Living in Taichung - Helpful advice from an expat

Hello fellow expats,

Well the last year and a half has just flown by, and the phase "time goes fast when you are having fun" certainly applies here!

I thought I'd send a post out just so people who are interested in moving to Taichung would be able to hit the ground running with this (hopefully) helpful information, as I really wanted something like this before I came over.

Well here it goes . . .

Getting on your feet:


There is a free local press magazine call "Compass" most expat restaurants and bars have these, it's free! grab one when you get a chance - you'll find a detailed map/s on pages 32-35, all the street names are in pinyin and Chinese and most of the well known restaurants are highlighted, every month a new publication comes out and in it you'll find whats new "new hot spots", dining in and around Taichung, Arts, Culture, activities & promotions as well as a handy directory. Otherwise do want I did and just hit the streets get lost for a few hours and find your own way around its an amazing city and very safe.


*Note: Any great places you visit, grab a business card! it'll come in handy when returning to the same venue via taxi


Rental Properties & Agents:


591.com.tw is a well known rental property website unfortunately it's all in Chinese, but if you have a close Chinese friend they'll be able to take you through it, otherwise I used a company called E Grand Real Estate Services Co. (Email: [email protected]) they specialise in expat accommodation, they speak very good English and are very helpful when setting you up, also Jammy House Rental Services (jammyhouse.com) I haven't used that one, so not to sure how good they are!.


Prices: Depending on your needs and wants you can get a single room with a toilet for about NT$5000 ($165AU/US) per month or $60,000+ ($1985AU/US) p/m  for a 4 bedroom fully furnished apartment, these prices vary drastically on you location, so shop around. The West District (Xi District) will be more expensive due to its central location than say Bei or Xitun which are closer to Uni's and School's and about 10-15 min outside the town centre


Staying alive:

You need to eat, well I found the cost of eating out was cheaper than cooking at home (Expat meals anyway) and I'm yet after nearly 2 years to find a bad meal . . .

Here are some great expat and local places that I found to get you started

Local:

You can't experience Taiwan without going to a night market so go to 逢甲夜市 (Fung Chia Night Market) Just opp the University its one of the best in Taichung otherwise there is a great "eat street" in the West District (Xi District) Zhongmei street very nice spot.


This next place I stumbled on while I was lost walking around the city, I saw a large number of local lined up so I just joined the queue, little did I know they were selling goose pancakes! back in Australia whenever I'd go to a Chinese restaurant it would be the first thing I'd order. Now I'm having the real deal and mark my words you will not be disappointed. they will slice it up for you, give you the pancakes, spring onion and sauce and stir fry the rest of the goose for you in spices. 1 goose if enough to feed 4 people and cost about AU$11 - soooooo good!!! 114 Gongzheng Rd (cnr Gongzheng Meicun Rd Section 1)


top-d.com.tw or what I call the Prawn place, is another great place that I have return to on many occasions. It obviously specialises in prawns ( I recommend the pesto prawns) but also does lobster, crab, squid, lamb shanks with bond marrow and all relatively inexpensive + the setting is amazing.


drunken-duck.com.tw The Drunken Duck. This one is a hit with all the expats, great outdoor restaurant, friendly service and again not too expensive. Funny, I'm yet try duck at this restaurant but everything else is amazing (call ahead and order the pork knuckle 40-50min to cook) YES!


Big Juicy Goose: eats.pinjing.net/2009/09/28/eating-out-big-juicy-goose-taichung-taiwan/ this one is a hit with the locals, I've only been a few times but never have I left disappointed.


Din Tai Fung: B2, No.105, Sec. 2, Taichung Port Rd., Taichung City (Taichung FE21 Mega Shopping Center) what can I say! I truly love this place, in my eyes this place can do no wrong + I still think its one of the best hangover cures. try the xiao long bao, greens with pork &  the spicy wontons - yummy writing this is making me hungry!


Red Steak: I just try this place about 2 weeks ago and want to go back, its Taichungs take at an American Steakhouse, Set menus are priced between NT$490 and NT$790, and include an appetizer, soup, bread, salad, dessert and drink.


Expat places:

Uzo Mediterranean bar & grill: uzobar.com JingCheng 5th Street Nantun District. great outdoor dining, great friendly service and popular expat hangout

La bodega: LABODEGA西班牙小館 A great friendly hangout that is one of only a few places in Taichung that shows EPL, NRL, AFL, Rugby Union - check it out

Bystro: 27號, Lane 50, Jīngchéng Road, Xitun District, Italian/western style restaurant cosy and great food + the owner is a champion

Burger Joint: wretch.cc/blog/jointburger Just amazing juicy burgers always worth a visit

Chilis: chilis.com.tw American style diner, Huge meals (don't over order) go there if you want a piece of home

Pizza Rock: pizzarock.com.tw probably the best pizza in town, but I'm yet to try them all!!


Now you need to drink . .

Bars & Clubs:

Just before I arrive 1 1/2 years ago a tragic fire happened at a local club, i wont go into detail, but the local government made sweeping changes basically overnight and shut down 256 venues within a couple of months, some venues are just now opening back up but still you hear of others shutting down. This is still a hot topic when you go out (be careful)


You'll find that Taichung doesn't have a large drinking culture, most locals sit outside the 7/11 and Family Marts and drink there (is not as bad as it sounds) I've done it, a beer at the 7/11 will cost about AU.80c (Awesome)

Keep in mind that most of the Expat Restaurants that I have mentioned above have a designated bar area

But . . . you can still find some places:

Bars:

KC Cafe best local bar - by far! (Very small)
Deluxe Brew house
Easy Pub
Orgasmo cafe
Gordon Biersch

Clubs:

Quattro (Highly recommended)
TC 18's
X-cube
Spin (New)
The Refuge

Hotels:
Hotel One (Great Bar over looking the city but $$)
Splender (Central location)
Howard (best buffet - Friday lunch)
Evergreen
Tempus
Hung's mansion

Cafe's
Nunchuk
LM relax
85 C cafe
Bistro 88


If this isn't your thing and you'd rather stay at home or go Shopping well . .


There are 3 major Department stores

Sogo (oppsite the Splender Hotel)
This is just your run of the mill Department Store, good central location

Mitsukoshi
Nice Department with everything you need from books to ipods to designer clothes they have just renovated Level B2 worth a look very nice, great little grocery/Supermarket


Top-City
This is the newest out of the 3 and just opposite Mitsukoshi (go figure?)
Massive Cinema, a food court called the food republic made to look like you are walking the street of Taichung, very well set out. great restaurants and bar on the 12 floor
and probably the best expat Supermarket in Taichung But very expensive $$

other stores worthy of a mention . .

Capitan shopping centre: Great Japanese style Supermarket
Parklane Department store: Great food court and Book store
Nova Department store: All your electrical appliance needs opposite Parklane Department Store
Tiger City: Good cinema if the others are too busy
Finga's base camp, best bakery in town . . if you are Australian they sell Vegemite
Costco: Large, No huge Shopping centre . . You can only buy things in bulk!!


Just to give you an idea of how much things cost (Food & Drinks wise)

Water - AU.80c - $1
Milk - AU$1-$1.60
Western Style bread - AU$1 - $3
Fruit & Veg - Local AU.20c - $3
Fruit & Veg - Expat supermarket AU$2 - $10 (imported Fruit & Veg)

Eating out:

Street Food - AU $2 - $5
Cafe - AU $5 - $15
Restaurant AU $15 - $50
Specialised Restaurant AU $25 - $150


Student/Teachers


If you would like to study Mandarin (first of all good luck) the places I went to were. .

TLI Mandarin, English, Japanese, French & Spanish- great teachers, I did one-on-one classes when I first arrived it cost about NT$12000 per month

Feng Chia University - After a couple of months at TLI I went to FCU did group classes, again great teachers and a good way to meet new people, Cost about $15000 a semester (2months)


Tealit.com is a great site for both teachers and students it has a noticeboard with teaching jobs, language exchange, classified etc, etc



Getting around:


Before you leave your motherland I would suggest getting an international drivers licence, the best way to see this island is via Scooter, I bought a 125cc Scooter for NT$15000 off a friend, the starting price is about NT$30000 - so shop around. It cost about AU$5 per week in fuel travelling around the city and a service will cost AU$10-30 every 4 or so months.


High speed rail
I think it take about 2 or so hours to travel the lenght of the Island Travelling at 332 km/hour, non-reserved tickets cost about AU$16 from Taichung to Taipei and for business class about AU$30


Tour buses

Another great way to see the island, companies do tours for a short as a couple of hours to a whole week, prices range from AU$25 - $400-500 which includes everything food, activities, places to stay etc. Look them up - its a must do!


Pets:

I have a dog myself that I imported from Australia, if you would like any more information regarding importing and exporting pet I'd be happy to help.

helpful info if you do have a pet . .

The Vet I have being taking my Dog to is called Loving Kindness pet store lkpet.com.tw/ No. 64-11, Section 2, Táizhōnggǎng Road, Xitun District

They have 1 or 2 veterinarian that can speak fairly good English and all the medicine is pretty cheap, If you need your dog or cat groomed there is a great spot call Bobby Pet Shower - Sunshine cafe (look them up on Facebook) its a bit pricey but worth it. Most parks are pet friendly and most pets that visit these parks are friendly as well, however Taichung is known for its stray dogs which come out night from local construction site and they mainly roam in packs (be careful) I haven't had any trouble they are usually submissive.



All in all, I have had a great time here and my best advise is to try and get some of the language down and then go out and enjoy yourself, you'll find Taichung locals are super friendly if you look like you are in any sort of trouble the locals that can speak a slight amount of English will come and help. Taichung is one of the most friendliest places I've been in the world, the people are just fantastic and the food is world class even the street vendors


Well . . . I hope this has been helpful, if you have any other questions about Taichung, I'll be happy to help

safe travels

James