Taiwan, Oh, You Absolute Dream!
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Tomorrow marks my departure from Taiwan, and I'm feeling a mix of emotions right now.
During this trip, I visited four cities: Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
To be honest, each city only captured about two and a half days of my time, which is barely enough! I initially thought it would be possible to move slowly and explore each city deeply. However, in hindsight, that thought seems rather naive.
Important reminder for those planning a trip to Taiwan: Even if I walked over twenty thousand steps every day until my feet hurt, I could only say that I had glimpsed the cities at best. I didn't have the chance to develop a deeper understanding of them (figuratively speaking, “walk-by viewing flowers,” which means hastily seeing things without truly diving into them). If your wish is to take your time in experiencing the cities, you should set aside longer visits for each of them!
If I were to rank the cities, my top preferences would be between Tainan and Taipei.
Taipei's various styles and cultures, its vibrance, made me realize the city's inclusiveness and its distinct cultural nuances. As I absorbed new things through my senses, I exclaimed, "I love it here!" At first, I even vowed with confidence to a friend that Taipei would be my No.1 favorite place, only to be cautioned not to be too hasty in drawing conclusions.
In fact, when I arrived in Tainan, I started to rethink my preference for Taipei. The pace is slow and pleasant in Tainan. Despite being surrounded by small shops and stalls, there’s a vibe of relaxation as locals interact with one another, or tend to their potted plants and flowers at leisurely dining spots. This laidback feeling calms down all tension within, much like a slow, refreshing spa treatment for the mind.
Another observation I had was how courteous the Taiwanese people were towards others:
No matter who walked first on the sidewalks, whether someone helped open a door, bought items at the convenience store (that’s right, the 7-Eleven supermarket), or ate at any restaurant, every encounter led to expressions of gratitude, “Thank you.” Even some elderly folks who seemed irascible occasionally would drop that gratitude phrase.
A Small Culture Shock/Sweet Surprise:
Coming from what I believed to be a more cold or abrupt environment, Taiwan’s warmth and politeness truly astounded me, and I felt honored by their mannerism.Originally, I never expected to be able to come to Taiwan. I wasn't really excited before the journey began – the fact that it remained both near and yet so far from my reach kept it mysterious and novel.
Yet after a week, this sense of novelty evolved into an intimate attachment. The city felt both familiar and comforting at the same time, almost like a long-lost friend.
I told my friends that Taiwan resembles a dream - the whole experience feels like an idealized version of the early 2000s, back when people lived in a slower-paced way, making everything around feel cozy and convenient.
It’s like a “Millennial Treasure Island” (a place holding onto the best parts of the turn of the century), a modern-day Shangri-La (a mythical tranquil paradise, akin to Utopia).Oh, Taiwan, Taiwan. I’ll surely miss you once it’s time to depart.
(In the still of the night, my thoughts are all over the place. My eyes are getting heavy, songs are still playing through my headphones. So I decided to jot some of these feelings down...)
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Well-written article. Welcome back anytime!
️ I sincerely hope some netizens stop focusing on comparing Taiwan's street scenes with mainland cities. I spent ten years in mainland China growing up, and then nearly ten years in Taiwan. What's most impressive about Taiwan is its humanistic atmosphere, the quality of its people, its cultural acceptance, and freedom, not the glamour of commercial skyscrapers. -
Oh! Personally, I did make some comparisons during my trip, but it was purely because it was my first time here and everything felt so novel. And I absolutely love these street scenes! Even though they're quite retro, they don't affect the convenience or quality of life at all. They just add a bit of charm. That really appealed to me! Mainland China also has many places like this, and now I'm a bit keen to explore them too!
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One trip to Taiwan, a lifetime of fondness for it.
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So, I took a lot of photos to look at slowly later!
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Thinking of visiting Taiwan in December to see if it's really as free as they say.
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I feel like the weather in December would be nice too! Taipei does tend to rain a bit, but the further south you go, the more comfortable the weather seems to get.
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LOL, 'getting used to being randomly scolded before' – you can tell at a glance they're from Hong Kong.
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Just visited Tainan for the second time this month, and I feel like I could go for a third. Tainan, with its low-rise buildings and somewhat old-looking streets, hides all sorts of unique little shops. Hayashi Department Store is highly recommended for a visit.
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Great!! I'll take my time and enjoy it more next time!
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Taiwan's preservation of Chinese culture is much better than in mainland China.
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Mainland China, in its rapid development, has overlooked some things. Sometimes, while enjoying the modernization, I also feel a sense of regret 🥲.
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As a Taiwanese person, reading this makes me want to cry. Thank you for loving Taiwan so much.
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Because it's truly a different experience, and I love it!
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It made me cry reading it. The article is so well-written.
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Thank you!! Because I really, really love it 🥲.
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Welcome to visit Beitou if you have the chance, to enjoy the hot springs, delicious food, and tea!
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Great!! I love hot springs!
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I was fortunate enough to visit a few years ago, and it was such a pleasant surprise and quite astounding. Whether it's the local customs and people, the cleanliness of the cities and countryside, or the high caliber of the people – it's all so different from mainland China. I want to go back N times!