Taipei: An Introduction
It’s not China, and it doesn’t really try to be. I spent four weeks here taking some Chinese classes and I honestly have mixed feelings about the city. There’s some good and some not so good. This post will be more of an opinion piece, as I plan to just spitball the spectrum of emotions Taipei elicited. In my next post, I’ll give more of a guide, but for now, lets see what this post turns out to be.
I’ve grown to appreciate the absurdity of Chinese culture. In previous blogs from my time in Shanghai and Beijing, I discussed my surprising affinity for the disgusting, rude and impolite behavior that is simply standard over on this side of the world. It’s different, and I like that. Sure, there are times when the shirtless men spitting on the streets while grazing past you on their way-too-loud scooters can become frustrating, but at the end of the day, traveling is about experiencing new cultures and integrating yourself into a new way of life.
Taipei isn’t like this. It isn’t brutal, in-your-face, and borderline suffocating. The geographical nature of Taiwan-an island detached from mainland China- is mirrored in the social nature of its culture. Taipei feels like you’re in a very traditional American Chinatown. Excuse me if that’s insulting, but I’m being frank here. The architecture is boring, the people are too friendly and the culture feels covered by a bland Western blanket.
With that said, the food in Taiwan is seriously good-like one of the best in the world. Nightly markets are littered around the city, each with its own unique trait (there’s even one focused on snakes!). The people in Taiwan are the most friendly you’ll find on this continent. The transportation system is solid (if not somewhat oddly laid out around the city). So with all that said and my opinions out of the way, here’s an introduction to the largest city and capital (controversy!) of Taiwan.
Getting in and around:
You’ll fly into Taoyuan Airport which is located in Taoyuan, about 30 miles from the city. The first time I landed here, I took a cab into the city and it only took around 35 minutes (granted at 5 am) and costed something like 30USD. Alternatively, I also took the airport express, which takes you into Taipei Main Station, which is a massive transportation complex complete with shops and restaurants. This is the cheapest way to get into the city, and if you are staying somewhere that is near a subway line, I would definitely use this option.
Also, maybe I was lucky on both occasions, but getting through from check in to gate at Taipei airport was SUPER quick.
The subway system in Taipei is very clean and easy to follow. It isn’t necessarily the most efficient in terms of speed and routing, but it’ll get you where you need to go.
How to pay:
Credit cards are widely NOT accepted. They take Alipay or LinePay, otherwise, cash rules here. Everything is pretty cheap so taking out NTD1,000 will last you almost a weeks worth of food.
What area to party in: Xinyi
This is the most happening place at night. Ximen also makes a case here, but as more of a bar/karaoke district. Xinyi has all the clubs and trendy bars to provide endless memories when going out at night. Plus, there is great shopping, dining and hotels here as well.
What area to stay in: Ximen
With that said, I would slightly lean towards staying in the Ximen area. It’s closer to more attractions and more conveniently located to public transportation lines.
Do they speak English?
Yes, which sucked for me. I was trying to engulf myself in Chinese and be surrounded by the language, but that was not the case at all. Everyone in Taipei we met knew at least a beginner’s level of English, especially in their specific area of expertise.
What was the weather like?
Weird. I went in May, which is in Monsoon season, so we would have a day with perfect, sunny clear weather, followed by a day of non stop torrential downpours, followed by a cloudy, humid day. I would leave everyday wearing shorts but could not forget to bring an umbrella or rain jacket.
Basically, Taiwan is where you go if the idea of going to places like China or Vietnam is too daunting because of their harsh cultural differences. It’s a great introduction to the reality that is Asia, which has its pros and cons. Personally, I found it boring, but if you can’t handle the intensity of Asia, this is a solid alternative.