Hi folks,
De Man has instructed me I must move back to De Big Mould from De Jungle.
Such is life…aahhh. I will be saying goodbye to De Jungle and it’s 300 sunny days a year.
:s
Anyway, it’s been a few years and I need to find an apartment in a family friendly area (two very young kids) ,budget 25k-35k max. I’ll be based out of an office near Zhongxiao Xinsheng or Songjiang Nanjiang roundabouts.
Recommendations? I’ve looked at Tamshui/Hongshulin and I was really put off by the massive amount of traffic along what is basically a highway there, pity as they have lots of nice new apartments and pools etc. That was disappointing. Beitou could be a good compromise if smelly and a little like living on the planet Venus. Tianmu is a bus and MRT but it’s well laid out and a bit of space there. Panchiao is quick into the city on the blue line. Shizr has got a lot better if a little damp I guess. Lotus hill looks good but not sure on the daily commute, don’t feel like driving a scooter or car.
Going to the De Big Mould is a big shock to the system after 5 years or so, so noisy and busy, and the buildings looks like they are about to collapse around you. :roflmao: . Parks, where are they? Everything has been built on. Haven’t seen any outdoor playgrounds which are common in De Jungle.
Rents have gone up a lot, will be paying double De Jungle’s rent for crappier places in crappier neighborhoods. Was living in the Xinyi of Taichung for 16k/mth 3 bdroom place.
But trying to be positive…good food for one! Some good people! kind of international (small k)! Nice beaches! Yangmingshan! Airports! De Man’s moolah!
Bitan, Xiao Bitan. Lots of new apartments with loads of park space right across from you. Right off the highway for ease of getting around, MRT to Dongmen then quick transfer by walking across the platform.
You’ll quickly adjust and realize you have way more parkspace than in the Chungle, late evening bike rides along quiet rivers will become routine, you will realize Taipei is actually very quiet outside of rush hour, and the MRT is just a joy to have in your life.
You’re right, the riversides and the bike paths are nice, my kids will miss the playgrounds which are dotted everywhere in De Jungle though. Taichung is really good like that.
Bitan is another good spot, so the Xindian line transfers at Dongmen now? Not sure if I will keep the car in Taipei, would be nice, but might not be feasible/necessary. Will definitely be getting some big arsed dehumidifiers this time!
I live in Xhizhi, and even though the rain drives me nuts, it’s actually not that bad of a place to be. I’ve also got two young kids, and I like that we’re close to nature here at the foot of a mountain, but also 25 minutes away from where I work in Songshan. Rent is still cheap here. I pay 18K for two bedrooms (+ a study) in a fairly new community, newer than Lotus Hill, but not with as many amenities.
If your budget is up to 35K, I’d go with Neihu. Wide streets, nice parks, MRT, great food and shopping. Even if I could afford to live in a 3 bedroom place in most parts of Taipei city proper, I’d choose not to. Living in the middle of the city in a district like Xinyi isn’t child friendly, in my honest opinion. Too much of a hassle to take your kid somewhere like the beach or the mountain or even a decent park.
If living in Xizhr, do most people take the train in to commute or buses or drive? I refuse to ride a scooter far (at most to a station) or drive my car to work (mafan/cost), but I’d take the train, I’m guessing it’s a bit pricier near the train station but still fairly reasonable compared to other areas? Is it reliable, fast and frequent?
We probably wouldn’t want to be stuck in the middle of the city either (plus the places are more expensive and smaller), true, it’s all trying to get that balance. Taichung outer areas are very well laid out in general so it doesn’t feel so dense like most of Taipei. Taipei is just really really densely populated.
Hongshulin looked good on paper until I went there and the traffic was, frankly, insane! The highway there basically kills the feeling of the place and the pavements are too narrow. The New town of Tamshui at the back might be better but it’s just too far out.
To drive to Nanjing East rd. would take no more than 25 or 30 minutes from my area, so I rarely take public transportation, but when the mood strikes me, I take the train. It’s hard for me to say what most people do to get to Taipei.
We’re on Ren Ai Rd (the one in Xhizhi - not the one in Taipei) and there are many new communities around here with three that I can think of that are under construction. To walk to the train station from my place would be about 10 minutes. Trains to Taipei come every 15 minutes or so during peak hours and maybe 20 to 25 minutes at off peak times. The ride to Songshan takes about 15 minutes I think. To look up schedules and travel time between stations go to twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/English/e_index.aspx It’s $16 each way to Songshan train station, super cheap!
You can take numerous buses from Xhizhi to Nangan Exhibition Hall stadium on the brown line or Kunyang station on the blue line. It would be about a 20 minute bus ride during normal traffic conditions. The train is more comfortable and reliable, IMHO.
Danshui is indeed a long haul, especially since they haven’t built a freeway or proper expressway connecting Danshui to downtown. The only plus sides would be fresh air from the sea, lowish rent and the MRT.
[quote=“headhonchoII”]Hi folks,
De Man has instructed me I must move back to De Big Mould from De Jungle.
Such is life…aahhh. I will be saying goodbye to De Jungle and it’s 300 sunny days a year.
[/quote]
Curious why you have to move, if that is not too personal (no personnel info requested)? Does not sound like you want to?
My work/project mix is in Taichung and Taoyuan and has now reversed to a majority of my effort is with the company in Taoyuan. My boss asked/recommended that I move to Taoyuan. Just told him I like Taichung and wasn’t moving! Fxxxum
The office is located in Taipei, there was supposed to be some flexibility on home office but still some conservative types out there. It’s got it’s pros and cons so will just have to roll with it. $$$. That or China.
have you looked around daan park? though that may be out of your budget. maybe in new taipei city near the orange line. cheaper rent and commutable to your work.
I live in a flat which I pay not a whole lot more for than your budget, however I was luckier than lucky in finding that place. 2 minutes from the freeway, MRT literally downstairs, and a handful of parks and mountain trails within a short walking distance.
Personally, I would not move too far away from the MRT system, and the commute from anywhere in the outskirts without MRT will be caught up in rush hour traffic - the community bus will be caught in the same traffic jam as everybody else but the scooters.
That narrows it down to Neihu and Xindian, or anywhere where you have the combination of parks and MRT. Mucha might be a decent alternative, however people say that the brown line is too packed during rush hour. I would not know what a 30 ping place would go for there, 591 should have a few.
If you are adventourous, you could look for an older place near the office with some of those small neighborhood park thingies. That could fit the bill too, I suppose.
Keep it coming folks, appreciate the input from all.
I couldn’t afford to live around Da’an. You are right of course that it would be an easy commute from the West side, which is routinely ignored by pretty much everybody (for some good reasons previously I may add). Xinzhuang is definitely a more popular spot now but I’m pretty ignorant regarding the area. I don’t like San Chong and Yonghe/Zhonghe are just too messy and crowded. Don’t know anything about Luzhou.
Maybe not along the park edges, but, what about in Da’an District? Unfortunately, I can’t help with rent figures, but, for 35K you should be able to find something.
Lots of folks talk up the outer areas, but, I wouldn’t want to live out there. I love the convenience of living in Da’an. Of course, I don’t drive a car or ride a scooter/motorcycle. I’m doing my part to stop AGW!
Xinzhuang is one of the rings of Hell. Maybe not one of the lower rungs… but, its in there.
I always thought Yonghe was terrible until I moved there. My building is opposite the river park, very quiet, not crowded and only a ten minute walk from Dingxi MRT.
Nangang? Options galore, in particular, around Nangang and Nangang Software Park Stations.
Pros:
A lot of new/newish-type buildings.
Density is a lot lower than other parts of Taipei.
You can see the mountains on a clear day (however infrequent those may be).
The river is a heartbeat away.
YouBike stations with bike availability not as much of an issue as it is elsewhere.
Schools and parks, both big and small.
You’ll always get a seat on the MRT (going west). And I do mean always.
Commute times are a joke. Nangang MRT to Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT - 13 minutes.
New buildings going up all the time, so if you don’t like where you’re living, you can always move when your lease is up.
Nangang Station is home to the MRT, Taiwan Railways, and, hopefully next year, Taiwan High-Speed Rail.
Carrefour (Nangang MRT).
Outdoor sports center (Nangang MRT) for rock climbing and skateboarding.
Buses that will take you wherever the MRT doesn’t.
You can sell your car and scooter, enhancing your life expectancy, expanding your wallet, and reducing your waistline.
Cons:
Serious lack of amenities. I have no idea what they’re waiting for, but if you want to eat good food, you have to leave the area. No decent cafes or restaurants or bakeries. No movie theater. No bars. The Nangang Sports Center (one of the government-run exercise facilities) is actually closer to Houshanpi MRT, too far to make it a habit.
Relative to location, rents are high.
Although generally quieter than central Taipei, the fact that Nangang sits underneath the flight path of planes leaving Songshan Airport means aircraft noise is a constant. If you’re a sensitive type who finds it difficult to adapt, you may want to reconsider living here.
[quote=“headhonchoII”]Keep it coming folks, appreciate the input from all.
I couldn’t afford to live around Da’an. You are right of course that it would be an easy commute from the West side, which is routinely ignored by pretty much everybody (for some good reasons previously I may add). Xinzhuang is definitely a more popular spot now but I’m pretty ignorant regarding the area. I don’t like Sanchong and Yonghe/Zhonghe are just too messy and crowded. Don’t know anything about Luzhou.[/quote]
Plus none of those areas fit the bill regarding an adequate environment for kids, parks and decent air.
Ally yourself with a Chinese Speaker. go on 591.com.tw and do a search. 30-40 ping, 3 bedroom places in Daan, Wenshan, and Xinyi for between 20k and 40k a month - there are more than 100 different ones on right now.
If you and your wife spent 30 minutes looking and calling, you would get enough names and details to keep you occupied for a weekend or 2 looking.
