After many years in China, I thought Taiwan would be a more welcoming place. After months spending time and money to sort out my immigration, I felt a slight anti foreigners sentiment across the board.
Am I wrong ?
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What do you mean? As in people are less willing to be friends with you? I feel Taipei’s social dynamic is crap. Most people here have their own circle, and do not allow any newcomers at all. Like everyone’s in their own little world.
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It’s like everywhere, small quantity is always ok, too many immigrants then it become painful.
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I find it hard to believe china in 2024 is a friendly place.
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In my experience China was infinitely easier to find genuine friends among locals. Don’t compare Taipei to a smaller city in China though, compare Taipei to Shanghai and Taipei wins.
Haven’t felt that, depends on your own dynamic I suppose.
China is an enormous country, I’ve found the vast majority of people to be extremely friendly and welcoming, obviously discounting big cities like Beijing and Shanghai in the same way you would not lump Taipei with Nantou.
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Who said i was lumping this and that? I said china in 2024. China has been getting worse (and less friendly) since 2014 The news in china is pretty rough recently, the murdered japanese child being one example.
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Me, too. Every place I’ve ever lived, actually.
I wouldn’t say they are anti-foreigner per se. The people at the immigration office have always been nice to me. I think the locals are just generally shy and uninterested in foreigners, except in remote areas.
The general culture is surprisingly uninterested in immigration, considering how much they could benefit. This I think is related to the Han superiority and craving for homgeneity that is shared with the mainland. But most people just ignore me most of the time. Maybe if I were very white or very black that would be different, but racially I’m a bit grey…
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Taiwanese, especially in Taipei, can seem to be not so warm to strangers and more so to foreigners. Busy-looking even if not busy, not making making or holding eye contact, not first to talk and shy to continue conversation and little more introspective appearing instead of extrovert. Just the way it is but doesn’t mean they are not welcoming and friendly.
Taiwan doesn’t have the energy of China.
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I don’t think is with foreigners, it just the way they are.
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People keep themselves to themselves and mind their own business. I like it.
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I’m honestly always a bit annoyed if some random person in the community elevator goes beyond the usual nod and starts asking me how long I’ve been in Taiwan, what I am doing for work and if I am buying or renting 
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Are you a Vietnamese man wandering around Zhongli Station? If so, then no you’re not wrong, as cops in some parts of Taiwan have developed a terrible reputation for their treatment of SE Asians.
Otherwise, we’d need to know more about your situation—where you hang out in Taiwan, what you expect from your life here, etc—before being really able to answer your question.
Guy
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Apparently, my comment is relevant. Taiwan is a small island that has survived mostly because of foreign support, so one wonders why the disdain for foreigners. Most of the trade, military and tourism are sustained by foreigners.
This is not about me but about people understanding the world’s interdependence and the need to welcome foreigners who mostly invest and work in Taiwan.
I am slightly disappointed, but hopefully, the Taiwanese will eventually realise the benefits of being more welcoming to visitors.
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You’re quite mistaken.
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If you meet an asshole in the morning, that’s a shame.
If you meet assholes all day, that may be a sign.
It is about you, but it’s also about all countries.
When i was younger, i thought everyone else in the world was globally minded and engaging. I mistook this from my interactions with exchange students at my university. I quickly realized during my expat assignment in Switzerland, that those students were globally minded and engaging, not necessarily their home cultures.
Nobody likes a tourist, and most people just want to live their lives in a single cultural lens. Also, foreigners draw fire everywhere.
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Taiwanese minding their own business ? Why you come Taiwan? You Englrish teacher ? You like stinky to fu?
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Why you not go back already ?
That’s pretty nosey. I had a neighbor try to ask me whether I was buying or renting in English when I first moved in. I just stared at them and responded in Chinese “Sorry I don’t understand.” 
People insisting on speaking English to me is about the only thing that irks me.
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The replies are self-evident, especially from the locals.
I rest my case !!!
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For me, the restaurants have been the big disappointment
3 myths: the people are friendly, business savvy, and the food is good. The restaurants in Kaoshiung definitely dispel this for me.
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