Environment

Located at the very top of Taiwan Island, just a missile's throw across the Formosa Strait to the Chinese mainland, Taipei is a huge expanse of a city. It wasn't so long ago that the valley of the Tamsui River was home to a small group of rice and vegetable farmers, but growth was extremely rapid after WWII. Now a huge metropolis, Taipei is divided into twelve urban districts that aid in navigation. Like New York's Broadway, Chungshan Rd bisects the city into east and west, with roads labeled depending on which side they're on. Chunghsiao and Pateh Roads serve the same function, splitting the city into a north and south section; thus, you could be directed to an address on the corner of Mintsu W Rd and Chungching N Rd.

The main rail link is Taipei Train Station, located in the central-western part of the city. Surrounding the train station are four bus stations, named after the cardinal compass points. Generally speaking, if you're heading out of town, go to the bus station named after the direction you're headed.

Being sub-tropical, Taipei experiences two seasons rather than four. But whatever the season, the one guarantee is rain. From November to April the temperatures are cool--even chilly--with almost constant cloud cover and intermittent drizzle. During the summer, the rain comes in short, torrential bursts, usually followed by bright sunshine. The combination is just enough to keep things hot and sticky for months.