and the people are friendly. Here we will dive into the detailed aspects of living in Taiwan.
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In an effort to treat foreign residents equally, Taiwan's Ministry of the Interior responded to complaints of foreign residents by changing the ARC Uniform ID numbering system to match the format used by Taiwan citizens. Because of this, every foreigner must change their ARC number the next time they change or update their ARC card starting Jan. 1 2021. So what do you need to do after your ARC number has changed?
(Please note that the following questions and answers are for reference only and are not a comprehensive list of regulations. Local laws and regulations are constantly changing, and different cities, counties, and private property owners have differing droning rules. Please double check with Taiwan's Civil Aviation Bureau, local authorities, national parks, or property owners if you have any doubts about flying your drone in a certain area.
Flying a drone (quadcopter, RC helicopter, remote UAV etc.) in Taiwan can be fun, safe, and positively impact the community if you do it right. For some of our own drone videos in Taiwan, check out the video below, as well as my drone playlist on Youtube, and don't forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel here. 
Please note that this guide is written from the point of view of a heterosexual American marrying a Taiwanese National. For other types of marriages in Taiwan, double check with your home country's consulate or office in Taiwan. For an experience of a foreigner marrying another foreigner, check out this blog by Sam.
Generally speaking, getting married in Taiwan is not that complicated. Typically, you should only require the following documents, and apply for marriage at the local house registration office:
Q: What documents do I need to get married in Taiwan? A: Marriage in Taiwan required documents:
If you need help obtaining a visa to Taiwan, you can use Ivisa.com. Marriage agreement (結婚書約) sample below: 
Taiwan has recently received a lot of press for its great response to the Covid-19 outbreak. But Taiwan has had a world class universal healthcare system for decades, known as National Health Insurance (NHI). People have long been coming to Taiwan for "medical tourism," due to Taiwan's low cost and high quality medical care. In this article we will answer common questions about Taiwan's healthcare system and why it is perhaps the best in the world.
Please note that some of the answers below are anecdotal based on personal experience using National Health Insurance in Taiwan, and are for reference only. 
Taiwan is a tropical country that straddles the tropic of cancer. In northern Taiwan, the winters can be cold and wet, and it can also get very gold and even snow sometimes in the mountains. In the south of Taiwan, it is usually warm year round. There are also tropical cyclones and monsoon rains in the summer. Over, the weather in Taiwan is varied and you should come prepared depending on the time of year you are visiting.
□ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
Taipei is Taiwan's capital, as well as its most advanced and vibrant city. It is usually the first stop for most international visitors. In this guide, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this amazing city.
□ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
Rainbow Bridge Near Raohe Street Night Market in Taipei
Taiwan is the best kept travel secret in Asia. There are many tourist destinations all over the country that are worthwhile for foreigners from all over the world to visit. In this blog, we will answer you questions about tourist sites in Taiwan.
□ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
Tourist Sites Map:
See below for our map of tourist sites in Taiwan:
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's tourist sites to those who have never been there. Also, the following "best" lists are based on our opinions based on years of experience as foreigners living in Taiwan only, and are not necessarily fact.
What to do in Taiwan?/ What is there to do in Taiwan? Hiking, mountain climbing, eating at a night market, shopping, surfing, snorkeling, river tracing, cycling, jogging, sight-seeing, paragliding, parasailing, and much much more! What is the best time to visit Taiwan? In our opinion summer is the best time to visit Taiwan, because that is when there is the most sunshine and the cold winds coming off the Taiwan Strait subside. However, many people cannot stand the Taiwan heat, which can reach 39 °C °F and 100% humidity. Also, if you want to do outdoor activities, river tracing is safest in the winter when there is less rain, but wind surfing is best in the winter when the winds are strong. Whatever you plan to do in Taiwan, the weather is usually bearable and there should be a time of year that suits everyone’s fancy. For more info, please visit our weather and climate FAQ. Where to visit in Taiwan?/ Where should I visit in Taiwan? Taipei: Taipei 101, National palace museum, Taipei Zoo and Gondola, Night markets, Beitou hot springs, Yeliu queen’s head, Pingxi Railway, and Jiufen. Taichung: Fengjia and Yizhong Street night markets, Tunghai University, Dakeng hiking trails, and Rainbow Village. Central Taiwan: Alishan, Jade Mountain, Sun Moon Lake, Lukang, and Anping Castle. Kaohsiung: Qijin Beach, Xiziwan Beach, Shoushan hiking trails, Buddah Light Mountain, Chengching Lake, Maolin Butterfly Valley, and Tianliao Moon World. Kenting: Kenting main beach, Baishawan, Kenting night market, Kenting national park, Kenting Aquarium, Xiaoliuqiu, and Jialeshui. Eastern Taiwan: Jiaoxi hot springs, Suao surfing, Tarako Gorge, Sanxiantai, Luye hot air balloon platform, rift valley rice fields, Jhiben hot springs. Outer Islands: All the outer islands! What should I eat in Taipei? Taiwan has some of the best food in the world, and it’s a big reason why foreigners like us love coming back. A lot of these foods cannot easily be found elsewhere, which makes leaving Taiwan that much harder. Our top 10 most delicious Taiwan foods are as follows: 1. Hot Pot Buffet 火鍋吃到飽 2. Roast Duck 烤鴨 3. Fried Chicken 炸鷄 4. Taiwan Lunchbox (Bento) 自助餐/便當 5. Bubble Milk Tea 珍珠奶茶 6. Red Bean Soup 紅豆湯 7. Dumplings and Fried Dumplings 水餃/鍋貼 8. Steamed Buns 包子 9. Fruit Shaved Ice 水果冰 10. Onion Pancake 葱抓餅 How much is the Taipei zoo? Adults – 60 NT Students – 30 NT Preschoolers and disabled persons – Free Groups of 30 or more – 30% discount What time does the zoo open/close in Taipei? 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM What times do night markets open/close in Taiwan? Around 6:00pm – Midnight. What are the best night markets in Taipei?
What are the best night markets in Taiwan?
What are the best old streets in Taipei?
What are the best old streets in Taiwan?
Why is Taiwan the heart of Asia? From a purely geographical perspective, Taiwan lies in a central location in East Asia, between China, Kong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, and is also close to the Philipines, and other southeat Asian countries, making it a prime spot for an Asian hub. Taiwan also is highly influenced culturally by other East Asian nations, such as China, Japan, and Korea. Please observe the map below:
How should I tour Taiwan?
My Taiwan tour or Taiwan tour bus. https://www.mytaiwantour.com/ https://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/C/us/home Why visit Taiwan?/ Why go to Taiwan? Taiwan has friendly people, a safe environment, nice weather, good food, cheap cost of living, and tons of things to see and do! Why live in Taiwan? Taiwan is one of the best countries in the world with one of the best qualities of life. Taiwan boasts delicious food, great weather year round, amazing tourist sites, friendly people, cheap cost of living, and economic opportunity. Where is the Taipei 101? On Xinyi road in Taipei, on the red MRT line Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. See below for a map:
How many days does it take to tout Taipei? How many days should I tour Taipei?
This depends on how much time you have, I have been touring Taipei for 2 years already! What should I do in Taipei? Where should I travel in Taipei? 1 day tour: Morning: National Palace Museum Afternoon: Taipei 101 Night: Shihlin Night Market. 3 day tour: Day 1: National palace museum, Taipei 101, and Night markets. Day 2: Beitou hot springs, and Jiufen. Day 3: Yeliu queen’s head and Pingxi Railway. How do you pronounce Taipei? Tie Pay. Who is Chinese Taipei? What is Chinese Taipei? It is the name of Taiwan used in sporting events such as the Olympics as to not upset its bully neighbor the PRC (China). What should I buy in Taipei? Where should I shop in Taipei? If you are looking for cheap food, delicious snacks, and souvenirs, go to one of the many night markets in Taipei. If you are looking to buy expensive brand named items, go to an outlet or mall such as Sogo. How many national forest recreation areas are there in Taiwan? 18. Click here for a full list. Are there casinos in Taiwan? No. Gambling is prohibited in Taiwan, with very few exceptions. Where should I buy electronics in Taiwan? Online (PC Home and Shoppee), at a night market, at Carrefour, Cankun, or Guanghua Digital Plaza in Taipei. Where should I buy clothes in Taiwan? Pretty much everywhere. Cheap clothes can be found at night markets, Net, Uniclo, and Carrefour. If you want more expensive brands, go to an outlet or mall. Where is Taipei on a Map? Taipei City is located in northern Taiwan, laying in the middle of the Taipei Basin surrounded by New Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
What is New Taipei City?
New Taipei city is the area surrounding Taipei city, and was formerly known as Taipei county. Where is New Taipei City? New Taipei City (formerly Taipei County), is located in northern Taiwan, surrounding Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
How Many Islands does Taiwan have?
38! We counted. But there are many other offshore rocks, as well as disputed territory claimed by the ROC but controlled by other countries. For more information, click here. How many cities does Taiwan have? 23. For a full list of cities, click here. Why visit Taipei? Why Taipei? Taipei has friendly people, a safe environment, convenient public transportation, nice weather, good food, cheap cost of living, and tons of things to see and do! Where should I stay in Taipei? There are hundreds of hotels around Taipei the cater to different traveler interests and needs. I recommend Agoda.com as the best hotel search website. You can also try Aribnb. What is the Taipei 101? It was the highest building in the world from 2004-2010. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. It is an icon of Taiwan’s technological advancement. How is Taipei 101 earthquake proof? How does the Taipei 101 withstand earhquakes? The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. How much does the Taipei 101 sway? The most that the Taipei 101 damper has ever swayed was during Typhoon Soudelor, swaying 100 centimetres (39 in). How much did the Taipei 101 cost? NT$ 58 billion (US$1.934 billion) How does the Taipei 101 damper work? The damper works by offsetting strong wind gusts, absorbing the forces and turning them into kinetic energy, moving the damper. How was Taipei 101 built? The Taipei 101 was built in a period of 5 years from 1999-2004. The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. How is the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei? It’s a high end, 5 star hotel in Taipei, with just about all the amenities you can think of. What time does the MRT/Metro open/close in Taipei? The Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs close at 12:00 AM midnight. They open again at 6:00 AM. The last train at the MRT usually leaves from 11:00PM-12:00AM midnight. To search for exact times for the last train, click here. What time does the Taipei 101 open and close in Taipei? The Taipei 101 Observatory is open every day from 9 AM to 10 PM. What time does the National Palace Museum open/close in Taipei? The museum is open 8:30 – 6:30 on weekdays and 8:30 – 9:30 on weekends year round. Where does the Taiwanese president live? The Taiwan president Tasi Ing-wen lives in the Presidential office building, a red brick structure originally constructed by the Japanese. Have any more questions about Taiwan's tourist sites, or have any suggestions for more sites to see in Taiwan? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list! Please like, follow, and share to help everyone know that Taiwan is a friendly and inviting place to travel year round! 
I have had many friends ask me if I know where they can stay in Taiwan that rents month to month, or for only a few weeks at a time. Whether it be for a short time contract, short term work, a business trip, or a short time study, it can often be hard to find suitable accommodation that will not cost you a fortune. Therefore we have created this frequently asked question guide to help foreigner travelers find short term hotels that have what they need.
Your decision between an extended stay hotel and a regular hotel depends on your preferences and what amenities you anticipate needing. You can, however, enjoy more benefits with extended-stay hotels in terms of features, flexibility in booking, and prices. 
As a foreigner in Taiwan, if you have preschool-aged children it could be a stressful experience to try to find an appropriate place for your child to go to school. Luckily foreign children have some priority when it comes to the public preschool lottery. Also, some preschools also have government subsidies. In this blog, we will give you a general overview of the preschool system in Taiwan.
Please note that the below information is only a general overview and details may vary for each school. I am giving this advice based on my experience as a foreign parent of two children who have gone through preschool in Taiwan. The numbers below were taken from the government website. For the latest information, please check the government website. Taiwan monthly child stipend for children 5 and under: 5歲幼兒就學補助 First, let me start off by telling you that there is a monthly stipend for children of Taiwan citizen parents who are aged 5 and under, and are not enrolled in preschool. For the first child, the stipend is 5,000 NT, for the second child 6,000, and for the third child, it is 7,000. Once you enroll your child in public or government-sponsored preschool, this subsidy stops. 
Typical interior of a Taiwan local bank.
Banking in Taiwan as a foreigner can be a frustrating experience, especially with a language barrier and cultural gaps. Banking still is a major pain even for long-time residents. However, we have made this guide to help make banking in Taiwan a little easier, more efficient, and more beneficial, especially for expats new to Taiwan.
For a comparison of banks in Taiwan, you can check out our Taiwan Bank Comparison Guide here. You can also check out our Taiwan credit card guide here. Note: The following Q+A is based on personal experience and is for reference only. this is not an exhaustive analysis of Taiwan's banking sector. Each bank has different policies, and the employees in the banks may not even know their own policies for foreigners. My Overall Experience Banking as a Foreigner in Taiwan 外國人在台灣使用銀行的個人心得: My experience banking in Taiwan has been a mixed bag. Besides lots of wait times and loads of paperwork, I have noticed that many banking functions are not available for foreigners, such as buying stocks and bonds, buying gold, and buying mutual funds. It took me an entire month to buy mutual funds for my kids. First I went to the bank to ask how to do it. Then they gave me forms to fill out. I filled them out and brought them back to the bank. They said the forms were filled out wrong. I corrected them and went back to the bank. They said because it was Saturday they could not process the account (post office bank) so I had to go back on a weekday. I went back on a weekday. Later, they said that some documents were still not okay. I went back and fixed the documents again. After that, I waited for the mutual fund account to open. Then I had to go back and transfer money into the accounts. In the end, simply buying mutual funds took me three weeks and six(!!!) trips to the bank, wasting countless hours of my time. I cannot think of a more inefficient process that I have ever been a part of. All of this being said, banking in Taiwan still gets the job done most of the time, and foreigners are able to move their money freely because Taiwan does not have foreign exchange controls. □ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
An APRC (short for Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, aka PR) is perhaps the most desirable immigration status for most foreigners in Taiwan. By simply living in Taiwan for five years or more in a row and meeting a few other requirements, you can enjoy permanent residency in Taiwan and an open work permit. However the process and requirements are not so straight forward depending on your situation, therefore we have created this guide to help answer some common questions.
Foreword: Please note that this guide is for reference only. The ultimate authority on what documents are required and whether or not your application will be accepted is the immigration bureau. Some of the information in the blog may be inaccurate for your specific situation. For clarifications, please call the foreigner hotline directly (toll free): 0800-024-111. This information for this blog was taken from the NIA website and personal experience such as from calls to the immigration office, and in person visits to the immigration office. Personally I applied for an APRC as the spouse of a Taiwan national. My personal experience getting my APRC was a confusing and difficult process. I made many mistakes along the way. I have listed some of the key takeaways from this process as follows.
Need help obtaining a visa to Taiwan? We recommend using Ivisa.com. Now let's start the Q+A. □ Planning your trip to Taiwan? □ Here are some top travel tips for you:
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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