Free Half-Day Tour

update:20090213

1. Who can participate

Transit or transfer passengers with at least 7 hours to spare within a 24-hour period before their next connecting flight, and who have a valid ROC visas or come from countries eligible for visa-exempt entry.

Countries eligible for visa-exempt entry: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, U.K, U.S.A.

Passengers holding permanent residency in the United States or Canada and are from the

following countries¡GIndia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. Time

Note:

1.Each tour is limited to 18 passengers on a first come, first served basis.

2.As there is no room for luggage on the bus, please store all luggage at the airport baggage service counter (pay service) before boarding the bus.

3.Registration & Pick-up
Tourist Service Center, Arrival Lobby.
TEL: 03-398-2194, 03-398-3341
Or dial 2194 or 3341 from the courtesy telephone
Service Hours: 07:00~23:30

4.Travel Documents Required:
A: Passport valid for at least six months.
B: Completed Immigration Embarkation/Disembarkation Card available at Immigration counter.

5.Itinerary (Choice of one only.)
Morning tour: Chiang Kai-shek Int'l Airport¡÷Sansia ¡® Zushih Temple ¡÷Yingge¡÷ Return
Afternoon tour: Chiang Kai-shek Int'l Airport¡÷Longshan Temple¡÷Presidential
Office Building¡÷Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall¡÷Martyrs' Shrine¡÷Taipei 101 Mall¡÷Return
The Tourism Bureau reserves the right to cancel tours in case of inclement weather.

Daily Afternoon Tour Hilight

(1) 101 BUILDING
Taipei 101 stands 508 meters high with 101 stories on a site area of 30,278 square meters. The development comprises an office tower, a shopping mall and an observatory. It has been certified to be the world's tallest building and was opened to the public on December 31, 2004.

(2) LONGSHAN TEMPLE
Taipei is home to many temples. Of these, Longshan Temple is the oldest and most famous. It is also one of Taiwan's finest examples of temple architecture.

(3) PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE BUILDING
The building which houses the Office of the President of the Republic of China was inaugurated in March 1919, about seven years after construction began. Its architectural design features an elegant and majestic symmetry. Inside the building there are tall pillars, refined ornaments, long corridors and exquisite arches, all Baroque characteristics which prevail in the Renaissance period. Since the central government was relocated to Taipei in 1949, this building has been used as the Office of the President.

(4) CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL HALL
The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is an impressive monument built in commemoration of the late President Chiang. The majestic hall towers over 25 hectares of landscaped gardens, graceful pavilions, and ponds. A statue of the late President Chiang looks out over the city from the main building.

The elegant Ming Dynasty-style arch at the main entrance is flanked by two classical buildings¡Vthe National Theater and the National Concert Hall. The square between the two buildings is a popular gathering place during festive occasions.

(5) MARTYRS' SHRINE
This is an excellent example of classical Ming dynasty architecture, dedicated to the fallen heroes of China's wars. There is an hourly changing of the guard ceremony at the entrance, which many people find interesting.

Daily Morning Tour Hilight

(1) YINGGE, POTTERY HEAVEN
A short trip to the lush countryside southwest of Taipei brings you to Yingge, where handpainted replicas of elegant Ming (1368-1644) and Cing (1644-1911) vases, along with other types of artistic and functional ceramics, are produced. The small town is Taiwan's pottery center and its narrow streets are lined with shops selling everything from earthenware tea sets to delicate statues.

(2) SANSIA & ZUSHIH TEMPLE
Sansia, about 22 km southwest to Taipei, is a bustling town with narrow, winding streets and brick buildings, many over a century old. The main attraction is Zushih Temple, popularly known as the Sanshia Bird Temple, built in honor of Song Dynasty (960¡V1279) loyalist Cheng Chao-ying. Cheng was a famous general knighted as ¡§Protector of the Country¡¨ for his achievements and valour. This temple was in ruins at the end of World War II, and a meticulous restoration project has been underway for some forty years. The temple is known for its intricately carved stone and bronze columns and statues, especially the temple's unique bird art. There are also carved stone lions, camphor wood carvings, and exquisite bronze bas-reliefs.