Maokong Gondola

If you like tea, hiking and spectacular views, then Mount Maokong is the place for you.

Situated in the southeast of Taipei City, Maokong is home to plantations and tea houses that provide visitors with a variety of the hot beverage. 

The mountain is easily accessible by the gondola. Just take the MRT to Taipei Zoo station and from there you can reach the gondola after a 10-minute walk. 

You can use your metro card to take the gondola as well, so make sure you have it with you. Otherwise you would need to buy a ticket and believe me, you wouldn’t want that. The ticketing desk is always overcrowded with tourist groups coming from China. 

As with everything else, Hello Kitty was all over the place at Maokong Gondola.

Once you enter the gondola compound, head to the top floor. If you are not terribly afraid of heights, I advise you to follow the signs that read “Crystal Cabin” rather than regular cabin. Crystal Cabin cars have glass floorings that allow you to see the ground below as the gondola ascends to dizzying heights. It’s a bit scary, but the experience is totally worth the adrenaline. 

Keep in mind that there are fewer Crystal Cabins that regular cabins. So, you will have to wait a little while longer. 

The thrill of riding in glass-floored cabins is worth the wait.

I felt like I was on a slow-motion roller-coaster ride for the entire trip as the car ascended and turned between stations on its way to the mountain. The entire Taipei skyline rose from behind the hills as the car gained altitude, causing breathtaking views. It’s a great opportunity to snap some pictures too. 

There are a total of four stations on the line and taking the gondola all the way to Mount Maokong (last stop) costs 50 NT. 

Once you arrive at Maokong, you can head left or right on the road around the mountain and sample the street food as well as enjoy some relaxing tea at one of the many teahouses that dot the scenery. 

Avoid weekends and mid-day heat

Locals prefer to visit Maokong on the weekends as a get away from the city and to escape the heat in the summer. So, go to Maokong during the week, if you can. But don’t worry if you are unable to do so because Taiwanese people are extremely kind and you might make some new friends during your cable car trip.

Also note that there is no air-conditioning in the cable cars so it can get extremely hot and humid under the midday sun. Try to arrange your trip early in the morning or later in the afternoon. 

Overall, a trip to Maokong is both an exciting and a relaxing experience that every visitor to Taipei should try out.

Hours of operation

The gondola operates between 9 a.m to 9 p.m Monday-Thursday, and 9 a.m to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Check the weather report before you head out as they halt the gondola if the winds are particularly strong. 

What to pack when going to Taiwan

Taiwanese people like to say that they enjoy all four seasons in their country, but in my experience there are three seasons: Tropical summer, European summer and gray sky season. Most of the year is sunny and warm, though.

Taiwan sits on the Tropic of Cancer, which means it has a fairly warm climate year-round. There is even a ‘Tropic of Cancer Marker’ in Hualien county where you can experience the ‘no shadow’ phenomenon at noon during summer months.

Yearly temperatures vary between 34 degrees Celsius in summer and 15 degrees Celsius in winter. Summer months are marked with powerful typhoons slamming the eastern coast of the island, causing rainfall all over the country at 30+ temperatures. Winter, on the other hand, is mild and not as cold as winters in Europe or North America, with the ever-present possibility of rain. 

Humidity is very high in Taiwan, which amplifies both the summer heat and the winter cold.

Your suitcase should include…

Rain is the constant weather pattern in Taiwan, so you should always consider bringing a rain coat of some sort. Pack a light rain jacket for summer, as it is extremely hot even when it is raining. If you don’t have a light jacket, you can always buy one at a very affordable price in Taiwan. 

Packing for winter

In winter, you should be okay with a windbreaker and a jacket of medium thickness. You may consider bringing a light wool sweater and/or a thick cotton sweatshirt/hoodie, depending on your choice. Bring some t-shirts and cotton shirts as well. For leggings, regular jeans are more than enough to provide protection from the mild winter. Do not forget to bring water-proof shoes and cotton socks. 

Packing for summer

If you plan to come to Taiwan in summer months, packing becomes a matter of warding off the heat. Clothes-wise, wearing anything more than a t-shirt, a pair of shorts and sandals could amount to a heatstroke. I advise you to bring a hat or a cap, sunglasses, extra t-shirts (you WILL sweat), UV-blocking sunscreen and a backpack.

Umbrellas are a must in Taiwan

Backpacks are essential, as traveling around Taiwanese cities, especially around Taipei, involves a lot of walking. You will need to rehydrate yourself during those long walks and a backpack is ideal to keep extra water bottles, t-shirts, umbrellas and sunscreens conveniently at your disposal. 

Again, if you don’t have a backpack, you can pick one among a wide array of choices at Taiwanese stores. 

Even though it is extremely hot outside, interior spaces and especially subway stations are cooled to chilling temperatures. So remember bring a light jacket or a shirt to wear in the air conditioned environments.

Always bring an umbrella

You should also get a UV-protective umbrella as soon as you land in Taiwan as it serves the double purpose of protecting you from rain and also from the harmful rays of the sun. 

Ideal time to visit Taiwan

The ideal time of the year to visit Taiwan would be autumn. Beginning in mid-September, the brutal heat starts to ease off, and weather enters the ‘European summer’ phase I was talking about. This period lasts until mid-November. Temperatures vary between 23-28 degrees. 

Don’t forget to check the weather forecast before embarking on your trip to Taiwan and always remember to have a great time, come rain or shine :)

-DS

Exchanging money in Taiwan

Every traveler has their own story to tell, their unique experiences and memories. No two experience is the same. However, there is one single aspect of globe trotting that all travelers share once they arrive in a new country: The necessity to exchange the money in your pocket with the local currency.

In Taiwan, money exchange can prove to be a hassle for those who are not used to dealing with an extremely nosy state apparatus. 

Here, only banks are authorized to exchange currency. There are no small offices or convenient booths that provide such services. Instead, you need to find a bank that has a sign outside that reads 'Official Money Exchanger’ and once you find them, the procedure is still not an easy one. 

You need to present the bank cashier with some sort of identification. Everything needs to be recorded. And there is a limit to how much money you can exchange. In the end of 2014, the limit was 500 USD. When you run out of money, you need to go back to the bank and exchange some more.

So, in order to avert frequent runs to the bank, you can exchange your money in one of the exchange offices (they are actually bank offices) at Taoyuan International Airport. 

It would be better if you could calculate your possible expenses during your stay in Taiwan and exchange your cash accordingly.

You can check out my post on the currency of Taiwan for a quick conversion guide. 

Cheers, 

-DS

Currency of Taiwan

The legal currency of Taiwan is the New Taiwan Dollar. It is abbreviated as ‘NT' and sometimes as ‘NT$’. You may see some stores using the ‘$’ sign on its own as well. That still means Taiwanese Dollars, not US Dollars.

As of November 2014, the exchange rate of NT stands at 1 USD = 31 NT. 

Conversion guide

Here’s a quick conversion guide. You can write these numbers down on a small piece of paper when you go shopping in Taiwan, so you don’t get confused by scary looking prices that range in the thousands:

10 NT = 32 US cents

100 NT = 3.20 USD

500 NT = 16 USD

1000 NT = 32 USD

1500 NT = 48 USD

2000 NT = 64 USD

3120 NT = 100 USD

10,000 NT = 320 USD

Coins and bills

There are six different coins and five different bills in circulation. The coins start at 1/2 NT and go up in denominations of 1 NT, 5 NT, 10 NT, 20 NT and 50 NT. I have never seen the 1/2 NT coin and 20 NT coin, though.

Some of the most commonly used coins and bills in Taiwan.

The bills start at 100 NT and increase as 200 NT, 500 NT, 1000 NT and 2000 NT. The 200 and 2000 NT bills are quite rare. 

What can you but with 100 NT?

Even though the Taiwanese Dollar is of less value than the USD, it still commands quite a purchasing power in Taiwan. 

Night markets offer cheap and tasty alternatives to eating at a restaurant.

Here are the prices of some basic items that you can find in Taiwan, although prices may vary depending on where you are shopping:

500 ml bottled water: 15 NT

A can of Coke: 20 NT

Ice cream: 30 NT

A loaf of sliced bread: 37 NT

500 ml local beer: 40 NT

Ready-to-eat microwaveable lunch at Seven-Eleven: 60 NT

10 pack eggs: 60-80 NT

Big Mac Menu: 100 NT

2 kg of rice: 100 NT

If you shop at your local street market, you will see the prices drop dramatically. Food is really tasty and affordable in Taiwan. You can have a hearty meal at a local eatery for around 150 NT per person.

Coins, coins, coins

Once you start spending money in Taiwan, you will end up with a lot of coins really fast. I recommend you to buy a coin purse once you get to Taiwan in order to avoid walking around town jingling like a Christmas sleigh. This goes for men too. Besides, there are some pretty cool designs when it comes to coin purses here in Taiwan.

Pictured: My awesome coin purse.

Happy shopping! :)

-DS 

A 5-step guide to getting student ARC

This post will explain how to get an Alien Residency Certificate (ARC) in Taiwan as a student. 

There are numerous forums and blogs about getting an ARC in Taiwan and the information is a bit scattered and confusing. So, I decided to write a clear guide on how to get an ARC, from my own experience and from digging through Taiwanese government sites.

This is going to be a long one, so bear with me. 

What is an ARC and why do I need it?

ARC is a card given to foreign students and workers by the Taiwanese government, recognizing their student/worker status and granting them the right to stay in Taiwan for a period of time. Anyone willing to continuously stay in Taiwan for more than 6 months will have to apply for an ARC. 

Wait, can’t I stay in Taiwan during my studies?

If you are coming to Taiwan with a student visa to enroll in a Chinese language training program and plan to stay for more than 6 months, then, no. At least not initially. Here’s how it goes:

Taiwan gives out student visas with three different time limits. You either get a 60-day, a 90-day or a 180-day visa. But for the most part, they give out 60-day visas.

3-month long courses on a 2-month visa?

Almost every Chinese language center in Taiwan have 3-month terms. Which means once you enroll, you will need to take classes for at least 3 months. 

This creates a problem for students with 60-day visas as their visas expire after 2 months. I know this sounds silly, and most schools won’t tell their students about this problem until after they arrive in Taiwan.

Bureaucratic mess

In order to get an ARC, first you need to change your visitor visa (Students visas are considered visitor visas in Taiwan. Students visas have the letters "FR" printed in the "Remarks" line) to a resident visa. But here's the catch:

The law requires that after changing your visa into a resident visa, you need to apply for an ARC within 15 DAYS. 

But the law also requires you to be studying in Taiwan for at least 4 MONTHS before you can apply for an ARC.

So coming to Taiwan and changing your visa to resident visa right away to apply for an ARC is out of the question. You will need to be in Taiwan for at least 4 months. And you know what, Taiwan does not generally issue visas any longer than 2 months! You will need to extend your visa in order to be staying in Taiwan that long.

Therefore, steps leading to getting an ARC goes as follows:

1 - Getting a visa extension

2 - Getting a second visa extension

3 - Getting a health report from a public hospital

4 - Applying for a resident visa

5 - Applying for an ARC


1- EXTEND YOUR VISA

Getting a student visa extension for the first time is (relatively) easy. 

Simply go to the National Immigration Agency 2 weeks prior to your visa expiry date and apply for an extension. Your visa expiry date starts from the next day of your entry date that is stamped on your passport.

You will need the following for the first extension:

- A completed visa extension form

- Enrollment certificate from your school

- Valid passport

Last I checked, the National Immigration Agency was located on the corner of Yanping South Rd and Guangzhou St. But I advise you to confirm the location of the immigration office with your school before you go. The current building looks like this:

How to fill out the form?

Once you enter the immigration office, you will see people wearing pink vests with the word ‘Volunteer’ written on them. They are there to help you and they can speak English to a certain extent. 

Walk up to one of the volunteers and say that you are a student and ask for a visa extension form. She/he will provide you one. 

The form is printed in Chinese and English and is more or less easy to fill out. A couple of points to consider, though.

First, they will ask you to fill out the address where you are residing while you are in Taiwan. This part needs to filled out with Chinese characters. So you’d better write or print your address on a piece of paper beforehand and bring it to the immigration office. If you have difficulty copying the characters to the form, just ask one of the volunteers to help you out.  

And secondly, you will need to provide the name, address and phone number of the person or the institution who is your ‘contact person’ during your stay in Taiwan. So, you should also write that information on a piece of paper beforehand as well. They ask for either a person or an institution so don’t freak out if you don’t know any locals. Your school is your 'contact person.’

After filling out the form get a number from the queue machine and hand over your documents to the official behind the desk. They will stamp an extension on the blank page next to your current visa. And that’s pretty much it! Hurrah!!! You extended your visa and can stay in Taiwan… until you need to extend it for a SECOND TIME!

2- GET A SECOND EXTENSION

Your visa will be extended for a duration of your original limit. So, if you have a 60-day visa, you will get a 60-day extension. Once that expires, and you still want to continue your studies in Taiwan, you will need to get a second extension.

The second extension is trickier, though. The first time, you were just starting out as a fresh student eager to learn Chinese and they were happy to accept you into Taiwan. The second time, they will make sure you are attending your classes properly. 

No attendance, no extension

To extend your visa a second time, you will need to get an attendance sheet and grade record from your school. 

If you are missing more than 15 hours of classes in a month or your grade average is lower than 60 out of 100, they may not extend your visa. Also, you will have to be taking at least 15 hours of Chinese courses each week. This is a must.

In order to prove all these, you will need to get the necessary papers from your school and present them to the visa immigration office again, along with your passport and enrollment certificates of course. Do this 2 weeks before the extension on your visa runs out. Don't go to the immigration office earlier than 2 weeks because they will tell you that you are applying too early and send you back. 

How does ARC come in?

So you extended your visa a second time and well on your way to learning Chinese and you might think why you would need an ARC if you can keep extending your visa like so. The thing is, you cannot.

180 days, you are out!

In Taiwan, student visas can only be extended up to 180 days. So, if you arrived on a 60-day visa, you can extend your visa twice. If you have a 90-day visa you can get an extension once. After 180 days, there are no more extensions and you will need to go to another country in order to re-enter Taiwan. Unless you get an ARC. 

Do not assume that you can extend your 2-month visa once, and apply for an ARC at the end of that 4-month period, because issuing of the ARC will take time and your visa will expire during that time! Never let your visa run out or you will have to exit Taiwan, come back and start the process all over again. Be on the safe side, get a second extension on your visa.


3- GET A HEALTH REPORT

This is a bit nasty. You will need to go to a public hospital and get a health record before you can apply for an ARC. They will take an X-ray and take blood and stool samples from you. Yes, you will need to poop on command. I told you it was nasty. Luckily, they have little enema bottles at the hospital. 

Go to the hospital at least 2 weeks before applying for the ARC as it takes 2 weeks for the record to come out. Better yet, apply for the health record before you apply to get the resident visa. 

For the health report you will need:

- Valid passport and one passport photocopy 

- Three passport-sized photos

- 2000 NT fee


4- SWITCH TO RESIDENT VISA

After you have extended your visa for a second time, and went to the hospital to get a health report, you will need to switch your visitor visa to a resident visa.

In order to switch your visa, you will need to apply to the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA) located at Jinan Road, Section 1, No. 2-2. Here's the building:

You will need to provide the following documents in order to get a resident visa:

- A completed resident visa form

- Valid passport

- Two photos

- A copy of student ID card 

- NT$2,200 application fee 

5- APPLY FOR AN ARC

You switched your visa to a resident visa, you have your health report. 

Here’s the part you’ve been waiting for. ARC application. You will be needing these to apply for an ARC: 

1. A completed ARC application form.
2. Attendance sheet and your grade record. You cannot be missing more than 15 hours a month, you will need to be taking 15 hours of classes a week and your grade average should not be lower than 60. 
3. School enrollment papers. Just bring all the enrollment papers starting from your first term.
4. Valid passport. Original and a copy. 
5. Two passport-sized photos. But I always bring extra ones to be safe.
6. School ID card. 
7. Health report. 
8. Cash. And cash only. My 1-year ARC cost me 3200 NT, even though the website says the fee was 1000 NT. The immigration bureau can change the fees for ARC without prior notice. So, always bring extra cash with you. They will give you a receipt. Don’t lose it!

Remember that you will not get your ARC card right away. 

When your ARC is issued, they will give you a call to come pick it up. When going to pick up your ARC card, do not get in a queue and directly ask the volunteers for the pick up desk. You will need to hand them the receipt from earlier in order to get your card. And that’s it.

When applying for your ARC, go to the immigration office a good month before your visa expires. It takes time for them to process your papers. And you wouldn’t want the stress of cutting too close to your visa expiration date. Add to that the two weeks you need for the health record, and that means you will need to begin the paperwork to get an ARC approximately 6 weeks before your visa expiration date. 

That’s all there’s to it. I hope this helps and if you have any questions or want to add anything I might have missed, let me know in the comments.

Cheers!

-DS