What about life in Taiwan?

Question

In the future maybe I will go to live in Taipei...I've been there...but Can You tell me how is real life there? and what about life for a foreigner?

Answer 1

It's great for foreigners, epsecially you plan to live in Taipei city. The subway system is just as good as anywhere else (as in comparably better than Boston, and New York's subway is not even worth mentioning). There are plenty of English signs, and the subway trains even announces stops in English.

Also, during the civil war split, ROC government was able to secure the most treasured cultural artifacts from the past chinese history, and moved them to Taiwan before the communists took over mainland, which is the right thing to do since communists would have destroyed most of them during the cultural revolution. In essence, the best place to experience chinese cultural heritage is in Taiwan not China, where all the buildings are though.

Taiwan's infrastructure is also as good as anybody else's. There are plenty of country side for adventurous foreigners to travel. Taiwan also has high mountains (more than 50% of Tawain is 500 ft above see level, with the highest peak of the Jade Mountain at 12,966 ft). Though, to venture outside of metropolitan area of Taipei means less people can communicate in English well.

On the other hand, if you are the city shopping type, you can shop until you drop in Taiwan literally. The night market starts around 8 pm and does not stop until around 3 am, and the morning market picks up at 5 am. You can always do shopping or other entertainment any time of the day.

Hope you have a pleasant time.


XR

Answer 2

Taipei is very easy to get around using the subway. Taipei is very active city. Shopping and eating is everywhere from morning to night. The biggest thing you'll have to get used to is the amount of personal space you lose over there compared to the states. There are so many people in Taipei that people live in closer quarters to each other. You might feel claustrophobic at first until you get used to it. It might be easier if you already know how to read and speak mandarin. There are english signs there but not everywhere. Be careful of pick pocketers as you would in any other big city.