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Things to know about Taipei for our overseas friends!

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# Welcome to Taipei! :wave: :wink:

This is a handbook for [#rubyfriends](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23rubyfriends) from overseas put together by [everyone](https://github.com/JuanitoFatas/taipei/graphs/contributors).

> If you ever go to ‪Taiwan‬, check out [this amazing site](http://www.rtaiwanr.com/) for trips in the country. 
> -- Nico Hagenburger [@hagenburger](https://twitter.com/Hagenburger)

## Table of Contents

- [Money](#money)
- [Weather](#weather)
- [Ruby Meetups](#ruby-meetups)
- [Data SIM Card](#data-sim-card)
- [Power (Socket)](#power-socket)
- [Free WiFi](#free-wifi)
- [Tipping](#tipping)
- [Communication](#communication)
- [What to buy to bring back home](#what-to-buy-to-bring-back-home)
- [Getting Around](#getting-around)
- [Sight Seeing](#sight-seeing)
- [Food](#food)
- [Coffee Culture](#coffee-culture)
- [Café](#café)
- [Cat Cafés](#cat-cafés)
- [Currency](#currency)
- [Co-working Spaces](#co-working-spaces)
- [Souvenirs](#souvenirs)
- [License](#license)
- [Credits](#credits)

## Money

New Taiwan Dollar, code `TWD`.

NT$ / NTD$ / 元 (yuan) / 圓 (yuan).

- [1 USD is about 33 TWD](https://goo.gl/QcWDWe)
- [1 EUR is about 37 TWD](https://goo.gl/FDuQ2B)
- [1 TWD is about 3.3 JPY](https://goo.gl/JB6bDu)

1, 5, 10, *20*, 50 are coins.

100, *200*, 500, 1000, *2000* are banknotes.

*italic means less common.*

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Taiwan_dollar.

## Weather

General very hot and humid, tropical weather. Winter from December to February, Summer from June to September. March to May, October and November are best to visit. Typhoon is typical in July, August and September.

## Ruby Meetups

:point_right: <https://github.com/rubytaiwan/rubytw-reboot/wiki/Meetups>

## Data SIM Card

At [Taoyuan (TPE) (Mostly International flights)](http://www.taoyuan-airport.com) or [Songshan (TSA)](http://www.tsa.gov.tw/tsa/zh/home.aspx) airport you can buy Data SIM card from main carriers of Taiwan.

Due to the law, **you must have BOTH your passport AND your local ID or international driver license to buy one.** :disappointed:

* Passport => ~~No SIM card~~
* ID card => ~~No SIM card~~
* **Passport + ID card => SIM card!**

## Power (Socket)

Type [A][a-plug], [B][b-plug] (110V, 60 Hz).

[a-plug]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_plug.jpg
[b-plug]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B_plug.jpg

## Free WiFi

Sign up an account from [TPE-Free](https://www.tpe-free.tw/tpe/tpe_step1_en.aspx). Most of the public places (shopping mall, library and Metro stations) have TPE-Free.

And also, you can use [iTaiwan](https://itaiwan.gov.tw/en/index.php). It will be available at some public places like post office or local government.

## Tipping

No need to tip.

## Communication

Chinese & English, most of people will help you anyway.

## Getting Around

**[Taipei MRT](http://english.metro.taipei)** should be your first choice.

**Uber** is also available in Taipei.

## Sight Seeing

- [Taipei 101](http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/index.aspx)

![Taipei 101](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/11467975375_b5285ed9ab_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/itonxn" target="_blank">Antonio Tajuelo</a>

- [National Palace Museum](http://www.npm.gov.tw/en/)

Treasures that you won't see in Beijing's National Palace Museum.

![National Palace Museum](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2682/4084776487_d98a00d75b_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/7dXxJP" target="_blank">Leon Brocard</a>

- [Taipei Zoo]( http://english.zoo.gov.taipei/)

### Mountain Hiking

- Elephant mountain (象山, Xiang-shan)

Here you can see the taipei 101 and whole Taipei city.

![Xiang-shan](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3850/14514271348_4172caf1f9_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/o7zrcJ" target="_blank">中岑 范姜</a>

- Maokong (貓空)

Famous for the taiwanese tea
 
 ![Maokong](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1075/716378012_b937b47477_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/26iCe3" target="_blank">Prince Roy</a>

- Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園)

![Yangmingshan](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4081/4859815566_9b14d731b5_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/8prPRy" target="_blank">宋炯瑞</a>

- Ping Hsi Branch Railway Line & Old Town (平溪支線, 平溪老街)

Famous for the Taiwan’s sky lantern festival. You can launching sky lanterns on the railway. Like "Tangled" by Disney.

![Lanters](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/12431226465_9abf3530d7_z.jpg "")
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/jWvhwM" target="_blank">Jirka Matousek</a>

- Jiufen (九份)

The famous Japanese animation producer Hayao Miyazaki used Jiufen as an
  inspiration in [Spirited Away](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirited_Away).

![Jiufen](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/14171908726_52359439cd_z.jpg)
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/nAjJHU" target="_blank">cotaro70s</a>

- Tamsui Old Town (淡水老街)

### Hot Springs ♨️

- Beitou Hot Spring (北投溫泉)

![Beitou](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8841/17771298978_cba24eb661_z.jpg "")
 Credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/t5oy3w" target="_blank">カメラマン</a>

- <del>Wulai</del> (Under recovery)

Anime & Manga

- Taipei Underground Shopping Street (台北地下街)

Near Taipei Main Station. Most anime shops located at the middle of the shopping street. (Not to be confused with Zhongshan Underground Shopping Street)

- Guanghua Market (光華商場)

Electronic Street, but also have some anime shops in Syntrend (三創). Huashan Park (華山文創園區) is also a good place to go.

More information: [The 25 Top Taipei, Taiwan Things To Do: What to Do Today, This Weekend or in September](http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Taiwan/Taipei_Shih/Taipei-1074413/Things_To_Do-Taipei-TG-C-1.html).

### Taxi

You can flag down a taxi from the street. Starts at NT$70-90, but in some tourist sites, the price will be a little bit higher.

### MRT and Buses

Google Maps is your good friend.

The public transport system runs on a reloadable contactless card called EasyCard. There are also one to five day unlimited pass (for MRT and Buses), called Taipei pass, and 24hr Taipei Metro Pass (only for MRT). It’s better to buy a EasyCard unless you will plan on making 5+ trips per day then you can buy the Taipei pass at all metro station information. The EasyCard is available at all metro station information counters and convenience stores.

EasyCard credits are refundable (with some fees) so if you still have some credits left, remember to go to the MRT counter to apply for a refund.

**No eating, drinking and chewing gun is allowed inside the station or on the train.**

## Food

Taiwan is very famous for night market. There are so many night market in Taipei, for example: **Shihlin night market** and **Ninxia night market**. In this night market, you can find many Taiwanese foods. See also [45 Taiwanese foods we can't live without](http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093) on CNN.

### Xiaolongbao Dumpling (小籠包, Siao-Long-Bau)

Probaly the most known Taiwan food. If you want to try Ding-Tai-Feng (鼎泰豐) be prepared to queue for 1 hour in lunch and dinner time.

### Braised Pork Rice (滷肉飯, Lu-Rou-Fan)
### Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐, Chou-Dou-Fu)

Search Google for [stinky tofu challenge](https://www.google.com/search?q=stinky+tofu+challenge)

### Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉麵, Niu-Rou-Mian)

- 林東芳牛肉麵

One of the best places in Taipei. Be prepared to queue

### Oyster Omelet (蚵仔煎, O-A-Jian)
### Small Sausage in Large Sausage (大腸包小腸, Da-Chang-Bao-Siao-Chang)

Looks like American hot dog but is broiled sausage wrapped in "rice sausage".

### Bubble Milk Tea (珍珠奶茶/波霸奶茶, Jen-Ju-Nai-Cha)
### Pan-fried bun (水煎包/生煎包, Shui-Jian-Bao)
### Gua bao (割包)
### Tian bu la (甜不辣/關東煮)

Similar to Japanese oden but is a Taiwan-specialized version. Also called "黑輪" (Oh-Lian)

### Ba wan (肉圓)

Two types: Oil-fried and steamed. Steamed is usually only in southern Taiwan.

### Fried Chicken (雞排, Ji-Pai)

Unlike American style fried checken, and also unlike Japanese fried checken (kara-age), the Taiwanse fried chicken is flat and as large as your hand, some are even larger than your face.

### Flaky Scallion Pancake (蔥抓餅, Tsong-Jua-Bing)
### Oyster vermicelli (蚵仔麵線, O-A-Mi-Sua)
### Shaved Ice Mountain (剉冰, Tsua-Bing)

Shaved Ice Mountain usually served with sweet beans like azuki bean or fruits. Besure to try Mango Shaved Ice which is the most known ice in Taiwan.

### Pepper Cakes
### Ribs stewed in medicinal herbs (藥膳排骨, Yao-Shan-Pai-Goo)
### Mochi
### Pineapple cake
### Sun Cakes (太陽餅, Tai-Yang-Bing)

Note: Sun is not included in the cake.

### Tube rice pudding (筒仔米糕, Dang-Ah-Mii-Gou)
### Aiyu Jelly (愛玉)

Like Jelly but softer. Usually served in cold with lemon. This sweet is probaly only available in Taiwan.

## Café

Ongoing [list of cafes](https://github.com/rubytaiwan/taipei/wiki/Cafe) put together in Wiki.

### Cat Cafés

![Taipei MRT map of Cat Cafes](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/1000669/8227495/799b3e3a-15da-11e5-9d92-c468dcd1cfc3.jpg)Credit: <a href="http://sping60.pixnet.net/blog/post/33007306" target="_blank">Ms.Aman</a>

## Souvenirs

- Pineapple cake

It's great for afternoon tea. The filling is either pineapple, or more traditionally winter melon (冬瓜) sealed with a buttery crust.

- Nougat
- Tea Leaf Pack
- Sun cake
- Kavalan (Taiwan Whiskey). Only available at airport

# License

![CC-BY-SA](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rubytaiwan/taipei/master/images/CC-BY-SA.png)

This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).

# Credits

This guide is inspired by [Ruby Singapore community](http://ruby.sg), check out [their handbook](https://github.com/rubysg/singapore) if you visit Singapore.

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