After my graduation from college in a few weeks, I will be moving to Taiwan to teach English. However, I can’t decide where I want to teach. I feel like online searches aren’t giving me a real feel for the cities. I’ve narrowed it down to Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung.
I want to go somewhere where there is beautiful scenery, close access to the ocean or forests, and lots of things to do. I originally thought that Kaohsiung was the most beautiful and that I would go there, but I’m finding lots of fun things to do in Taipei, I just worry the standard of living won’t be as high. Has anyone been to these places and feel passionately about one over the other?
Or have any tips where I could find more detailed information on Taiwanese cities? I checked Lonely Planet’s book on Taiwan but it didn’t have many pictures.
I’d be so appreciative for any information you could give me!
-Brittany
yuli
June 1, 2011, 10:50pm
2
Hi!
First, just let me say that I know this topic has been done to death and I’ve actually read quite a bit of the previous posts about it, but hey, bringing it up fresh again may bring out some new insights. I’ll aso try to be somewhat specific. Oh, and this is my first post! Been lurking around on the boards for about a month, but haven’t said anything myself until now.
I’m planning on moving to Taiwan this fall to study (more) Chinese. I’ve already been accepted to NTNU’s MTC, and so that’s like…
Hi all,
I’ve been lurking here for a while, but this is my first post. I’ve been thinking of spending a year or so in Taiwan studying Mandarin at one of the many University Language Schools. But I’m having a hard time deciding on a city/school - Taipei (NTNU), Taichung (NCHU), Tianan (NCKU) or Kaohsiung (???). So I was hoping I might get some advice.
I’m arriving in Taiwan in January and really want to live in the south, but I can’t seem to find much information on the cities. I have found many good posts on “clean/nice/mild air pollution” locations to live in or around for Taipei, but I need that kind of advice for Kaoshiung. Are there any parts of town that people find healthier or have more amenities. I value a decent view, a close park, and “cleaner” air as well as good times and bars.
Is the air better south/east of town? Is the ar…
I am a newbe to the country, and have been living n Taoyuan for the simple that this is where my partner works. But I want to look at living somewhere else, preferably further south for the climate and near the HSR because I need to travel frequently out of the country. And ideally somewhere with clean(ish) air.
Where do most westerners tend to end up, apart from Taiwan?
What is your favorite city and why?
I like Chayi. When I first came to Taiwan I lived in Taichung for a year or so. I’ve been living in Taipei for the past 5 years. I don’t like it here anymore. Too big. Too stinky.
I was down in Chayi this past weekend for the second time and I fell in love with the place. There is a beautiful lake on the the perimiter of the city. The air is clean. The foreign community is small and more diverse than other smaller towns. (Lot’s of High Speed Rail Pe…
Hey I’m looking at moving to Kaohsiung from the North in a few months. What’s the best area to live in for foreigners? Not too familiar with the city, just know it has beaches and better weather than up here. (Me likey the sun)
I’m arriving in Taiwan in January and really want to live in the south, but I can’t seem to find much information on the cities. I have found many good posts on “clean/nice/mild air pollution” locations to live in or around for Taipei, but I need that kind of advice for Kaoshiung. Are there any parts of town that people find healthier or have more amenities. I value a decent view, a close park, and “cleaner” air as well as good times and bars.
Is the air better south/east of town? Is the ar…
Hopefully I’ll be a getting a job soon in Taiwan, and I’m just not sure which city to choose from. In the end i’ll probably take whatever I get offered, but where is best for what I want?
I value living in a big city with lots of things to do, nice restaurants to eat at and mango shaved ice galore. I really value a good public transportation system (subway) that is easily accessible and runs late.
However I also really love nature and culture. Seeing beautiful beaches and doing hikes, seein…
Have my passport and visa and valuables ready for the big move in July
If not considering job opportunities, which city would you live in? Taipei, Taichung, or Kaoshiung?
OK I have been here for a few weeks now, and the first things I have noticed about Taiwan are:
Pollution
Wow, Taiwan is extremely polluted. It is clearly visible in the air, you cannot see more than 2 kilometers even in rural areas, the air often smells of chemicals and can leave a weird taste in your mouth. Apparently the ground water is quite polluted and from what I have seen and experienced a lot of pesticides are used on crops.
It looks like the prime air polluters are the Coal Power…
What is your favorite city and why?
I like Chayi. When I first came to Taiwan I lived in Taichung for a year or so. I’ve been living in Taipei for the past 5 years. I don’t like it here anymore. Too big. Too stinky.
I was down in Chayi this past weekend for the second time and I fell in love with the place. There is a beautiful lake on the the perimiter of the city. The air is clean. The foreign community is small and more diverse than other smaller towns. (Lot’s of High Speed Rail Pe…
Well…
I have been deliberating whether I would prefer to live in Kaohsiung or Taichung. I am leaning towards Kaohsiung as of late because of Taichung’s lack of good public transportation. I am leary about a city where I would need to purchase and ride a scooter to get anywhere.
Those of you familiar with Kaohsiung…do you need a scooter to get around in the city? Is the new MRT good enough to get you where you need to go? Can anyone with a familiarity with both cities willing to do a comparison…
I’ve been in Taipei for a while now and I’m starting to get sick of it… always raining…small run down apartments… pretentious attitude of people in Zhongxiao Dunhua (where I live). The only thing this city has to offer is gay life (yes, I’m a gay!) but that’s not everything.
I’m thinking of moving to Taichung or Kaohsiung once my current contract is up in July… anyone done the same?! Any advice, regrets?
Thanks
Robin
I am still trying to figure out what city to start off in. I didn’t wanna go to Taipei because i think its a little too big and expensive. I was also thinking of Kaohsiung, its more comparable to Baltimore, around where I live now. But after talking to people online I am starting to think Taichung sounds good.
What kind of unique or cool things do you think I’d appreciate there? Does the new highspeed train run through there? Do they have good transportation, I think Kaohsiung is supposed to ge…
Cut and pasted from onlyredheadintaiwan.blogspot.com … chung.html
Here we go.
The main reason I am here is to learn Chinese. No…wait, I take that back. The main reason I am here is to meet Fanfan’s family and to get to know the place where she grew up. Part of doing that is learning Chinese. The added bonuses are many: I’m very interested in different languages and cultures; I intend to enroll in some sort of graduate program in the future to study the social and political effects of a shrinki…
taipei? i’m lovin’ it! everything about it. you may hate taiwan, but you’ll never hate taipei. you may never be a TW citizen, but you’ll feel you’re a citizen of taipei at least.
magic town where just about anything good can happen. i’ve got special places all over taipei where you can just sit and feel “it”. i don’t know what “it” is, but i definitely feel something. totally magic. love that town and wish i’d never left it.
Original Title: how do people become taiwan sympathizers?
everybody has a right to be who they wanna be, but i just wonder: how does a man get to the place where he becomes a flaming taiwan sympathizer? what possesses someone to empathize with local cultural deficits to the point where it’s beyond reason? is it something your girlfirend does to you that makes you lose your bearings? is there some benefit to gain here that’s worth all the totally liberal empathy for the problem causing entities…
Recently some of my family came over to visit me here in Taipei and I could help wondering what Taiwan must look like through their eyes. My first impressions of the place were certainly not very favourable. I remember when I first arrived at my place of residence I took a quick shower, slung my camera over my neck and told the landlord that I was going for a walk. She looked at me as if I were mad. Her looked said,
I arrived in Taipei a few days ago from Thailand to start my job hunt from ground level. The last few days I’ve spent a lot of time just walking around, taking in the sites like I do whenever I hit a new city.
Now, I knew Taipei would be a big city and might not be the experience I was looking for. After a few days here I think I’ve confirmed that for myself. Taipei feels like any other large city in America. I was born and raised in Chicago and as time has moved on so have I further from large…
I read the other day that Taiwan’s population density ( 2002 ) was 618 persons per square km, the second highest in the world after Bangladesh !
that’ll be why i live in an apartment then!
Taipei 9730 persons per square km
Kaohsiung 9721 persons per square km
Taichung, everybody is too busy running the red lights to be counted!
Greetings, everyone
I have an interview coming up with one of the larger language schools in Taiwan. A friend of mine is currently living there, in Taipei county, but I’d like to get peoples’ impressions of three of the areas I’m consdering as a place to live and work.
Taipei/Taipei county
Taichung
Kaohsiung
Any impressions of these cities? I’ll confess I don’t know w a lot about Taiwan … any significant plusses/minusses in terms of these cities, such as public transit, nightlife,…
edit: added another thread
First, just let me say that I know this topic has been done to death and I’ve actually read quite a bit of the previous posts about it, but hey, bringing it up fresh again may bring out some new insights. I’ll aso try to be somewhat specific. Oh, and this is my first post! Been lurking around on the boards for about a month, but haven’t said anything myself until now.
I’m planning on moving to Taiwan this fall to study (more) Chinese. I’ve already been accepted to NTNU’s MTC, and so that’s like…
Taipei
/thread
people will come in here and say otherwise, but they will be wrong.
Really Taipei is the best all rounder. Theres really more to do PERIOD
[quote=“bfoote101”]I want to go somewhere where there is beautiful scenery, close access to the ocean or forests, and lots of things to do. I originally thought that Kaohsiung was the most beautiful and that I would go there, but I’m finding lots of fun things to do in Taipei, I just worry the standard of living won’t be as high. Has anyone been to these places and feel passionately about one over the other?
However, my husband just weighed in, and he thinks Taichung is better: he says it is far cleaner than Taiepi, and more attractive.
