i'm learning chinese and just wondering how is it like in taiwan , hong kong, and mainland china? i heard from my taiwanese instructor say taipei is like new york city, is it true? anyone who where are some area of interest in china, taiwan, or hong kong? blush

i would say that hong kong is more like nyc than taipei. i haven't been to hong kong in over a decade, so i'm not sure how it's like in hk anymore.

being that i live in ny, i know what to compare. in nyc, you can take public transportation to virtually anywhere. it's also the most convenient way to get places. the best thing is that it runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. there are scores of bars and restaurants everywhere. you can always get something to eat at any hour. of course, it's also very crowded.

i think that because the public transportation in hong kong is more developed than in taipei, it is more like nyc, in that aspect. taipei had just introduced its subway system (MRT) a few years ago. it doesn't have a whole lot of lines, and you still have to cab it or take buses to certain areas where the MRT does not serve.

everything is much more spread out in taipei, and the city pretty much dies at 10 or so. in hong kong, i think you can go out to eat at any time, find something to do at any time. in taiwan, you just have a whole bunch of malls trying to outdo each other.

personally, i enjoy going to taipei much more than hong kong, but that's just me.

i plan on going to hk in the near future
i'm wondering if any1 can answer this question
i can speak cantonese but i can't read and write it
so would i have a hard time trying to find out where to go and how to get there
or even talking to people

you probably wouldn't have a problem in hk if you know how to speak cantonese. most of the signs, they have english versions as well.

i wouldn't rely on the english street signs too much. there was an article released recently about how many of the street signs are spelled wrong.

umm..i was born in taiwan and i went to visit there last year right now they have one of the tallers tower in the world call 101 its really big has 101 levels its like a shopping centre. kinda agree i think taipei is kinda like NYC

Do you think Chinese is a difficult language to learn? (only curious...)

The big cities in mainland China today are getting modern now. Shanghai, in my opinion, is definately more attracted city than HongKong and Taipei.
Why? The city was femous already in the 40' and 50'. Today it is the financial centre of China (almost the Asian area's as well), and many foreign countries make the investments there so the city is growing bigger and bigger. Shanghai already take over as the leading city in China area (HK, Taiwan, mainland China).

I hope the chinese language you learn now is mandarin, because it is the one you would use if you go to mainland China.

idk how taiwan is compared to hong kong but i can imagine it to be just as pretty even though ive never been to taiwan.

Yea, Taipei's trying to be like New York or Shibuya-ku in Tokyo, but it's still kinda far from either one of those. And HK on the other hand has some similar things had by NYC, like its filthiness and skyscrapers intensity for example; that it looks kinda dark when you walk around the downtown area, even though on a bright n' sunny day, because all of the tall buldings are all packed in one area in a very lil' distant one to another, so they block the sun shine or the day light.

i know shanghai is similar to nyc...haven't been to taiwan.
I dont think i'll manage in taiwan either. Although Taiwan girls are really cute and hot sometimes...

Hi guys going over to taiwan this October, just wondering any interesting place that i should visit or any nice food i should try out ? hahaha by the way any IT superstore that i can visit.


really anticipate my visit to Taiwan.

Tyr all the hawker stalls, though make sure to get your hepatitis injections first.

There are so many interesting things that never see anywhere else.

I heard there isnt much happenning in taiwan? is that true? but i'd like to go up to Taipei 101 if i ever get to go to TW

I am planning to take a job oversees in Taiwan for one year. I am from NYC and this will be my 2nd time out of the country. I was in China and HK a little over 2 years ago. On that trip I travel to a few city such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, YongKang, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.

What are some places you recommend to visit while in Taiwan especially in Taipei since that is the city where I will be stationed? I will have some time to travel so I am interested in places outside ot Taipei. Also, is there any thing that I should do while I am there or food or things to try or not try? Any suggestion would be great. I am trying to compile a list of things to do for the year if possible.

Thanks.

hi
i heard that there are no mineral water to buy in taiwan and taiwanese never tried mineral water
........is that real?

mineral water are sold in all supermarkets and even the local 7-11 stores..it is not advisable to drink directly from the tap though, i know locals do boil the water before consumption..

The American 7/11 stores, that seem to have infested every single street block on Taiwan. It get's out of hand. At the edge of Xindian, there's actually one 7/11, some FamilyMart, and then another 7/11! Almost right next to each other. I suppose that people on one side of the street go to one, and on the other go to the other. It must make bad buisness for FamilyMart.
And if you're still confused about 7/11, here's their logo:
http://www.retroblast.com/graphics/Aaron%2...eleven_logo.gif

I understand what you mean, but I kinda like it. I was in taiwan last september and it was HOT. I was going into 7-11 and similar stores every few blocks to get ice cold bottled water. really convenient for me.

Yeah. I know exactly what you're talking about. I was actually in Taiwan a couple of weeks ago. 38 degrees C. It was rediculous. And then, we had a typhoon. Hahahah. Terrible luck.
In any case, when we were younger, my cousin and I would run down the street, going into each 7/11 we can find just for the airconditioning. Great times. They have good ice cream too; a personal favorite of mine is the milk popsicle that they have.

hi .... i am currently on holiday in taiwan

someone know where to buy star stuffs (hk or tw actor/actress/singer stuffs) and where to meet stars (events of any stars) ?

add: i already was in XI MEN (DING) and i bought lots of star cards, posters, pics etc... but i want more XD

What is the best beer that I can drink in Taiwan? I love drink Windhoek in SA but where I can buy it? I hate Taiwanese beer and Japanese beer...they're tasted like peeeeee.... any suggestion here? no pubs, they are too expensive...

Good day! I am planning to take some Mandarin language courses at the National Taiwan University (in Taipei) next year. I would like to know the monthly cost of living in Taipei in U.S. dollars. More so, if you have any idea about the student life in that university and/or around that area, please share it with me and I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

yea, the beer... "Taiwanese beer" ... is really nasty imo.

Are there any imported beers you can buy there? Even though they're not really "imported"... because most of them are made there... but they might be better than the beers u have mentioned =P.

Hey, well i was an exchange student in Taiwan last year but in Kaohsiung. The cost of living in Kaohsiung at Campus was very cheap around 300 US dollars/semester but i guess Taiper would be more expensive. But i'm pretty sure it would be cheaper than US.

Hey guys! I am going to Taipei in March 2007 to study Mandarin at the National Taiwan University. If you could give me an overview on what to expect when I get there (the weather, people, area, cost and quality of living, traditions, fashion, etc.), I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

hey, i'm going to taiwan in december to study too!! but i dunno at which uni tho.

Hi! How long are you staying in Taiwan? Are you Chinese?

yea, i'm half chinese. i'm going for like i think a couple of months.

I see. If you are still there in March, we can probably hang-out. Do you already have an idea which school you are going to?

i think somewhere near tao-yuan. are you chinese too?
anyway, yea i've been to taiwan when i was 11 but cant remember too much because i was like a real aussie that means i hated everything asian haha till year 10.

Well, I am part Chinese. My mother is Spanish-Filipino, while my dad is Chinese-Filipino. But I think I look more Chinese than Filipino and Spanish. =D

yea, i'm half chinese half timorese, but look hongky more that timorese.
but anyway, how long are you studying in taiwan for? and how did you get a place in that university?
is the fee really expensive like those asians that go to western countries to study and they have to pay like five times the amount of what local students have to pay.

Well...I'm still thinking about the length of my stay in Taiwan. All I know is I have to do at least one quarter of Mandarin (so at least 3 months). As for the fee, I am not sure how more expensive it is relative to the local students. I think, more than the tuition, the cost of living is going to be the bulk of my expenses. Overall, it is still less expensive to study in Taiwan compared to studying here in the U.S.

Taipei Financial Center or what is more known as Taipei 101 has held the record as the tallest building in the world since its official completion in October 17, 2003. Its ominous height of 1,671 feet and strategic location makes it visible to almost all corners of Taipei.


It will continue to hold its record until the completion in 2008 of the Barj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates which is rumored to be 2,313 feet. Taipei 101 is not only famous for its record-breaking height, it also boasts of having the world?s fastest and longest elevator systems. The lifts can travel from the ground floor to the top at 63kph in only 39 seconds. (more…)




more to read at afmag

I am planning to go on a trip this summer where you learn chinese for like a whole month. And I decided to choose Taiwan but in what cities do you guys suggest would be best? I am guessing Taipei since it's the capitol. I like somewhere where it's urban and hopefully (just wishing) my friends and I could see some concert or celeb fan meeting.

Also any suggestions for places w/ street shopping areas, kinda like what HK has in Mong Kok. Because we are poor students who can't afford shopping mall stuff. I guess I would also like to know the basic about Taiwan (like weather, people, transportation, etc.).

It would be better if someone could suggest any similar programs because I haven't found a good ones yet. Some of my friends got a place for $500. However, I don't plan to join them.

Sorry for asking so much.

Yea, i would suggest TAipeh! it's super duper fun there! i love it there, just went last summer^^

if you go to taipeh, you can go to "Xi Men" aka "Xi Men Ding" with the subway (subway is very cheap there^^)...there are lots of stuffs for young ppl...like clothes, plushies, games, yummy food etc^^

the weather: when will u go there? if august or september it's super duper HOT! you will sweat like crazy etc lol...it's like about 35°C at morning and afternoon. but in the evening it's a little bit colder but still hot, like about 28-30°C
sometimes it will rain like crazy but it's always hot no matter if it's raining or not

people:
the sales person in shops are veeeeeeeery nice! (much nicer than in hk >.>)
actually all ppl there are nice, if you ask them something like where the street is then they will try the best to help you even if they only understand a little bit english

transportation:
bus or subway are very cheap. but they are very "crowded" too! if you want to get a place to sit you must be veeery fast lol^^
taxi: cheaper than in europe but still expensive (for me)...

sorry, i gtg to school now, i tell you more later! =)

Since I'm going to vietnam this summer, I thought about taking a trip to countries near.
So I thought about Taiwan. What's the currency there? Do they understand english there? Since my mandarin is really lousy ^^

@ moomoocows

i am back from school lol...oh yea, i have a suggestion about the program.
i guess you are 183club fans is it? cause i saw your nick in 183club thread or somewhere else before =P ....if yes you can try to go to their functions/autograph sessions if they have any. or you can go to ctv if you are a fan of tw shows...for more details just ask me =)




in taiwan they use taiwan dollar which is kinda "small" .... 1 euro = about 40 TW$ ...
most of them dont understand english even thought they learn it at school. one time my sis asked for the way in english cause she is very poor in mandarin. they really wanted to help but just couldnt speak out in english lol...they tried very hard and mixed english with lot of mandarin =P ...so my sis try to ask other ppl and finally there was a pupil who knows a little bit better engl than the others and helped her^^

what do you mean by the taiwan dollar being small? 1 euro = 40 TW$ it doesn't say so much to me. in sweden 1 euro = 13 SEK. So.. uhm.. What do you mean? how much can you buy for 40TW$?

They're lousy at english? I could have guessed to, since my friend studied to be a teatcher and she knew as much english as i did in 5th or maybe 6th grade. :/

I'm also planning on going to Taiwan. (maybe in a couple of years when i can afford it )

you can buy for 40 TW$ e.g. a bubble tea (here in germany it cost like 3 euro = 120 TW$ for such a big drink)

yea, their english is not that good. my cousin (who was born in tw) learned english for like 6-7 years or something ... but his english is very poor! i have tried to chat in english with him but he didnt get me >.<

you guys are so lucky cause u can go there! i wished i could go to tw again
oh yea, dont forget to try BUBBLE TEA there! very yummy!^^

oh yeah alice im a fan of 183 club.

I might be going in july, august. Not so sure yet since I didnt find the right program yet. I heard there's typhoons right? And that's also in the summer? So I'm guessing the weather is a little unexpected.

Is taipei where most of the media and related stuff are? My friends and I arent planning to stalk any celebs (crazy fans out there are just weird. :] ) but just wanna see if we can catch something we never do back at home.

1 EUR is not 13 SEK.

Alice183: I get your point. Oh well, it's a little cheaper than over here at least.
Haha...ooh..my mandarin is really bad...I'm still a newbie ^^ Well, I guess it might be a great experience then ^^ And I soooo have to try bubble tea if I end up in tw!

I think Taiwan's one of the best places to go to learn Mandarin. The Mainland may react differently, but Chinese people are usually quite nice about it. Unfortunately though, you may run into some street vendors -- where you can get the cheapest prices and stuff! -- who probably know very very VERY little English.

I would definitely recommend two places: Taipei OR a district in Taipei known as "Shilin" (there's "Taipei the city" and "Taipei the county"). Shilin has an incredible Night Market (it's practically infamous) that is HUGE and cheap and LOADS of fun. It's right outside one of the Taiwan MRT (Metro) stations (Jiantan station). My hometown, in Taiwan, hails in Danshui which is the last stop on the MRT before you head all the way back to Taipei main station.

If you know little-to-no Mandarin, I would recommend Taipei. In that kind of urban setting, you'll have more real shops with shopkeepers and people who may actually know English and you'll be able to communicate. Unfortunately, all the programs in Taiwan that I know of are all for people of Taiwanese ancestry and speak some Mandarin. The programs in Taipei will probably be more well-rounded. Taipei is definitely the place to go for those kind 'urban' settings. I would recommend TaiZhong, but it's a bit different than the feel Taipei gives off and TaiZhong isn't quite as urbanized (but it's also not as hectic) as Taipei.

haha. I'm also going back to Taiwan this summer. But I, unlike you, am actually doing a missions trip with my church in TaoYuan and then I'm spending two weeks with relatives in Danshui/Taipei (Taiwanese MRT is brilliant, let me tell you) and then heading back to America. Plus, I can speak Mandarin quite fluently and will have no problems getting around (except for my pesky grandmother who is perpetually frantic that I will get lost in Taiwan. I'll be fine, ah ma!).

Nonetheless, Taipei is, honestly, where all the fun is at! The exchange rate right now is about 1USD=30Taibi. It fluctuates a bit around that number, but it's generally that much. you can get stuff for REALLY cheap or REALLY expensive depending on where you shop. Don't worry, most real shops are quite cheap as well and vendors always have signs and labels everywhere (well, generally, anyways). I really just go back for the FOOOOOD! *drools*

Have fun! If you have any questions about specific stuffs, feel free to PM me! I hope you find a program that's suitable!

thanks for all the info. I think I have more questions but can't think of any right now. After reading all of this, I really really want to go.

I called the chinese culture center today (because that's where my cousin went for her trip) and they said deadline already passed 2 months ago. I was like NOOOOOO WAY!!! Now I am madly in search of a program where they are cheap and still accepting.

so far i found one at tainan, is that far from taipei? sounds like it since one is north other is south.
and what about taichung?

just a question: which one are you going to is it a government sponsored one or is it a Formosa vacation one? because i definetly suggest the formosa vacation one. it's really cheap, all planned out for you, you go everywhere throughout taiwan (yes, ximenting, taipei, shilinyehshi, like everywhere) it's about a month long. and it's in july.
i guess the government sponsored one is also good, but it's more about studying and mostly like learning the history about taiwan, important figures of taiwan....blah...boring stuff. but the formosa is more like fun, going out to kareokes, more freedom and vacation time.

also if u wanna see and compare, you could go to youtube. They have lots of videos caught by ppl that went to the diff. trips. and u can see which one u like more.

I think the nes i searched for earlier were gov program. But after knowing about the vacation one, I would actually like to know more. Do you know any specific ones? I just want to go on a senior trip before I head off to college. So, anything would do as long as it's safe and affordable.

Hi,

I've been thinking of moving to Taiwan for a year after I finish HS to experience the culture there. However, my mind is not really made up as there are many factors to think about! Such as the fact that I'm gonna be 18.5 and just know basic Mandarin..

Anyway. Onto my questions.. if I wanted to move there for a year would I need a special visa or can I just go there and stay there like that? o.O" What's the housing like in Taiwan and what would be my best option?

Any other things should I take into consideration? Thanks.

Is it difficult to get the visa and so to taiwan? I mean, is there any unpleasant obstacle? ^^
Cause I'd probably be travelling from vietnam to taiwan, even though I'm not a vietnamese citizen. Or maybe if I have to get the taiwanese visa before I go to vietnam? =/

depending on how long u stay u might not have to get a visa for taiwan; for vietnam you have to get a visa no matter what, if u live in United states u can stay in taiwan at most for 30 days without a visa

u will need a visa, and depending on what u intend to do u have to get a specific visa, some last a month some last longer, do u intend to just study, do u intend to work, google the visa online