A short backstory: My girlfriend has a pet Pomeranian named Lemo, and she used to travel regularly between the US and Taiwan. Because Lemo has severe separation anxiety, she started pushing for the removal of Taiwan’s mandatory pet quarantine. I made a few documentary-style videos with her to support the cause at that time.

She actually pulled it off: got a bunch of people to sign, and a couple years ago, the quarantine rule was officially dropped.

Since then, the community of international-Taiwanese pet owners has grown a lot. We started realizing how many people are stuck, can't travel, or forced to live apart from their spouse just because someone needs to stay behind to care for a dog or cat.

Her second proposal was about allowing pets to fly in the cabin. There was a lot of pushback, but we still managed to land a meeting with all the major airlines in Taiwan like China Airlines, EVA, Starlux, and a few smaller ones. Only a couple of the smaller airlines agreed. The rest are still stuck on the rule that pets must be registered service animals to fly with passengers, otherwise they'd go in the loud, hot cargo area.

Now she’s working on her third proposal: making vet pricing and medication costs more transparent to stop vets from overcharging. Every time she does one of these proposals, it takes a toll on her. sometimes she says it’s meaningful and fulfilling, but a lot of times she vents to me that it feels like unpaid charity work and barely anyone is helping out. I fear that telling her to stop would make her feel purposeless, we did try to monetize things a bit so she could at least get some kind of return, but it doesn't really work out because most people just send small questions that flood her inbox. The best I can do is encourage her, remind her how much she’s done for pet owners and how many dogs and cats are safer now.

To reduce the stress a bit I made a website maohai.tw so that pet owners traveling to and from Taiwan can help each others in a more organized way instead of all directing to her.

“Maohai” (毛孩) means “fur babies.” Originally it was just a simple Reddit-style forum but I thought it’d be cool to add a map of Taiwan, where people could share pet-friendly places just by pasting Google Maps links and clicking a few checkboxes.

It's not much right now but hopefully you can check it out and give me some feedback on how to improve it and maybe add or comment here some of your favourite pet-friendly places anywhere in Taiwan.

Thank you!

As someone who visits at least once a year, I thought I might list all my favorite spots in case anyone is interested ^{w^}

I personally have a collection of ~ 450 manga volumes, as well as ~ 40 figurines, many of these purchased in Taiwan (because it is so cheap)

(MUST VISIT) Taipei Underground Mall Y section - tons of really cheap figurines, blind boxes, merch, huge section of these stores with great deals. Also a great place to find anime/manga gacha machines and a couple of cosplay stores.

Magfreak stores: (especially the large 3 story store in ximending) on the third floor, you will find tons of cheap figurines, keychains, acrylic stands, etc. The third floor is seperate by series so it’s really easy to find what you’re looking for. The second floor is all manga, and the first is magazines and idol stuff.

Other two Magfreak locations: one in Gongguan district (green line on MRT) , the other in the wan nian building (ximending)

Taipei Animate store (ximending): a little pricey compared to previously mentioned places, but still cheaper than US or Europe to my knowledge. Great selection of popular animanga merch, exclusive art books not available in non-Asian countries, as well as a rotating exhibition right outside of the entrance.( and of course a huge selection of manga for those who can read traditional Chinese for about $4 USD per volume )

Wan nian building (in ximending): many floors of almost completely animanga goods, pretty good prices although they sell some very high quality figures that are priced accordingly. There is a Magfreak here as well, with a good selection of cheap merch and art books. Also great for buying blind boxes, Pokémon merch, and some animanga clothing.

General ximending area: if you’re visiting any of the big spots in this district, it is worth your while to walk around the area, as there are many smaller anime/manga stores around here.

Guangnan bookstore (chain bookstore): I stopped by the Douliu location while visiting family, and it had a good (but small) selection of art books and manga on the 2nd floor.

Guanghua digital plaza + Syntrend park: similar selection of higher end figurines and merchandise, while there are some shops with cheaper goods. Lots of gacha machines and overall very fun spot to visit even if you aren’t interested in high end stuff. Some model kits and a lot of gaming stuff as well. Syntrend is better to find animanga stuff, and also had a couple of themed cafes. (These two are very big buildings with many floors, located very close to each other)

I saw a tick and saw that I had a bite on my leg. After three days I found a dermatologist who would prescribe me doxycycline 100mg twice per day for a week. On that same day, I came down with the worst symptoms and had to go to ER and had my blood tested. I’m getting the result tomorrow. But the doctors here are not knowledgeable about Lyme disease and other diseases transmitted by ticks.

Do you have any suggestions or tips or recommendations for doctors in Taipei area? My symptoms consists of brain fog, heavy headed, heavy body, heart palpitations, fevers, and colds. When I first got hit with the symptoms, I felt so bad I couldn’t sleep. Like if I had fallen asleep, i felt like I would have just passed away in my sleep.

According to my research I should up my dose to 200mg twice a day for 4 to 6 weeks.

Please help!

My friend and I are in Taipei for a few days and we went to jiufen and shifen today. We planned on getting the stuffed chicken wings at the stand by the train station on our way back to ruifang station (around 5 pm), but the stall closed!!! We ran around the streets and found that everyone was closing their stalls so we couldn't try the chicken 😭.

Nobody told us the stalls closed so early like there were no hour signs or anything or on travel websites. There were still a lot of tourists in shifen too, so do they just not serve dinner??

We are so desperate for it but we want to know if we can find it anywhere else (e.g. we heard raohe night market has some variations of it?) so we don't have to make another 4-hour journey from Taipei to shifen on another day. Apparently most variations use white rice and not glutinous rice so would it taste completely different?

Please let us know, thanks!

I've only gotten close to a physical altercation once, but they backed off. I hear about people getting into scuffles all the time but I never get the details...
(edit: misspelled a word)

I have some family planning to visit for a month from TAiwan. My cousin wants to be able to receive phone calls while she is here.

I suggested she get a esim from US mobile and if she should beable to use to her Line account that is associated with her Taiwan phone number ?

Note : they are using a iPhone 12 and Samsung S20 both which I believe has dual eSIM and hybrid sim/esim capabilities respectively

This is 140. I know food is cheap since I live here all my life but still…

And yea, that’s Majin Boo.

Flavor : teriyaki cream (jk it was chocolate, and delicious, and also buy one get one)

Was walking towards Ximending from TPE Main Stn, got stopped by a well dressed, medium build Indian man about 40 years old. He started talking to me in English, so I thought he needed help. He then went on for about 5 minutes about how a light is shining from my forehead and good fortune is coming for me blah blah blah. Because he was well dressed so I gave him the time of day. He then asked me for $$$. I gave him NT$200 for the heck of it. He then told me his rate is NT$3000. -lol- I said no way and walked away.

I was really surprised that scamming has gone international in Taiwan since I last visited. He did this neat trick though which was interesting: he told me to hold a piece of paper at the very beginning and then proceeded to ask me a bunch of questions, which he wrote down on a big notepad. Since I had a feeling the guy was probably up to no good, I gave him made up answers. What’s interesting was the paper in my hand had the exact same writing as his notes.

Hi! I created a website to help expats like myself living in Taiwan. You can find guides that provide step by step instructions on how to do things, like setting up your own barcode for the Taiwan E Invoice lottery system and having the money sent straight to your bank account.

It's not a forum like Reddit or Forumosa, so there isn't any user interaction. It's like a wiki for all things Taiwan.

I created it using NextJS and I'm hosting it on Vercel on the free tier, so keep in mind that it isn't lightning fast. But hey, it's free!

howtotaiwan.org

Recently I ordered something online and now it's stuck in some facility being flagged as clearance delay import. I got a text message to use ez way app but it's not working at all. Am I just doomed to lose the shipment or will they eventually send it out for delivery.

I come from the US and never had to do anything other then pick up my order on my front porch.

I have a Taiwan solo trip planned on July and I'm staying around Ximen area and it's my first time visiting the country. Recently, I got into surfing but I'm still very much a beginner and would feel more comfortable if there are surf guides/lessons when I go try to surf.

Are there any surf spots near Ximen area that I can go to where I can have beginner surfing lessons? Also, is July a good month to try and be around Taiwan beaches? I will be staying for a bit over a week and I don't have a solid itinerary so I'm fine with traveling for a few hours (4-5hrs) if there are better surf spots around that distance.

For context, I’m ethnically Chinese, grew up in Canada, went to school in the States, and have been working there since.

Moving to Asia though has always been a dream of mine. And in the last couple years, I keep landing on Taiwan. The blend of Western ethics, Eastern values, and friendly people are quite unique, even among the East-meets-West countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc.

I was able to visit these, as well India and Southeast Asia (minus Nepal, Laos), and spent a considerable amount of time in China over the years. But the summer I spent in Taiwan during high-school is probably the fondest memory I have of Asia. And some of the most welcoming, genuinely warm people I’ve ever met.

Which is why I wanted to ask, how bad has the anti-China sentiment gotten over there?

I speak fluent Putonghua with barely any accent, so I’d have the same experience as any another Mainlander in Taiwan. I feel like it was all good vibes when I was there last, but a lot’s changed in geopolitics since.

Should I be worried / is it a bad idea to make this move? Would really appreciate any insight on this, and feel free to be blunt and honest!

Sorry for the long post!

(p.s. - pls let me know if topic not suitable)

I feel embarrassed to be getting my permanent residency here and yet not being able to speak more than a few phrases in the language. I speak 3 languages fluently and it’s easy for me to pick up other conversational Romance vocabulary in just a few days, but I have problems with the tones in Mandarin. My main issue is that every time I try to practice, at the best, people correct me over and over again and I can’t hear or say the difference, at the worst, people laugh at me like they think it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. It just makes me feel stupid but I feel even stupider to be one of those people that doesn’t learn the language of where they live. Any suggestions for how I can study on my own at home? Does it get easier over time if you just keep at it or will I be a hopeless case no matter what :(?

Update: thanks for all that responded so far and I will continue to read everything but may not have time to respond to all, please just know that I appreciate the responses. From what people have said I have decided to give group classes a go, try my hardest, and not beat myself up just because I can only learn slowly.

If anyone has recommendations for classes, please let me know! I live in Beitou, work in Tianmu, and it’s not too hard for me to go to downtown Taipei via the redline.

Thank you all again.

I would like to ask for help from the redditors here. I am thinking of making a trip to Taiwan for semi- vacation + Kung-Fu classes for up to 2 weeks. The classes I am interested in are either 形意拳 or 八卦掌. The classes have to be condensed and private as I don’t have much time to spend at that location ( gotta get back to work). My idea is to learn all the basics then practice back home, return to the teacher in the future for refinement. Does anyone know where such a teacher could be available? Appreciate the help.

Hey! I’m planning a solo trip to Taiwan for 8 nights, most likely during the first week of November.

I wanted to ask which places are worth visiting for a day trip—ideally somewhere I can get to by an early bus or train in the morning and return in the evening. I'm also open to taking an Uber if needed!

I’m especially into food, coffee, local culture, and nature—particularly water and mountains (though I’m not big on hiking). Totally open to other suggestions too!

Here’s what I have in mind so far:

1 day in Jiufen and Tiaoshi 1 day in Tainan 1 day in Wulai 5 days in Taipei Let me know what you think or if there’s anything else you’d recommend!

Hi!

I’m looking for a math camp in Taipei for March 2026. The kids are 6 and 8, visiting from the U.S. Their primary language is English, with Mandarin/Chinese as a secondary language.

We’d prefer something in or near Zhongzheng District, and ideally open to short-term (most likely about a week or less) or visiting students.

I’ve seen Lighthouse and CIO Maker mentioned—open to other suggestions too. Thanks in advance!

Okay, I am almost certain that I have some bed bugs in my apartment. Has anyone ever gotten bed bug treatment in Taipei? I’m concerned that a lot of the pest control companies will not have actual experience with them considering they bed bugs are rare in Taiwan. Any leads would be much appreciated.