Taiwan is a modern industrialised megalopolis clinging to the fringes of an ancient culture; a string of teeming cities at the feet of a glorious mountain range. It has traditional noodles from a 7-Eleven, aboriginal tribes in mini-skirts and a day of temple rituals followed by waterslide rides.

If you step outside chaotic Taipei you'll discover why Taiwan is known as Ilha Formosa, 'the beautiful island'. Mountain peaks puncture a sea of clouds, slick black volcanic rock wraps the coastlines and waterfalls shroud themselves in mist. Taiwan is a computer-generated Chinese watercolour.

It is precisely Taiwan's history with China that has caused the most friction and heartache for the Taiwanese. The continuing tug-of-war between the People's Republic of China on the mainland and the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan is often prone to seem like a civil war - albeit one that has not, as yet, developed into an all-out brawl. Mainland China insists on the truth of 'one China' while Taiwan has managed the impossible tightrope act of agreeing, in principle, to one China but acting, in practice, like an independent republic.

Traveler Facts

• Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8
• Dialling Code: 886
• Electricity: 110V ,60Hz
• Weights & measures: Metric
• Currency: New Taiwan Dollar (NT$ or TWD)

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Try to avoid major public holidays, especially Chinese New Year (usually early February), during this time transportation will be full, shops and restaurants will be closed, and hotels unusually expensive.

Airfares increase in summer and the heat can shorten tempers. While October is climatically pleasant, it is also holiday-ridden - try November instead. The seventh lunar month (usually late August/early September) is Ghost Festival, which means there will be no Chinese travellers on the road and temples will be at their most active.

In General, Taiwan has a tropical climate. Cloudiness and general overcast skies are common year-round. The rainy season extends from June to August, during which typhoons may occur. Winters, on the other hand, are cool and dry, and high mountain areas may even be covered with some snow. The best time to visit Taiwan is autumn.

Pack appropriately for the season in which you will be traveling. Light, short-sleeved shirts and pants are suitable for the hot temperatures of the summer months; heavier clothes-long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sweaters, will be needed for winter. For detailed information visit Central Weather Bureau.

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In Taiwan, costs for the traveller are on a par with a good number of European countries, reflecting the rise in the standard of living on the island. However, Taiwan is still cheaper than Japan (which isn't saying much). If you stay in youth hostels, live on noodles and travel by bus, you could get by on US$15 to US$20 a day. If you want a bathroom of your own, a few souvenirs, a couple of taxi trips and a decent feed or two a day, budget US$35 to US$50 a day. Staying in Taipei will cost you more than heading out to the country.

Travellers' cheques and cash can be changed at international airports and large banks, but you'll have trouble with travellers' cheques in rural areas. Stick to US dollars for cash and cheques if you can - other currencies will cause you problems. When changing cheques, shop around, as commission costs can vary widely. For the most part, only larger banks such as the International Bank of China (CBC) and Bank of Taiwan can change money. There are no legal private money changers in Taiwan, but if you're stuck some jewellery shops will change cash. Major international credit cards can be used at big hotels and flash restaurants or to get cash advances at your card's offices.

Tipping is not the done thing in Taiwan. The only people who really expect you to shell out are hotel bellhops and airport porters, who will expect about US$1 a bag. Big hotels and restaurants will stick 10 per cent service charge and 5 per cent value added tax on your bill. Taiwan is not a developing country, so don't expect to haggle yourself a bargain - you may be able to get a slight discount (around 10 per cent) in street markets and small shops.

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Note: The dates are not exactly mentioned because chinese follow the lunar calendar and it will be different date when you compare with English calendar.

Chinese New Year (February)
The Chinese or Lunar New Year is the longest and most important festival in Taiwan. During this time, the usual custom would include paying off debts, purchasing new clothes, cleaning the house, enjoying sumptuous family feasts, offering sacrifices to the gods, and giving friends and relatives "red envelopes" (ang pau) containing "lucky money." You'll hear firecrackers throughout the night on New Year's Eve and on the following days.

Lantern Festival (February)
The Lantern Festival came about when the people of ancient China first believed that celestial spirits could be seen flying about in the light of the first full moon of the new lunar year. Their search using torches evolved into the current celebrations of colorful lanterns at temples and parks. Children of the past were given lanterns to carry on the school day of the New Year to symbolize the hope of a bright future for the child. In modern Taiwan, small children carry lanterns and roam the streets on the eve of the festival.

Tomb Sweeping Day (April)
Since ancient times, a day has been designated for sweeping the tombs and honoring the ancestors. Ancestor worship is usually performed on the first few days prior to or following Ching Ming.

Dragon Boat Festival (June)
Many people attended the festive boat races in Taipei, Lukang, Taiwan and Kaohsiung, with teams coming from all over the world. Boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the rescue attempt of Chu Yuan, a patriotic poet, who drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277BC. When the attempt to rescue him failed, the people had to throw bamboo stuffed with cooked rice into the water so that the fish would eat the rice and not his body. From that, it evolves to the present day custom of eating tzungtzu, a kind of rice dumplings filled with ham or bean paste and wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Ghost Festival (August)
It was said that on the first day of the seventh lunar month, known as Ghost Month, the gates of Hell would open wide and the spirits are allowed a month of feasting and revelry in the world of the living. To ensure that the ghosts enjoy a pleasant vacation, lavish sacrifices are set out, sacrifices paper money is burned, and Taiwanese operas are performed.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September)
Autumn Moon Festival falls in the middle of the eighth lunar Chinese month when the moon is supposed to be at its fullest. With a ripe, round moon considered a symbol of happiness, the national holiday is also a time for family reunions.

Double Ninth Day (October)
It is no wonder why the Double Ninth Day was named thus as it falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The day is also known as Chung Yang or Double Yang Festival for the Chinese custom recognize "nine" as a number belonging to the positive principle "yang". On that day, activities such as hill climbing, drinking chrysanthemum wine, hanging dogwood sprays, and other customs dating back to the Han Dynasty story of Huan Ching and Fei Chang-fang were put to practiced. The Taiwanese have also enriched their holiday with kite flying, an up and coming custom.

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