A gap year in Taiwan

Gap years in Taiwan

For the TEFL-qualified, Taiwan is the Holy Grail. Generous pay and low living expenses send it rocketing to the top of the GAP charts. But once you’ve finished your working day, what is there to explore in Taiwan? Formerly known only as a great place for cut-price electronics, Taiwan is luring travellers with the mystical Sun Moon Lake, the Love River, and the world’s current tallest skyscraper, Taipei 101 (daft name, pretty views). Discover Taiwan’s bid to become a tourist hotspot, and get there before the crowds do…

Gap Year Opportunities

If you want to kick off your gap year in Taiwan, you simply have to teach. A stint of teaching English will give you the opportunity to save enough to continue your travels – perhaps to glamorous Japan or by air to Malaysia. Don’t forget you’ll need a visa to stay for longer than 30 days – don’t risk the consequences.

English teachers are in high demand – in the capital Taipei but also in smaller cities Tainan and Taichung. For a good post you’ll need a TEFL qualification (read about TEFL courses). High wages, a tropical climate and civilised conditions entice many qualified English teachers to the country. Most are employed at private schools (buxibans) and will teach for 15-20 hours per week at £7-11 per hour. You can get a better salary at university or colleges, including night classes, and also at company English classes. There are lots of opportunities – look first for a package that includes accommodation and living support.

Getting Around

Landing in Taipei you’ll soon spot the most popular form of transport – the bus. Since English speakers are rare on the streets, ask directions before leaving your accommodation and don’t forget that non-air-conditioned vehicles are cheaper. The Rapid Transit system (metro) is also a great way to explore inner Taipei. Relations between China and Taiwan have been difficult for a long time; the ferry service connecting the two is rumoured to be suspended at the moment. A better option is to fly or ferry to Japan: schedules are regular. Ferries from £150 (flights operated by several airlines).

About Taiwan

Tourism is small business in Taiwan, whose economy relies heavily on exports (computer chips, textiles and agricultural products). In fact only 4% of the gross domestic product (national income) comes from the tourist market. But this is great news for independent travellers – not only are there fewer snap-happy Americans, but the government’s recent tourist drive has improved trade and put the hotels and operators into fierce competition. You can expect to travel the country (with accommodation) on a budget of £7-£15 per day.

More than China, Taiwan is a melting-pot of cultures. Hello Kitty and karaoke merge with traditional culture; 93% of the population follows an eclectic set of Buddhist, Tao and Confucianist beliefs.

See Taiwan

Previously ruled by China and Japan and plundered for profit from coast to coast, Taiwan’s natural beauty is tarnished by land, water and air pollution. Some of the country’s finest rivers are so heavily polluted that the government hasn’t even mounted the billion-dollar cleanup yet. However, its central mountain range and rivers are eminently photogenic.

The Sun Moon Lake is a perfect example. It combines extraordinary beauty with ruthless industry – housing several hydroelectric power plants beneath its still surface. This Lake – the largest in Taiwan – is one of the government’s focal points in its tourist campaigns. The original Sun Moon tribe is now bothered by visitors and the ‘Sun Moon Festival’ every autumn.

Love River, upon which the government has lavished clean-up dollars, is now a favourite place to visit. Flowing romantically through the town of Kaohsiung, it’s a good route past the prettiest architecture; stop in the Love River park to shop at the night market or people-watch from a riverside café.

For fans of modern art, Taipei 101 is the world’s tallest skyscraper - at least until 2009 when a competitor is set to knock it down a place. Is it worth a look? With 101 floors and 509 metres of teetering steel, it certainly offers good views from its observatories on floors 89 and 91. Designed to comply with the principles of Feng Shui, and symbolise the perfection and idealism of the new century and new year (1/01), it’s a well thought-out piece of architecture. There are also a number of specially-commissioned artworks in and around the tower. If you don’t do heights, you can still enjoy the tower – every night of the week it lights up in a different colour. Terrible for the environment, but marvellous for romantic atmosphere in the city. All you need is someone to enjoy it with…