Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure [ Cycling around Taiwan]
For many people, Taiwan,also known as “Formosa”, is one of the most well-known countries in the world, since people mayhave ever heard of “Made in Taiwan”or used the product made in Taiwan.. Other than producing the products of best quality, Taiwan is also a place famous for its unique culture, local gourmet, and natural scenes. One of the best ways toTaiwan is via a bike tour around the island.
Taiwan Cyclist Federation and many students club is frequently organizing a cycle tour which will circle the island in 11-20 days. You will join a challenge team of college students to circle the island just with your feet on the paddles. You will visit major cities and small townships of Taiwan, visit major temples of local religions, experience famous night markets and enjoy local snacks and cuisine. The bike route will cross the island from the west to the east, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of east coast as well as the spectacular Taroko Gorge of the Taroko National Park.
Model Plan
Day 1
Taipei
Day 2
Taipei Country – Hsinchu City
(Visit the Cheng Huang Temple and enjoy the most famous Hsinchu rice noodleand meat ball soup.)
100KM
Day 3
Hsinchu City – Changhua County
（Visit GIANT company, Tachia Temple, and enjoy the most famous Changhua meatball and rice tube pudding .）
115KM
Day 4
Changhua County –Chiayi City
90KM
Day 5
Chiayi County–Kaohsiung County
(Visit the tropic of Cancer Sign in Chiayi)
115KM
Day 6
Kaohsiung County –Pingtung Checheng
(Visit the Donggang Tapeng Bay National Scenic Area)
90KM
Day 7
Checheng –Jhihben, Taitung County
(Enjoy hot spring in Jhihben)
100KM
Day 8
Jhihben, Taitung County–Fonbin,Hualien County
(Visit the tropic of Cancer Sign in Jinpu)
110KM
Day 9
Fobin, Hualien County – Hualien City
(Great view of East Rift Valley. Visit the Farglory Ocean Park )
60KM
Day 10
Hualien City –Jiaosi ,YilanCounty
(Visit Taroko National Park. Enjoy hot spring in Jiaosi)
55KM
Day 11
Jiaosi – Taipei City
（Visit the Ping-Lin Tea Museum）
85KM
Taiwan Cyclist Federation, 1F., No.710, Sec. 3, Ankang Rd., Xindian City,
Taipei County 231, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
(台北縣新店市安康路三段1樓)
Tel: 886-2-2215-2585
Fax: 886-2-2214-1811
Web-site: www.cyclist.org.tw
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure [Ilha Formosa's Special Days]
- 開國紀念日 Founding Day of the ROC
- 雙十國慶日 - Double Tenth National Day
- 二二八和平紀念日 - 228 Memorial Day
- 軍 節 - Armed Forces Day
- 教師節 - Teacher's Day
- 勞動節 - Labor Day
- 民族掃墓節 - Tomb Sweeping Day
- 臺灣光復節 - Taiwan's Retrocession Day
- 婦女節 - Women's Day
- 青年節 - Youth Day
- 行憲紀念日 - Constitution Day
- 兒童節 - Children's Day
- 春節 - Chinese New Year
- 元宵節 - Lantern Festival
- 中元節 - Ghost Festival
- 農民節 - Farmer's Day
- 中秋節 - Mid-Autumn Festival
- 端午節 - Dragon Boat Festival
- 重陽節 - Double Ninth Day
- 平溪放天燈 - Pinghsi Sky Lantern Festival
- 頭城搶孤 - Toucheng Chiang Ku Festival
- 基隆中元祭- Keelung Chung Yuan Festival
- 祭孔大典 - Confucius Ceremony
- 台北市年貨大街 - Taipei City New Year's Goods Market
- 西港燒王船 - Sikang's Burning King Boat Ceremony
- 艋舺青山王祭 - Ching Shan Wang Ritual at Meng Chia
- 大甲媽祖進香 - Tachia Matsu Pilgrimage Procession
- 北港媽祖繞境 - Beigang Matsu Touring Procession
- 內門迎觀音 - Welcome Kuan Yin Ritual at Neimen
- 鹽水蜂炮 - Yenshui Fireworks Festival
- 淡水迎祖師爺 - Welcoming the Patriarch at Danshui
- 新埔義民節 - Yimin Festival at Hsin Pu
- 東港王船祭 - Donggang King Boat Ceremony
- 三峽清水祖師祭 - Zushi Ritual at Chingshui, Sansia
- 北門三寮灣王船祭 - Wangchuan Ritual at Sanliao Bay, Peimen
- 土城聖母廟刈香 - Yi Hsiang of Tucheng Sheng Mu Temple
- 大龍峒保生大帝祭 - Bao Sheng Cultural Festival in Dalongdong
- 大溪關老爺祭 - The ritual of Emperor Kuan Kung at Dasi
- 台東炸寒單爺 - Taitung's Bombarding Master Handan Festival
- 九份大拜拜 - Great Offering at Jiufen
- 三重神農大帝祭 - Ritual of Emperor Shen Nung at Sanchung
- 小琉球王船祭 - Wang chuan Ritual at Hsiao Liuchiu
- 內湖夜弄土地公 - Neihu Night Procession of the Earth God
- 台北龍山寺浴佛節 - Buddha Bathing Festival of Taipei Lungshan Temple
- 五結利澤簡走尪 - Tsouwang at Lichechien, Wuchie
- 大稻埕霞海城隍祭 - Cheng Huang Ritual at Hsia Hai, Tataocheng
- 口湖牽水車藏 - Pulling Water Zhuang at Kauhu
- 大溪祭陳聖王 - Chen Sheng Wang in Dasi Ritual
- 台南開隆宮七娘媽生 - The Ceremony of Chiniangma's Birthday of Tainan Kailung Temple
- 南鯤鯓王爺祭 - Nan Kuan-shen Wang-yeh Ritual
- 客家桐花季 -Hakka Tung Bloosom Festival
"Best Trip in the World" Info in Taiwan News Papers
Taiwan News
Taiwan seeking contestants for 'Best Trip in the World' contest
Teams from 44 countries register for `best trip' contest
China Post
Taiwan seeking contestants for 'Best Trip in World'
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/06/10/211576/Taiwan-seeking.htm
1,123 teams register for 'best trip' contest
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign--community/2009/07/03/214708/1123-teams.htm
Taipei Times
More entries sought for Taiwan travel contest
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/06/10/2003445817
More than a thousand teams enter Taiwan contest
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/07/04/2003447846
Friday, July 3, 2009
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure Team on TTV
"Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure" team convey thanks to Taiwan Television (TTV)!
It seems like our Taiwanese friends start to appreciate our team's sprit and interest towards Ilha Formosa!
Source : http://www.ttv.com.tw/VideoCity/video_play.asp?ID=7614
(Through John Kuo)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Welcome to Green Island - Taiwan World's Hidden Treasure Team
Welcome to Green Island
Taiwan-World's Hidden Teasure
Let's Fly with Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure Team
Want to fly like Icarus, without getting your feathers burned by the sun? Sign up for a tandem flight with a professional flight instructor and all you have to do is enjoy the awesome views of mountains and ocean. Paragliding is a safe and environment-friendly way to fly and feel like an eagle. Some of the recommended places for paragliding in Taiwan are right at the coast. You start on an elevated point on a coastal mountain and end up safely on a sandy beach.
Come and fly with us!
Welcome to Taiwan-World's Hidden Treasure Team - Triangle Jade Trip
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure [ Tea Lovers Heaven]
People throughout Formosa drink tea daily. In general, there are six kinds of tea classified according to different technique involved in the making of tea.
In the past dynasties, people not only formed a special way of tea-drinking, but also developed an art form called tea-drinking. This art form comprises of many aspects. The most noticeable ones are the making of tea, the way of brewing, the drinking utensils such as tea pot. The art of making tea is called "Cha dao".
Medically, the tea leaf contains a number of chemicals, of which 20-30% is tannic acid, known for its anti-inflammatory and germicidal properties. It also contains an alkaloid (5%, mainly caffeine), a stimulant for the nerve centre and the process of metabolism. Tea with the aromatics in it may help resolve meat and fat and thus promote digestion.
Let's Have a Cup of Tea with our Taiwanese friends!
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure Team on World's Longest Dinner
Welcome friends abroad join us and sign up at this wonderful gourmet festival!
What’s the most memorable thing about Taipei? Is it the mixed culture of tradition and modern or the mouth-watering gourmet food you simply cannot have enough? This year Taipei City Government is hosting “the Longest Dinner in the World,” and you are invited to set the Guinness World Record with us. A feast of gourmet food is to enjoy for free, plus a live cook show performed by brilliant famous chefs. On top of that, each participant also has the opportunity to win a fabulous trip that’s worth a total of NT. 100,000 value. Act now!
The first 180 lucky gourmands successfully signed up at our official website will receive the entry ticket to the World’s Longest Dinner and enjoy delicious gourmet Taiwanese cuisines for FREE! Limited to the first 180 foreign tourists; why wait!?
Time: 7/05/2009（Sun）World’s Longest Dinner- Enter at 4 PM
Place: Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall 4 F
Address: No. 1, Jingmao 2nd Rd., Nangang District, Taipei 115, Taiwan
MRT Neihu Line Nangang Exhibition Center Station Exit 2
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure Team members also be the part of 180 invited foreign guests.
Source : http://cheerstaipei.uml.tw/en/?p=275
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure
Dear Friends
You wanna explore Taiwan with Taiwan- World's Hidden Treasure Team.....
Come and Join with our "Triangle Jade" Trip
by
Taiwan - World's Hidden Treasure Team
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Taiwan-World's Hidden Treasure
Team Video of Taiwan-World's Hidden Treasure Team
Theme of Tour: Taiwan - Worlds Hidden Treasure [Triangle Jade Trip]
Group Members:
Sureshkumar Manthiriyappan (宋裕)(India)
Jan Picha (皮卡祥)(Czech Republic)
Pipe Chen (陳光合）(Thailand)
Luz Maria Martinez Rojas (馬明莉) (Mexico)
Four experienced travelers in 5 continents over the world started their stories as foreign students, here, at the land of magnificent culture and unique tradition, all their way to the Formosa Island, Taiwan.
Sureshkumar Manthiriyappan from India first came to Taiwan in 2006 for his Ph.D. in Taiwan Tech (NTUST). Based on his travelling experience, Suresh found himself being fascinate in Taiwan’s aboriginals, their exceptional culture and festivels. Taiwan’s bountiful mountains, hiking trails, scenic areas, oceans and hot springs fulfills his travelling thrust. “One-week journey may not be enough for me to explore Taiwan treasures”, Suresh said It seems that he can’t wait to discover this unseen travelling style, a new adventure to be explored in four days.
Not so long after Suresh, Jan Picha, an energetic guy from Czech Republic, followed his dream to explore different experience in Asia as an exchange student from Europe in an MBA program, NTUST. Simply and easy-going person is how Jan describes himself. Jan has travelled to more than 27 countries around the world, including Europe and Africa. He loves water spots, seaside and challenging. According to Jan, Taiwan is found to be a paradise for him. This drives him to be in deep desire in exploring how this heaven on earth can offer to worldwide tourists, his unmet natural creatures.
Late 2007, after finishing a tourism management study, Luz Maria, our one and only female member flew all her way from a far-away land, the Mexico City, to the land of unique traditional Chinese, Taiwan, for her Chinese language study. Luz falls in love with Chinese characters （漢字） and calligraphy since she studied French in France and travelled in America and Europe for several years. She sees the just-right combination of advance technology and well remained tradition that this lovely island can perfectly proffer. Her aim is to reveal this truth in her 4-day travel, she calls it is a challenging mission that shall be possible.
Pipe Chen, or Nattapong in Thai, is the team member who is strongly believes in Asian power. His travelling experience in more than ten countries is mainly focus in Asia Pacific which includes Japan, China, New Zealand and Taiwan in 2006 before he decided to switch his study from law school to business school at NTUST in 2008. As he comes from one of the countries with riches of culture and tradition in Southeast Asia, Pipe sees Taiwan differently from others. He found this nation’s uniqueness is in its mixture of Buddhism and colorful nightlife that can offer harmonically. From what he calls “one-stop night market” to lively nightclubs in Taipei, Taiwan touches his heart, his truly feeling of Taiwan as a gifted land.
All the gems of earth are in only one land, and that is the Formosa Island!
With our group variety, numerous languages capability, and travelling experience to more than 37 countries over 5 continents around the world, our team is ready to be your guide.
The journey to the World Hidden Treasure [“Triangle Jade” – Taiwan East coast Trip] is about to begin, the discovery of unseen Taiwan.
VOTE FOR US!!!
Best Wishes
Taiwan – World’s Hidden Treasure Team
Our Websities/Blogs about Taiwan
http://formosaupdates.blogspot.com
http://taiwanworldshiddentreasure.blogspot.com
taiwanworldshiddentreasure@gmail.com
SKYPE : taiwanworldshiddentreasure
Facebook : Taiwan -Worlds HiddenTreasure
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Chaghua County - Townships/ Districts
| 彰化市 | Changhua | Zhanghua |
| 竹塘鄉 | Chutang | Zhutang |
| 二林鎮 | Erhlin | Erlin |
| 二水鄉 | Erhshui | Ershui |
| 芳苑鄉 | Fangyuen | Fangyuan |
| 芬園鄉 | Fenyuen | Fenyuan |
| 福興鄉 | Fuhsing | Fuxing |
| 和美鎮 | Hemei | Hemei |
| 溪州鄉 | Hsichou | Xizhou |
| 線西鄉 | Hsienhsi | Xianxi |
| 溪湖鎮 | Hsihu | Xihu |
| 秀水鄉 | Hsiushui | Xiushui |
| 花壇鄉 | Huatan | Huatan |
| 鹿港鎮 | Lukang | Lugang |
| 北斗鎮 | Peitou | Beidou |
| 埤頭鄉 | Pitou | Bitou |
| 埔心鄉 | Puhsin | Puxin |
| 埔鹽鄉 | Puyen | Puyan |
| 伸港鄉 | Shenkang | Shengang |
| 社頭鄉 | Shetou | Shetou |
| 大城鄉 | Tacheng | Dacheng |
| 大村鄉 | Tatsun | Dacun |
| 田中鎮 | Tienchung | Tianzhong |
| 田尾鄉 | Tienwei | Tianwei |
| 員林鎮 | Yuenlin | Yuanlin |
| 永靖鄉 | Yungching | Yongjing |
List of Counties and Cities in Taiwan
Cities
- 高雄市 Kaohsiung City Gaoxiong City
- 台北市 Taipei City Taibei City
Counties
- 彰化縣 Changhua Zhanghua
- 嘉義縣 Chiayi Jiayi
- 新竹縣 Hsinchu Xinzhu
- 花蓮縣 Hualien Hualian
- 宜蘭縣 Ilan Yilan
- 高雄縣 Kaohsiung Gaoxiong
- 苗栗縣 Miaoli Miaoli
- 南投縣 Nantou Nantou
- 澎湖縣 Penghu Penghu
- 屏東縣 Pingtung Pingdong
- 台中縣 Taichung Taizhong
- 台南縣 Tainan Tainan
- 台北縣 Taipei Taibei
- 台東縣 Taitung Taidong
- 桃園縣 Taoyuan Taoyuan
- 雲林縣 Yunlin Yunlin
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Income tax guide for foreign taxpayers
As May approaches, not only Taiwanese citizens but also foreigners working in Taiwan are obligated to pay taxes. What should foreigners be aware of when it comes to filing their taxes?
Foreigners with any further questions may directly contact the tax authority nearest to their domicile.
Q1: Are foreigners subject to different income tax rates based on their period of residence in Taiwan?
A1: Foreigners are subject to different tax levies based on their length of stay.
(a) For foreign individuals who stay in Taiwan for no more than 90 days within a taxable year, taxes on income derived from sources in Taiwan should be withheld according to the withholding rate and paid by the respective sources. In addition, nonwithheld incomes should be declared prior to departure from Taiwan, or during the tax-filing month if the taxpayer is still in Taiwan then.
(b) For foreign individuals who stay in Taiwan over 90 days but less than 183 days within a taxable year, taxes on income derived from sources in Taiwan should be withheld according to the withholding rate and paid by the respective sources. In addition, non-withheld incomes as well as other remunerations derived outside the Republic of China for a foreign taxpayer’s services rendered in the ROC should be declared prior to departure from Taiwan, or during the taxfiling month if the taxpayer is still in Taiwan then.
(c) For foreign individuals who stay in Taiwan for 183 days or more within a taxable year, individual income tax should be levied by a progressive rate based on the amount of the taxpayer’s consolidated income. Foreign individuals should file an income tax return before May 31 of the next year at the tax authority nearest to their domicile. Foreigners who leave Taiwan in the interim period should file their taxes before departure.
Q2: Where should foreigners file their tax returns?
A2: Foreign taxpayers should file their tax returns at the tax administration with jurisdiction over the address listed on their Alien Residence Certificate. For example, foreigners living in Taipei or Kaohsiung city should respectively file their tax returns at the Foreign Taxpayers Section of the Taipei National Tax Administration, or Kaohsiung National Tax Administration. Foreigners living in other cities should go to their local national tax administration branch, revenue service office or other related service offices.
Q3: If a Taiwanese citizen is married to a foreigner, how should they file their income tax returns?
Q3: If a Taiwanese citizen is married to a foreigner, how should they file their income tax returns?
A3: If a Taiwanese citizen is married to a foreigner, and the couple chooses the Taiwanese citizen to be the taxpayer when filing a tax return, they can file their income tax returns with the national tax authorities or revenue service offices located in the district where they live. If the foreigner is the designated taxpayer, they may file at the National Tax Administration’s foreign taxpayers’ office. Those residing in Taipei City should file taxes at the Foreign Taxpayers
Section, Taipei National Tax Administration. In addition, no matter where a couple files their taxes, they should only jointly file one tax return.
Q4: Should a couple file their income tax returns jointly? If a couple gets married or divorced during the interim of the taxpaying year, how should they file their taxes?
A4: The tax due on the salary of a foreigner’s spouse may be calculated separately. Yet the income taxes of a foreigner and their spouse should still be filed jointly. In a situation where a couple marries or divorces during the interim of a taxpaying year, they may choose to file income tax returns jointly or individually for that period. A marriage certificate must be presented if they choose to file jointly. Furthermore, the divorced couple may determine which party may claim any related exemption(s) for their dependents. Otherwise, the National Tax Administration will determine that such exemptions should be claimed by the former spouse who actually provides financial support for the dependents.
Q5: What exemptions and deductions can aliens residing in the ROC territory claim when calculating their income tax?
A5: The individual income tax for an alien resident of the ROC shall be computed by a progressive rate on the amount of his or her net consolidated income which shall be the annual gross consolidated income minus the exemptions and deductions. The exemptions and deductions for the fiscal year of 2008 are stated as follow:
1. Exemptions: There is an NT$77,000 exemption for each taxpayer, his or her spouse and dependents. In case the taxpayer, his or her spouse and their lineal ascendants have attained seventy years of age, the exemption is NT$115,500.
2. Deductions: Aliens can claim either standard deduction or itemized deductions. Besides, they
still can claim special deductions.
(1) Standard deduction: There is a NT$73,000 deduction for a single person and NT$146,000
deduction for a married couple filing a joint income tax return.
(2) Itemized deductions (original receipts or documents should be attached according to the tax law). There are 6 items included:
a. Donation: The deduction shall not exceed 20 percent of the taxpayer’s consolidated gross income. However, donations made to national defense, military or to the government and ancients are fully deductible.
b. Personal insurance premiums: National Health Insurance payments can be claimed in full amount, other deductions shall not exceed NT$24,000 for each person per year.
c. Medical and maternity expenses: Deductions can be claimed following the law or regulations.
d. Losses from disasters: Deductions can be claimed following the law or regulations.
e. Mortgage interest paid on a loan for an owner-occupied dwelling: Under the conditions that the residential house entitled for the deduction is to be located within the territory of the R.O.C., and that the deduction shall not exceed NT$300,000 for one house each year. However, in the case that the taxpayer also claims a special deduction for savings and investment, such special deduction shall be subtracted from the abovementioned interest.
f. Rental expense: Rents paid for houses in the R.O.C. in which the taxpayer, his or her spouse and lineal dependent not personally live in rather than used by business for profit but self-lived are deductible. The maximum deduction for rental expense is NT$120,000 for each annual tax return. There is no deduction for individuals who have file “Mortgage interest paid on a loan for an owner-occupied dwelling”.
(3) Special deductions:
a. Losses from property transactions: Deductions shall not exceed the gains from property transaction filed for the same year.
b. Special deduction for salary or wages: Each person receiving a salary may claim a deduction for his or her salary only up to a maximum of NT$100,000.
c. Special deductions for savings and investments: Deduction for each household shall not exceed NT$270,000 per year.
d. Special deduction for disability: Deductions for each disabled person is NT$100,000 per year.
e. Special deduction for tuition: For each annual return, the maximum deduction for tuition fee
is NT$25,000 for each children attending college or university.
In the case that an alien resident of the ROC departed and did not return during a taxable year, the amounts for exemptions and standard deduction shall be calculated in proportion according to the total number of days for which he or she stayed in the ROC during that year.
Q6: How do aliens, who stay in the ROC over 90 days in a taxable year, file their income tax returns for income derived from employers outside the ROC for services rendered during their stay in the ROC?
A6: Taxpayers must file income tax returns for remuneration paid by their employers outside the ROC for services rendered in the ROC during their stay. Taxpayers must also submit a notarized certificate of earnings issued by tax authorities, a CPA, or a notary public. However, a photocopy of the license of the CPA or the notary public who issues the certificate must also be submitted to the tax authorities for review. Aliens’ service remunerations, derived from employers outside the ROC, should be calculated at the average foreign currency exchange rate for the year.
Q7: What would happen if an alien did not file their income taxes?
A7: If an alien is delinquent in the payment of taxes, such taxes will be charged with a penalty rate of a maximum of three times the amount of the tax payable. Tax authorities will also inform the Bureau of Immigration to examine the taxpayer ’s tax certificate when they depart from Taiwan, and they will not be allowed to leave the country without presenting a valid tax certificate receipt issued by the tax authorities.
Source: Taiwan What's Up
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Videoconference in Taiwan/ Taipei
A videoconference (also known as a video teleconference) is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It has also been called visual collaboration and is a type of groupware. It differs from videophone in that it is designed to serve a conference rather than individuals.
Lot of companies/hotels/clubs/ associations provide videoconferencing facilities in Taiwan. Almost all the big organization and universities have their own personnel video conferencing room. However, if you want to utilize for your own purpose it’s cost you lot.
Recently I come across Chunghwa telecom providing very convenient and kind of cheap video conferencing service for individuals or group. It has three or four centres in Taipei and few centres in other cities of Taiwan.
I here by attaching the contact information and address of international branch, which give you 24 hours service.
Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd.
喔 中華電信
喔 中華電信
CHT International Business Branch
Rm. 105, 1st Floor, Telecommunications Building, #31 Aikuo E. Rd., Taipei
台北市愛國東路31號電信大樓一樓105室
Tel: 886-2-2344 2080
Fax: 886-2-23915934
Fax: 886-2-23915934
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
English News in Taiwan
Taiwan News (ESTD – 1949), China Post (ESTD – 1952) and Taipei Times (ESTD-1999) are the three daily English News paper published in Formosa. Viewer’s can access news through websites or newsstands/ convenient stores such as 7/11, Family Mart and OK. If you like to accessing Taiwan News or China Post through internet, you need subscribe to utilize full benefit. However, Taipei Times you can access all the information without any subscription. Besides, you can access instant news from “The Central News Agency” (CAN) and “Taiwan Headlines”.
Taiwan News
http://www.etaiwannews.com/
http://www.etaiwannews.com/
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