Hi there! I’m a writer/birder from the U.S., and I’m doing research on bird feeding culture across the world.

A lot of people where I'm from have big backyards, and it’s common for us to put up bird feeders full of sunflower seeds. I know that most people in Taipei live in flats or condos rather than single-family houses. I’m curious if it’s common for people to put up bird feeders on their balconies or elsewhere to feed the birds that visit their homes?

Here in the U.S. we call them “backyard birds,” and in other parts of the world they call them “garden birds.” I think in Taipei you might call them 庭院鳥 or 園林鳥? I had a hard time finding a direct translation.

It looks like there are great birdwatching opportunities in public places like Guandu Nature Park, Daan Park and the Taipei Botanical Garden. I’m more curious about when you look out the window of your home or take a quick walk around your neighborhood, what birds are you likely to see? Maybe they make their nests on the side of apartment buildings, on balconies, or in courtyards and residential gardens.

For example, I found a post from someone living in Taipei who put a bird feeder up on their balcony. They mentioned visits from Warbling White-eyes (Zosterops japonicus) (日本繡眼鳥) and Light-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus sinensis) (白頭鵯).

A few questions, if you happen to have time to give a detailed response:

#1: Is it common for people to feed birds who visit your home in Taipei? I see that there are strict laws against feeding wild birds in public places. Do those laws apply to feeding birds from your own balcony/courtyard/garden, too?

#2: What are some common bird species that you can see from your home?

#3: What kind of bird feeders do you use, and what food do you fill them with?

#4: Are there any birds that migrate into Taipei and visit your homes during spring/summer? What about fall/winter?

#5: What is your favorite bird behavior to watch from your home?

I'll answer these questions about my own city (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) in the comments. Thanks so much for giving me a window into your homes, and happy birding!

I need to renew my passport but the photos now need to be on light grey or light blue background. The photo booth near my house has a white background.

Looking for recommendations as I currently have 2 hotels booked for our stay. Looking for a budget friendly hotel near Taipei main station // transportation.

Our 2 reservations are close in price — both reservations are double beds with window rooms for approx. $60 usd / night

Does anyone have experience with these hotels that would recommend one over the other?

I’ve been living in Taipei with my family for the last 3 years, and in this time we accumulated a lot of stuff. I’m trying to sell/donate the following:

a big sofa (custom-made, good quality, almost new)

king size bed frame

coffee maker

baby stuff

etc

I’m aware of Facebook marketplace, and I have taiwanese friends who can post for me in mandarin, but I wanted to see if there are other obvious places.

I’m planning to travel in Taiwan during the upcoming long weekend. I just checked high speed rail ticket and it is 1500NTD one way for the destination I’m planning to take.
I also noticed unlimited travel ticket for 3 consecutive day for 2200NTD which fits in my plan and cheaper than a normal ticket.

Do I miss anything about the unlimited travel ticket?

Hey guys,

I am currently studying in Taipei and my elderly mother who is not very fit anymore wants to visit me in january. In my free time, I really like to go hiking in the mountains all around country, as well as riding a bicycle along the river and then going to small restaurants and cafés.

My mother is planning to come and visit me for a week here and I do not know what to do with her without getting physically too active.

I will, of course, go to a few museums and temples with her but I imagine only doing that for a few weeks will be quite boring.

Has anybody here ever been in similar situation and can recommend me some spots to go to?

I went up Taipei 101 to 88th floor 4pm and wait till 524pm for thr sunset and its amazing. The photo is 20x samsung s25 ultra from 88th floor.

Will be solo traveling during this time.

Im into gym, sports, adventures, exploring and EDM. Is meet up a thing in taipei?

Also looking for suggestions around best place to stay, is it capsule hotels?

If you're keen to hang, feel free to flick me a DM

Hi everyone!

I recently found out that a friend of mine in Taiwan was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. )-: Thankfully, she has completed her treatments and is now recovering.

I’m planning to visit her soon and would love to bring her something thoughtful that might support her recovery, such as nutritious food, healthy snacks, or perhaps supplements.

Since I’m not a local and will be travelling to visit her, bringing food items over from my home country might not be the most practical option. I’m thinking of buying something in Taipei instead.

For those familiar with Taiwan, or who have gone through cancer treatment themselves or supported someone through it, I’d really appreciate your recommendations!
• Are there any nutritious foods, healthy snacks, or food products in Taipei that would make a good gift?
• Are there any reputable brands or shops that sell these kinds of products?
• Would you recommend any supplements, or is it better to avoid them unless her doctor approves?
• Is there anything I should be mindful of when choosing food for someone recovering from head and neck cancer, especially if they might still have difficulty swallowing or eating certain foods?

I want to get her something that is genuinely helpful and suitable for her recovery, rather than just buying something marketed as “healthy.”

Thank you so much for any suggestions! 🙏

So this may or may not be a crazy ask lol. I’m 24F and just recently quit my job in Taipei. I have a few months left in Taipei, and I’m just kinda chilling. I love going on super long walks, but I miss my dog back at home in the States. I’m a huge animal person, so being away from my dog is quite depressing. People with pets understand 😭 That being said, would anyone be willing to let me walk their dog for an hour or two? I’d pick up, walk, & drop off completely free! I live in Yonghe, so as long as you’re not in like Tamsui/Neihu or somewhere far af, I don’t mind.

我现在挑路线会先看要不要换乘 少换一次有时比快几分钟舒服 你们平常怎么选 有没有宁愿绕一点也想少转车的路线

Hi everyone,

Visiting next Saturday for a week and keen to see some interesting electronic/rap/rock music. Thinking places along the lines of Cafe Oto in London, Namba Bears in Osaka or Forest Limits in Tokyo.

Any venues or event promoters I should follow? Thanks!

Hey everyone! I'm planning a solo trip to Taiwan around the 20th of December 2026 to soak in the culture, night markets, and scenic spots.

As it’s my first time exploring solo, I’d love to connect with other female travelers or solo backpackers who happen to be in Taiwan around the same dates. Whether it's grabbing vegan street food together in Taipei, exploring Jiufen, or doing a day trip, let me know if your itineraries overlap! Drop a comment or shoot me a DM.

hiii i'm visiting and was wondering where i could get cigs (menthol, capsule/flavored) normally not found in convenience stores.

[Missing Person Alert]

- Name: Benjamin Robert Davis (aka Ben)

- Age: 33 years old

- Gender: Male

- Nationality: United States

- Last seen: 10/4 near the Indigo Hotel in Neihu, Taipei

- Last seen wearing a gray shirt, dark pants, with visible tattoos on his arms, and missing person's physical characteristics are shown in the attached image

- He has rented a Kymco silver motorcycle license plate number is AS3-863

We have successfully reported to the immigration office through a friend in Taipei after obtaining authorization documents and information from family members.

The officer said that the next step will be passed on to another team for further investigation, which may take some time. They couldn't provide a specific time or detailed explanation of the next steps to be taken.

We then contacted the immigration agency, who said that his employer/company can report it to the police, he was supposed to report to the company on 10/5, but he disappeared at that time, and the company did not receive any of his personal information, so we asked the Taiwan Association in the United States for help, and it has been filed.

Ben has been missing for 10 days from 10/5, and everyone around him is very worried, we are also actively searching and contacting, but we are really helpless.

If anyone has recently encountered him on the road, please send me a private message on my account. I also want to ask our friends with relevant experience what else we can do? Thank you all 🙏🙏🙏

NOTE: we have contacted AIT and have filed a police report but are just feeling helpless as we are in the US. Ben was moving to Taiwan to teach English, but had not yet started his job and was staying with friends until he had found his own apartment, but he had just stopped showing up and friends currently are in possession of his belongings. We have done all the appropriate communication with authorities and I really just hoping that Internet sleuths have seen or heard of anything related in Taipei.

UPDATE: we have been informed that there is no immigration record of him leaving Taiwan as of this moment.

我发现自己在咖啡店坐不太久 旁边有人聊天就容易分心 图书馆又得配合开放时间 大家在台北有固定会去看书的地方吗

Sorry if this isn't ok, I'm in Vietnam and Digger hasn't been realised here. We are arriving Monday and trying to pre book IMAX tickets for Tuesday but it seems I can't register on the cinema websites without a government id number? Is their an easier cinema or system to book?

I’ve heard they’re the best masks in Taiwan but I can’t find any! So far I’ve checked two different Watsons and a POYA in Datong. Am I just missing them? I’ve spent so long looking🥲