Kaohsiung vs. Hsinchu vs Taichung

[headhonchoII]

Oh I agree it has a more tropical vibe and pleasant spots in between the industry and the smog and 6 million people. Polynesian wouldn't be the word I'd use personally.

[Meadows]

Oh I agree it has a more tropical vibe and pleasant spots in between the industry and the smog and 6 million people. Polynesian wouldn't be the word I'd use personally.

slight·ly/ˈslītlē/
Adverb:
To a small degree; inconsiderably.

[Deuce Dropper]

it all depends how you like your turds, fried, grilled or baked. this island takes a nosedive with respect to quality of life for foreigners the minute you leave central Taipei. If you are going to live outside Taipei, go full nature, don't live in a city that is in every way crappier than Taipei, with none of the benefits of being at nature's doorstep.

Its either Taipei or the XiangXia Hinterland. The rest of Taiwan is just dust, signboards and warehouses.

*braces himself for the flaming*

[tommy525]

Grew up in TAipei but travelled a lot to Ktown over the last decade I was there. IF i ever live again on taiwan, id like to live in Ktown. And thats saying A LOT. IN the past I was TAipei or bust, but now im thinking Ktown is just right.

[Deuce Dropper]

Grew up in TAipei but travelled a lot to Ktown over the last decade I was there. IF i ever live again on taiwan, id like to live in Ktown. And thats saying A LOT. IN the past I was TAipei or bust, but now im thinking Ktown is just right.

You're right, it does say a lot.

[touduke]

it all depends how you like your turds, fried, grilled or baked. this island takes a nosedive with respect to quality of life for foreigners the minute you leave central Taipei. If you are going to live outside Taipei, go full nature, don't live in a city that is in every way crappier than Taipei, with none of the benefits of being at nature's doorstep.

Its either Taipei or the XiangXia Hinterland. The rest of Taiwan is just dust, signboards and warehouses.

*braces himself for the flaming*

After 7 years in Taipei and about 7 now in Taichung I know both places well.
Taichung is better for things important to me.
Nature's doorstep is close here, even within city limits, Nantou and high mountains a stone throw away, weather is soooo much better, life, rent, immovables all much cheaper. (according to my calculations I spent 150.000 less a year)
I have nightlife at home or with friends at their homes. Jobwise it's the same for me (universities) - heard the air is bad - never ever felt it myself. And did I mention that in Taipei in one month it rains as much as in Taichung in a year.
Lots of culture, exhibitions, concerts (even stuff like Lady Gaga), good museums, good places for kids, good concert hall (walking distance for me) and it's much closer to Kending than Taipei.
I thank my wife that she hates Taipei.

[tommy525]

Grew up in TAipei but travelled a lot to Ktown over the last decade I was there. IF i ever live again on taiwan, id like to live in Ktown. And thats saying A LOT. IN the past I was TAipei or bust, but now im thinking Ktown is just right.

You're right, it does say a lot.

[Confuzius]

I live in Taichung, a close friend of mine lives in Hsinchu (and we visited Kaohsiung together, lol).

Whenever he visits me, or we go anywhere, lets say, a coffee shop, or a restaurant, ANYTHING he always says "Boy, I wish we had places like this in Hsinchu" and we're not talking about super awesome nightclubs...just plain ole coffee shops and restaurants. This gives me the impression that Hsinchu is a blackhole of evil depression with nothing to do...night or day.

Taichung ain't too exciting I gotto admit, but its cheap, the weather is great, its super easy to get to the countryside ifya want. Its kinda like a big small town vs a small city. I like it, but there are some very particular things here for me that would not apply to anyone else.

So I would say Hsinchu should not be an option. Ifya wanna party, Kaohsiung may be better than Taichung.

[tommy525]

Let me say it again. Hsinchu will make you hate yourself more.

(except for the beef noodles, they got em, yummy, and the girls are prettttty cute too)

[grandfeller]

Let me say it again. Hsinchu will make you hate yourself more.

(except for the beef noodles, they got em, yummy, and the girls are prettttty cute too)

Haha! I liked Hsinchu when I lived in Zhubei and Xinfeng (Hsinchu County) 13 years ago. But the main reasons I can think of were the beef noodles and the friends I had (still have) there. They had the prettiest binlang girls, too. But I never had to spend a winter there.

Kaohsiung certainly is nice for it's access to great mountains and coast.