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EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The National Palace Museum The National Palace Museum is a great location to visit if you are an art lover. Established in 1965, the National Palace Museum has one of the world’s largest collections of Chinese imperial artifacts and art, with a collection size of nearly 700,000 pieces. These treasures were brought to Taipei from mainland Chin...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taiwan tax refund Travelers who enter Taiwan on non-ROC passports and stay for no more than 183 days can apply for VAT refunds (VAT = value-added tax, which is a sales tax or consumption tax). If you spend over NT$2,000 from the same store in a single day and at designated stores (stores with “Tax Refund” sign), you are entitled to a f...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Xinyi shopping district When you come to see Taipei 101, don’t forget to stop by the Xinyi Shopping District. The newest area of urban Taipei, the Xinyi district is home to City Hall, the famous Taipei 101, numerous department stores, the flagship bookstore, and all kinds of upscale stores as well as other entertainment, shopping, and din...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taipei 101 Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei International Financial Center, is the tallest building in Taiwan and was the tallest from its opening in 2004 until 2010. In 2011 Taipei 101 was certified to be the tallest and largest green building in the world. Designed by the famous Taiwanese architect Chu-Yuan Lee (李袓原), the building resembles a bamboo tree, whic...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The pineapple cake The pineapple cake (鳳梨酥) is a Taiwanese shortbread filled with pineapple jam. It is also called pineapple tart or pineapple shortbread. Pineapple cake has become one of the most sought-after souvenir treats in Taiwan. The pineapple cake tastes more like a tart than a cake. It is covered with crispy crust. The...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Pearl milk tea & bubble tea Bubble tea shops are everywhere in Taiwan. Bubble tea, also pearl milk tea or boba milk tea, can be said to be one of the most iconic drinks in Taiwan. It is a Taiwanese tea-based drink, which is said to have been invented in tea shops in Taichung during the early 1980s. “Pearl” means the chewy tapioca...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Dumplings In Taiwan, you can taste a variety of “dumplings” such as shuǐjiǎo (水餃), zhēngjiǎo (蒸餃), potstickers (鍋貼), or xiǎolóngbāo (小籠包)--keep in mind that they are different types of food in Chinese, but in English they are all dum...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Stinky tofu Stinky tofu, the most iconic Taiwanese street food, is a big question mark for many visitors. True to its name, stinky tofu is as stinky as it gets. Stinky tofu is actually fermented tofu. The process may take months to allow for the bacteria to ferment, which results in its unique smell. Stinky tofu is often deep-fried, served with salt...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taiwanese popcorn chicken and deep-fried chicken cutlets Among Taiwan’s famous street foods, Taiwanese Popcorn chicken and the fried chicken cutlet are the most popular. They can be found at almost every night market and casual eatery. Let’s talk about Taiwanese popcorn chicken first. Also called salty crispy chicken, Taiwanese popcorn...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: The Night Market Night markets have been a big part of the culture in Taiwan. Visiting a night market should be on your to-do list because, in Taiwan, the best nightlife is found in food markets. The Shilin Night Market is one of the largest and most famous night markets in Taipei. It’s about a 5-minute walk from MRT Jiantan Station, very eas...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: An EasyCard The EasyCard, the smart card used in the Taipei MRT system, is pronounced as “yo-yo card” in Chinese. You can buy one from any convenience stores like 7-Eleven, or FamilyMart. They are also available at information centers or charging machines at subway stations. An EasyCard is NT$100, and you can add value to the card. Aft...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Transportation in Taipei Taipei is the transportation hub of the whole Taiwan Island, so transportation in Taipei is no problem at all. Taking the Taipei MRT (metro) is one of the best ways to get around the city. It’s fast and convenient and can get you to most parts of the city. The subway system is very easy to navigate and is bilingual in...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: Taipei City. Taipei, the capital city of the Republic of China, is the biggest city in Taiwan. It’s also the political, economic, and cultural center. Located in the northern part of the island, Taipei City is surrounded by the Yangming Mountains and the Central Mountains. The city has a population of about 2.6 million. The Taipei metropolita...

EXERCISE 實戰演練 Topic: A short introduction to Taiwan. Taiwan, an island in the western Pacific Ocean, is about 100 miles (160 km) off the coast of southeastern China. It is shaped like a tobacco leaf. The total land area of Taiwan is only about 36,000 square kilometers, the size of the Netherlands. It is about 245 miles (395 km) long (north-south) and 90 miles (145 km) a...