Taiwan Nightlife

Taiwan has many foreigner owned and operated pubs, bars and restaurants, especially in the major cities. There is a wide selection and style of cuisines including western sports theme, Turkish cuisine, East Indian, all the way to British pub themes. The larger discos and clubs are generally Taiwanese owned and operated. As of 2010, they generally offer you all you can drink for one door entrance fee,  There are many corner style neighborhood Taiwanese style bars and pubs in every city. A lot of these are piano style talk bars.

Bars, discos, clubs, pubs and talking pubs are quite abundant throughout Taiwan but most Taiwanese are work addicts and very family oriented, so needless to say, they generally don't frequent bars regularly. I have known and met women in their early thirties that have never yet step foot inside a bar. However, the younger Taiwanese generation and college kids are breaking the pub scene more and more every year. The trend making an abundance of bars opening up every day like wild fire. Even though it may not seem like there is a lack of foreigners in Taiwan when visiting clubs and clubs, overall, the ratio of foreigners to Chinese is very small and you will find that many of the most popular clubs ask cover charges for foreigners on the weekends, and have special foreigner nights. It's becoming more popular to pay a standard entrance fee from $300 to $500 NTD and all your drinks are include for the entire night.

There can be good and bad in any bar scene, so be aware. Although the "Bamboo" and 'Triads' or Chinese Mafia don't frequent the foreign bars and clubs, if you decide you want to, frequent and visit night clubs which don't have a large percentage of foreigners, be aware prepared to swallow your pride, bite your loose tongue and try not to step on any toes. There are many known cases where a drunken foreigner has been too mouthy or too forward with a young Taiwanese gal and has been found beaten unconscious in the street waiting for a lift to the nearest hospital. Just keep in mind that we are in their backyard, you are a visitor and respect others and you'll never have a problem. For the most part, try to keep to yourself and your friends and don't be too aggressive, touchy feel or too quick to approach others. Just approaching a chick, asking for a dance is considered uncommon. However, it is not uncommon to be minding your own business and get approached by a friendly Taiwanese wanting to meet you and practice their English or meet the outstanding minority, or new face in the crowd.

Bottle Clubs

Currently, bottle clubs have become a more popular  form of nightlife. Customers buy bottled liquor and store them in racks for future consumption. Clubs like these are posh and exclusive. Live entertainment is provided and dancing is allowed. It is the businessmen who usually frequent these clubs as it is a suitable place for entertaining clients and associates on corporate expense accounts.

Lazer Treks In Taipei-Things To Do

Karaoke (KTV) 

Chinese Songs (English Lyrics)

Vocal talent means nothing in the karaoke world. It has never mattered whether or not one sings well. The point is that it is a moment to shine -- on or off key. It is the one form of entertainment where you can only blame yourself -- the entertainer -- for not having a good time.

Outside of Japan, the largest number of karaoke clubs, more commonly known as KTVs, can be found in Taiwan. Taichung itself is said to have the largest number of KTVs on the island. May not be the first thing to market to the masses, but it is inherently a part of Taiwanese culture and probably the easiest activities for foreigners to access. As artificial as KTVs may be to westerners, who would rather be outside creating their own entertainment, there is something about the Asian karaoke experience that shouldn't be left from your things to do list.

It's laid back entertainment that gives foreigners an optimum chance to completely submerge themselves and revel in Taiwanese modern culture.

Karaoke was supposedly started in a tiny snack bar in Kobe City, Japan. When the entertainer of the night wasn't available due to an illness or other undetermined reasons, the owner of the bar would play tapes of background music, toss the microphone into the customer's hands and the rest was history.

Karaoke combines two Japanese words: kara is short for karappo, which means empty, and oke is part of okestura, meaning orchestra. An empty orchestra, a microphone and a singer - the major ingredients of karaoke.

Since its origination 20 years ago, Taiwan has also picked up on the karaoke craze. The Taiwanese have worked diligently over the past years, making karaoke their own.

    , karaoke clubs and bars are one of the most popular forms of entertainment for the Taiwanese. It is difficult to travel through any city in Taiwan without being flashed down in the dark by bright neon lights luring passer bys Vegas-style.

     Taichung currently has 100's of KTVs listed in the white pages. Many of these KTVs are legitimate chains and family-like entertainment clubs. Other KTVs put some ambiguity into Taiwan's definition of illegal. Even with the latest crackdowns on high-end KTV clubs, which cater to some of Taiwan's richest businessmen, Jio Diens (KTV Night Clubs) rank high in numbers.

     Some of the more conspicuous KTVs focus on giving businessmen full nights of alcohol and fun. They are easily recognized by the red, white and blue twirling barbershop spindle out in front. Large posters of semi-naked women are most likely your best insight into what kind of business these laobans (bosses) are running.

    When you finally decide to enter, expect to be bombarded by KTV "princesses", decked out in elaborate chiapo clothing (Taiwanese traditional Dresses), who are looking to dig deep into your pockets. One night at a Jio Dien could amount from NT$30,000 to 40,000. Even the smaller ones, which are barely visible from the street and usually have dark steaming windows, offer shady entertainment for around NT$5,000 or NT$600 per person.

     Aside from the fact that A-mei and Coco's latest "Di da di" will both be missing from the shelves, don't expect to find any foreign music either. Since most of Jio Diens customers are older businessmen, their selections are mainly limited to traditional Taiwanese music. The clubs are also known for having bad systems, since singing karaokee is not always the main purpose.

     There are plenty of establishments which offer good wholesome singing fun, as wholesome as karaoke can get of course. Perhaps the most famous and most popular KTV chain in Taiwan is Holiday KTV, which beam bright orange and white signs which are difficult to miss. Holiday KTV is known for their good service and excellent systems, providing optimum singing needs.

       Holiday KTV (Party World)  is probably the best option for expats since it boasts a large foreign music selection as well as a large collection of the latest Chinese pop songs. Unless you can read characters, it is best to memorize the lyrics before entering since the TV screens don't offer ba pa ma pa or ping ying. On any weekday, Holiday can cost around NT$199 per person for up to two and a half hours of singing. On the weekends, the price jumps to NT$299 per person. Drinks and food are not included in the price. There are up to 40 rooms at each Holiday KTV but it is advisable to go early since it is one of the hottest spots for Chinese teenagers to hang out. Holiday KTVs are located downtown  and at 821 Wen Hsin Rd., Section 4.

     If you are looking for something more private and comfortable, you can rent a room at Ja Nien Hua or Hu Jia Huan, both which feature private wooden houses for groups of people. A small room for 5 people costs NT$300 per person, a middle sized room costs around $500 per person and a large room may cost up to $800 per person. There are two Ja Nien Huas in Taichung which can be found on Chung Kang Rd before the bus station and on Han Ko Rd., Section 4. Hu Jia Huan also has two locations at Nantun Rd. and Wen Hsin Rd., Section 2.

If you want to go KTV hopping, there is a wide variety of privately owned KTVs can be found in second section of Wen Hsin Rd. between Kung Yi Rd. and Chung Kang Rd. 

    While karaokee may not revolutionize the musical world, who is to say that stars won¡¦t be born as they find themselves at the mic within the confines of a KTV. One thing is certain however ....the Taiwanese truly love to sing. While most westerners are more reserved about karaoke, often times willing only to sing in large groups or while under the influence of alcohol at bars, the Chinese travel in hordes to KTVs, with family members, friends, co-workers and strangers. It rare to meet a Chinese person who has not willingly visited a KTV once or twice in his or her life.

All foreigners living in Taiwan should take on the KTV experience before returning home. It may not seem authentic, traditional, or cultural for that matter. And it's not be as fun as majong or as meaningful as tae kwan do and most would agree that it's artificial entertainment at its best. But when the lights hit you and the music starts, you'll understand the karaoke craze. Maybe you'll want more, maybe you won't. But you'll never know unless you try.

KTVs are a favorite pastime where Taiwanese to spend their free time. It seems that most Taiwanese have true musical talent. This culture loves to sing and socialize. KTVs are Karaoke bars where you can rent a small to large sized private room go and sing and drink with colleagues, business clients or friends. It's not uncommon for a Taiwanese to invite his xpat friend to a night out at KTV for food and drink and singing women. Possibly find a 'girlfriend' for a price for the night if you so desire. They are scattered all over the country. There are basically two kinds of KTVs in Taiwan, the family kind and the more discreet type. Its not always that obvious which is which till you begin your adventure.

 Luxy Taipei

Drugs In Taiwan

Drugs seem to be everywhere in the world. Drugs are highly illegal in Taiwan and those caught selling face the death penalty, although it is difficult to recall any case where a foreigner has been treated this badly. The rave scene is thriving in Taiwan however and 'ecstasy, Kitamine, coke and other hard drugs are readily available and can sometimes be seen out in the open in some bars/clubs. As of 2007, it's getting more strict and less seen in the open. After hours places breed this type of behavior.

Compared to Western countries and the ROC's affluent Asian neighbors, drug abuse in Taiwan did not appear to be a serious problem before 1970 and only a minor problem during the 1970's and 1980's. At that time, while some teenagers practiced glue sniffing, young adults used pentazo-cine and sedatives. Their number was rather limited. Addicts of heroin or morphine were found mostly in the underworld. In the later half of the 1980's, double-digit economic growth, low inflation and minimal unemployment steadily pushed economic prosperity in Taiwan towards new heights. The process of political democratization further loosened the social discipline. Dramatic changes began to appear in the drug scene. Since 1990, methamphetamine suddenly replaced soft drugs as the most popluar drug in Taiwan, and its abuse spread at an astonishing speed. Meanwhile, heroin consumption also started to jump and leap during 1990-93. A look at the volume of illegal drugs seized and the number of offenders convicted may give us a clearer picture of just how bad the problem is.

Drug Seizures	Drug Offenders
Estimated Drug Users	Drug Inmate Population
Why Do People Use Drugs?	Drug Dealers and Their Operations

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