AboutMagda Vince Expertise I can answer questions about general living, working, visiting, and traveling in Taiwan. Especially Taipei city, I have lived and worked in Taiwan for the past several years. I CANNOT read or write Chinese, but I speak well enough to get by.
Experience I speak enough Chinese to get by, but by no means am I fluent, so I am aware of both sides of the language coin. I live and work (teaching English) in Taipei city, and have travelled around to places like Hualien, Toroko, Tai Dong, Green Island, Ken ting, Kao Shiung, Tai Nan, Sun Moon lake and Tai Jung. Plus locations all over the northern tip of the island. At one point or another I have been into the clubbing, beaching and outdoor scenes alternately over the past few years, so I have a fairly eclectic knowledge base. Ask away, and I'll do my best to help you out :D. Magda
Expert: Magda Vince Date: 11/19/2007 Subject: Taipei during Chinese New Year
Question Hi!
I plan to visit Taipei for vacation during the Chinese/Lunar New Year period.
Please advise if it is a good time as I am worried that most of businesses
would be closed for the Chinese New Year holidays and there won't be any
shopping and/or places to eat.
Thanks.
Answer Hi,
Well it depends, do you know anyone here or are you just coming here to travel around and check out Taipei? will you only be here during lunar new year? Basically the day of New years eve and new years day are kind dull, not much is open and there isn't much to do. But most other days everything (or most things, not gov offices and schools etc) are running at full operation. Taipei is very odd during New Year because most people leave then, there are still lots of people but much less than normal. Also if you are planning on Travelling out side of Taipei you might have difficulty finding places to stay, due to many people (Taiwanese) taking the time off to see Family members who live out of Taipei.
I think new years day/eve is Wed/Thurs, And new years eve, evening is the worst for everything being closed. Other than that it is fine.
I hope that helps, if you are visiting people you know here though it should not be a problem at all, if not that day and a half will be a little boring (but the busses continue to operate so you could take the opportunity to go up to Yelio / Yaming Mountain or something.
Magda
