Visa Requirement
Visa is in general required for foreign-passport holders upon entry to Taiwan. However, if your passport and the length of your stay satisfy the following three terms, no visa is required:
•You are holding a passport issued from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica,
     France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Holland, Portugal, Spain,
     Sweden, UK, and U.S.A.; and
•Your passport is valid for more than 6 months; and
•The length of your stay is less than 14 days.
Visa can be obtained from Taiwan’s embassies, consulates or designated representative offices. Please check with your travel agent for necessary procedures.
　

Attention:
Holders of Mainland China passports should visit the web page of　『The Bureau of Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior』(http://www.immigration.gov.tw/ns/maind5.htm) for visa application procedures. Visa application is due 3 months before traveling.

Climate
July is the summer season in Taiwan with average temperature around 27~35°C.

Electricity and Water
Electric supply is 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Drinking water served at hotels and restaurants is distilled or boiled. Tap water should be boiled before drinking.

Time Zone
Taiwan is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Currency and Banks
The Country’s currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$). The exchange rate in recent months is around NT$30~32 for US$1. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at hotels, airports and government-designated banks. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and traveler’s checks may be accepted by tourist-oriented shops and at most international tourist hotels and banks. Banks open whole day from 09:00 to 15:30, Mon-Fri and closed at weekend and public holidays.

Transportation
Taipei is geographically compact with plentiful taxis, buses and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). The Conference Venue, NTU, is easily accessed within central Taipei by a short ride by taxi or MRT (to Gongguan Station, Xindian Line). Detailed MRT information is available at the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation website at: http://www.trtc.com.tw/e/

From Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei city center:
•By Taxi or Bus
    45 mins to 1 hour may be needed to make the trip. Average cost for taxi is about NT$1,000-
    NT$1,300 (one way), and NT$100-NT$150 for bus fare (one way).
•By Hotel Limousine
    Contact the hotel before arriving Taiwan to make a reservation. Average cost is about
    NT$1,200-NT$1,500 (one way).
•For other travel information to/from Taoyuan International Airport, please visit the official
    website: http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/web/english/index.jsp

Languages
Mandarin Chinese is the official language in Taiwan, though other dialects are also spoken. Many people can speak some English, but most taxi drivers do not speak English.