This is actually a big deal, Taiwanese airlines use Pakistan's airspace to fly to Europe, now they're having to use Russian airspace again after not using it for almost 5 years since Russia invaded Ukraine.

So strange if you don’t know why they do that (the background)

I am a 1.5 generation Taiwanese-Chinese American (born in Taipei, grew up in the States but go back to Taiwan frequently, and have been back and forth all my life). I’m in my mid 30s

I speak mandarin pretty OK, for the most part.

I am in Kaosiung with my family. Tonight we went to eat 冰 and I asked the teenage girl working the cashier for a spoon (調羹). She stared at me like I had 3 heads. Then an older woman working in the back told her what it meant.

I was floored. I told my mom and my aunt about this interaction and they said young Taiwanese people mostly say「湯匙」

What!!! When did this happen!! The fact that “調羹” is an outdated word is blowing my mind 😭

Edit: OK I am embarrassed even typing this out but the funniest part of this entire interaction was when the teenage girl (she was in her high school uniform) came to deliver our food, I ASKED HER WHERE SHE WAS FROM. 笑死我了。I was convinced she was Vietnamese because she went completely mute and wide eyed during my spoon inquiry. She was probably like, “b*tch where are YOU from”

Was at the airport and overheard somebody bought a fake arrival card.

Fyi the real one is free.

When I looked it up before travelling, the fake one was one of the first sponsored hits on Google. Taiwan gov should have a chat to Google. seems to be a common thing

I only found out I was filling in a fake one once I got to the purchase section and was informed by my partner.

I am not sure how Duolingo generates lessons, let alone reviews them, but feels like it might be scraping Chinese internet, flooded with AI optimism and reminiscent of state propaganda based on the verbs used.

hi everyone, im new to taiwan and i would love to join the pride happening on the 31st. i have been following their instagram but everything is written in mandarin. could anyone tell me the exact location from where the parade starts. it shows that they have 2 directions of marching, im confused which one i should to go?

also, i will be coming alone. will it be easy to make friends as a non chinese speaker during the parade. i really dont wanna enjoy by myself. and i see a lot of events but they're all in chinese, any suggestions what events i can go to as an international student?

also are there any bar/cafe/party i could be a part of post parade? would love to attend and make some queer friends :)

I want to learn Taiwanese Mandarin and move to Taiwan in the future (5-year perspective). Now I have a zero level of language and I am in my third year of university (Still studying this year and next. (I'm studying to be an English translator). I am from Central Asia (Kazakhstan) I want to ask someone how realistic it is for me to find a job or get into a Master's degree in Taiwan. Naturally, I've already read about this on the Internet, but all the advice there is for citizens of other countries or people who have relatives or a wife/husband there. I wonder if I'll be able to do anything at all? I also asked the Al for migration advice, but of course, this machine just praises me for my unusual choice and says that I'm a good guy, without giving any advice.

Pulled the military lottery today and I got into the army. I know there are 4 units, the air force, army, navy, and marines. I know air force by majority is considered to be best. Is the army alright? or is it also considered unlucky as well?

I made a Taiwan Pride 2026 Google Maps overlay because it might be easier for many. Parade starts at 1pm on Saturday October 31st leaving from the west side of Taipei City Hall, then splits into two routes.

The southern route splits at Guangfu South Road while the Northern Route keeps going until they hit the Renai Dunnan traffic circle. It's a big parade and many of the people there are allies, see you there.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this lol

My family (white+American) will be adopting a girl around seven years old from Taiwan soon (we haven't been placed with someone yet, but we will be). I was wondering if there are any differences in culture to keep in mind? And also what kinds of kids shows/media are popular? And what kind of meals are popular with kids there? I'm assuming they have their own equivalent of mac and cheese and chicken tenders.

I want to make sure that she feels welcome :)

Edit- sorry I'm bad at explaining things: I am a teenager and will be this girl's adoptive sister. I like to cook and want to know what food I could make that would be at least somewhat familiar to her.

Just through some cursory searching, I saw that Taiwanese prisons have nap time. Most schools also have nap time. I was surprised to see that nap time is not a very common part of Japanese prisons / schools. So many things in Taiwan are taken from Japan, so I'd always just thought nap time was another one of those habits since it's very structured and even rigidly enforced. So, what is the root of nap time? How did the Japanese colonizers feel about it?

I'm not from America but I've always been a fond of comics, mainly DC and I overall like the western culture. I will go to Taiwan like a year later.

so, where can I find some DC comic book stores in Taiwan? I want to buy comics :)

Hey guys! I’m currently living in Taiwan and looking for a cheaper way to transfer money from a Taiwanese bank to a US bank or brokerage account.

I have accounts with E.SUN Bank and Chunghwa Post. I’m usually looking to send around $1,000–$2,000 USD at a time, but the transfer fees seem pretty expensive for such small amounts.

For example, with E.SUN:
Handling fee: NT$100
SWIFT/wire fee: NT$900
Total: NT$1,000 (around $31 USD) per transfer
Even when transferring directly from my USD account, the fee is still around $30.81.

Not a huge amount, but it definitely adds up if you’re planning to transfer regularly. 😅

Has anyone found a cheaper alternative? Maybe another Taiwanese bank, Wise, or some other service?

I’d love to know:
How much do you actually pay in total, including any hidden/intermediary bank fees?
How good are the exchange rates?
How long does the transfer usually take?
Does it work for funding US brokerage accounts?

Just trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to move money from Taiwan to the US without losing too much on fees.
Would really appreciate any recommendations or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!

Hello friends, I am traveling to Taiwan soon and hope to fish there. I am curious about the best locations and where fishing is permitted. I also watched some YouTube videos by Mattsturgefishing, where he explores fishing sites in Taiwan the spots he visits look impressive and match my interests. I am seeking recommendations from experienced people.

I also noticed online that, although the country bans fishing nationwide, locals may still fish. Are authorities less strict about such matters?

Cant wait to visit Taiwan again, love from Singapore❤️

Ps: this was the video I referenced (https://youtu.be/ihA5RmEZE3A?is=qgGNG98TZQal-z4U) love this guy’s enthusiasm haha

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for people in Taiwan who would be interested in starting a small political science salon — either online (probably discord) or through in-person meetups in Taipei.

The idea is to create a space where people can discuss politics, political theory, history, political economy, and social movements in a more thoughtful and in-depth way than is usually possible in everyday conversations or online comment sections.

I'm interested in a wide range of perspectives, including liberalism, socialism, anarchism, conservatism, and other political traditions. The goal wouldn't be to promote a particular ideology, but to exchange ideas, critically examine our own assumptions, and learn from people who may disagree with us.

We could read and discuss books, academic papers, essays, or current political developments. We could also take turns proposing topics or leading discussions, depending on everyone's interests.

A few things I'm thinking about:

• Format: Online meetings, in-person meetups in Taipei, or a combination of both.
• Frequency: Perhaps once or twice a month to start with.
• Language: English or Chinese, depending on the participants.
• Participation: No formal academic background in political science is necessary. Curiosity and a willingness to engage in good-faith discussion are enough.

This is just an initial idea, so nothing is set in stone. I'd like to find a few interested people first and work out the format together.

If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM. It would be great to build a small community for serious but friendly political discussion in Taiwan!

Hey guys, I'm a bit confused on the passport instructions on the website when applying in person at TECO LA as an agent. Is a notarized copy of a passport enough when applying for someone as an agent, or do I need to apostille the passport copy too?

US passport not ROC. Please let me know if you've been an agent.

Tried Taihu in Da’an and it was ok. Sober burger was ok too.

Any other spots that are good? Doesn’t matter if it’s classic or smash.

For reference, I think Beep’s in SF or Heavy Handed in LA are pretty good. Also like in n out.

Does anyone know if food is sold inside Kaoshiung stadium for upcoming arirang concert? I did a google check to find out there's no food stalls inside stadium and that usually it's outside. I'm going for soundcheck and dont want to end up starving inside.

Hi guys, I have kinda an urgent question - the Taiwan Arrival Card needs me to fill in a departure flight even though I am going there with a working holiday Visa for 6 months and I should actually not be required to already have a departure flight since I showed proof of enough funds to buy my ticket later when they issued my Visa...

Does anyone know what to do? do i really have to buy some flight now just so I can put it into the Arrival Card?

My Sony headphones (WH-1000XM4) broke the other day, the plastic inside the swivel/hinge connection between the cup and the headband. I've seen YouTube videos that show that Sony does supply replacement parts for the component that broke however all the video tutorials on how to fix it look like you need an electrical engineering degree to pull off so I'm not gonna try on my own. Anyone ever had any specialist or enthusiast audio equipment repaired before and know where I can go to get it done?

I almost got swindled near the sunrise train… is there anywhere that sells high quality mountain tea to take home? Or when we go back to Taipei? Direct from a farm or family? We are staying in the park no car so I understand if I’d have to go to a village but can’t.