by Saaya.M and Chi
In this article, we would like to share with you some interesting facts about Taiwan with 36,000 square kilometers and 23 million people on the island. In this small yet vibrant country has a lot of fascinating aspects that you may not know. Let’s find out shall we.
1. Convenience stores are everywhere
Asian countries tend to have famous convenience stores chains like Family Mart. 7-Eleven, OK Mart, however, the number of convenience stores in Taipei is far beyond your expectations. In Taipei, there is no difficulty in finding convenience stores that open for 24 hours. There are often two or three convenience stores on one road in Taipei. Unlike convenience stores in other countries, Taiwanese convenience stores are well-stocked, you can get literally everything you need for your trip such as shampoo, shower gel, USB cable, charger, detergent, slippers and even shoes! Furthermore, you can top up your travel card, phone bill, pay fees and even buy concert tickets with the counter in the store. What makes Taiwanese convenience stores even more unique is that they have spacious areas for customers to eat and drink. Almost every convenience store has seating areas, they are perfect for tourists to get a rest or eat quick meals during the trip.
2. Garbage trucks play music
When you are wandering Taipei city, you may suddenly hear a funny sound from nowhere. If it is the first time to visit Taiwan, tourists will be surprised where that sound came from. In fact, the fun music is coming from garbage trucks! The trucks play music quite loud and they run through the town very slowly. Soon after people in the town hear the sound of music, they come out to throw the trash into the trucks. This fun loud music plays an important role for both garbage picking staff and locals to know the time of collecting the trash in Taiwan. Even if you are inside the apartment or building, it’s not easy to miss this typical sound coming from the trucks. They are just very loud! Seeing the garbage trucks running and playing music on tiny streets in Taipei is quite fun. Next time you are in Taipei and hear this sound, I am sure that it will remind you of coming back to visit Taiwan once again.
3. Taipei 101: the fastest lifts in the world
Taipei 101 Building is Taiwan’s iconic tower and a symbol of Taipei City. Many tourists want to visit the observatory deck to enjoy the spectacular view of the city. But how many tourists knew that Taipei 101 has the fastest lifts in the world? Their lifts are manufactured by Toshiba, and it’s highest speed is 1,010 meters per minute (about 60.6 kilometers per hour). It only takes 37 seconds to travel from the 5th floor to the 89th floor - top floor of the tower. While you are traveling up high, you would feel like you are floating in space inside the elevator as the lights are changed to led lights to resemble the star galaxy along with the video on the ceiling showing the real image of the space. And before you even realise, you are already on the top of Taipei City!
4. The popularity of KTV box
Have you ever tried karaoke before? If you have ever been to karaoke, you might know that it’s the place that people (often over three people) sing and dance in a big enough room, sometimes eat and drink together. Taiwan’s karaoke is a bit different. First of all, people in Taiwan call karaoke “KTV”, which stands for Karaoke TV. The normal KTV shops in Taiwan are similar to others, however, Taiwan also has an interesting facility called “KTV box”. You can find it easily on the street in Taipei city. It looks like a public telephone box, but once you enter the box, it’s your own stage to perform. What you do in the box is basically the same as normal karaoke, but it’s the place only for yourself and your friends while you are there. It’s usually for people up to two or three people. Like a telephone box, it’s transparent, so people walking along the street can see you singing. You may need a bit of courage to use it first, but it’ll surely help you have unforgettable memories in Taiwan!
5. Various types of convenient restrooms
I don’t know how many people are comfortable using a public toilet since it is not so clean and tidy right? However, you’ll be surprised by public toilets in Taiwan. Taiwan has a wide range of convenient restrooms with many types such as breastfeeding room, kids restroom, disable restroom. Besides, the restrooms in the malls are very nicely designed to match with the building’s theme. Another plus point is that they are very clean with sufficient hand sanitiser and towels. You can easily catch sight of these restrooms in big department stores or public transportation stations. The best thing is that they are free of charge and you can use them anytime as long as the malls or stations are open.
That’s the five fun facts you need to know about Taiwan, if you want to know even more about Taiwan and especially Taipei City through insders’ lens, don’t hesitate to read all our posts and book a tour with Taipei Friends Tour.
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