I am Taiwanese, living in Zhongli(Taoyuan) while almost all of my friends are living in Taipei. I work as a part-time teacher that means I don’t have coworkers. People who are working as English teachers should know that it’s not easy to make friends if you teach at many schools. You just attend your school, teach, and leave. You never get the chance to know other people at the schools. Anyways, that’s my case. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, but I work at night and moreover my friends are not living in the same city.I really like drinking at bars with friends. However, I don’t have friends to hang out now. I don’t know how and where to meet new people. I don’t want to join any religious groups since I am an atheist. I have checked out many Taiwanese websites to see how others meet new friends, but all in vain. Taiwanese netizens just say “hang out with friends; then your friends will introduce new friends to you”, but the problem is that it is hard for me to see my friends; not to mention to meet their friends. That’s why I try this website. If any of you can tell me where to meet new friends in Zhongli, I will be really grateful. Though I like drinking, I don’t like clubbing. Just want to drink and talk to people.
Since you like drinking but not clubbing, you’re in luck. Zhongli only has 1 club. haha
If it’s English speaking you are looking for, I think River is probably the most popular foreigner bar (though I’ve only been there a few times). But I hear the owner is very friendly and she also owns a cafe called Ocean. The area around River has other bars there. It’s a little cobblestone neighborhood.
I forgot to mention Zhongli has a fairly large and popular night market. As well as a smaller (but usually quite busy) one near the Zhong Yuan University. I used to live near the Zhong Yuan night market and there were always many people there.
I think I will try the bar. I would like to make friends with Taiwanese or people from other countries. Nationality does’t matter. I think I will also try to attend some classes provided by China Youth Corp in the morning (but people who have time to attend morning classes are much older than me. Not sure if I can make any friends there).
Depends on if you will really be near the Taoyuan Train Station or the Zhongli Train Station. Zhongli station is about 12 km from Taoyuan station. You could take the train (about 12 mins), drive (about 30 mins), or just find bars in Taoyuan City.
Depends on if you will really be near the Taoyuan Train Station or the Zhongli Train Station. Zhongli station is about 12 km from Taoyuan station. You could take the train (about 12 mins), drive (about 30 mins), or just find bars in Taoyuan City.[/quote]
Yeah, I’ll be about 5 minutes walk to Taoyuan Train Station. I’m actually waiting to see when I get to Taiwan if I can budget it to move to Banqiao and commute to Taoyuan.
I’m sure the area around the train station in Taoyuan is a little more lively and more interesting than the rest of the city? Trust me, I’m coming from Manila so everything is an upgrade…lol
[quote=“just_chris”]Yeah, I’ll be about 5 minutes walk to Taoyuan Train Station. I’m actually waiting to see when I get to Taiwan if I can budget it to move to Banqiao and commute to Taoyuan.
I’m sure the area around the train station in Taoyuan is a little more lively and more interesting than the rest of the city? Trust me, I’m coming from Manila so everything is an upgrade…lol[/quote]
Depends on the mode of transportation you will use. Either way, that’s not a short commute! Housing will be noticeably higher in New Taipei City, too.
[quote=“Yang Gui Zi”][quote=“just_chris”]Yeah, I’ll be about 5 minutes walk to Taoyuan Train Station. I’m actually waiting to see when I get to Taiwan if I can budget it to move to Banqiao and commute to Taoyuan.
I’m sure the area around the train station in Taoyuan is a little more lively and more interesting than the rest of the city? Trust me, I’m coming from Manila so everything is an upgrade…lol[/quote]
Depends on the mode of transportation you will use. Either way, that’s not a short commute! Housing will be noticeably higher in New Taipei City, too.
Good luck and welcome to Taiwan![/quote]
My job would be close enough to the train station I could walk from the Taoyuan station to work so if I like in Banqiao I’ll be a 25-30 minute train ride and 10 minute walk. I don’t mind. I grew up outside NYC and half hour commute is not the worst thing in the world as I can read or listen to music and relax on the train.
The train is usually packed, especially at rush hour. It will get old quickly as you struggle to find breathing room between Banqiao and Taoyuan. Expect to stand the whole way (and to have to push your way out at your destination) unless you travel at off-peak hours.
Oh man… I don’t wanna hear that , I’m not sure what my hours are going to be but I’m quite positive one of my trips would be during rush hour. I guess I’ll have to check it out before I decide to find an apartment in that area. I’m just not sure I wanna live in Taoyuan but I know at least initially that’s where I’ll be.
When you arrive in TW try it out and see if you can handle it on a daily basis. If you’re from New York, you’re used to people, so it may not be that bad for you.
Panchiao to Taoyuan is not a biggie, lots of trains and not so busy as the other way at peak hours. Living in Taoyuan itself might be the best bet if working in Taoyuan.
I currently live in Manila so I can’t imagine riding the train is any worse a nightmare than it is here, this city has 25 million people and essentially no public transportation infrastructure to speak of. There is an LRT and an MRT which riding is downright scary as it is packed like sardines in a can and only has a handful of stops. I’d imagine Taipei about 25 years ago would have been similar.
