A Guide to Expat Dating in Taipei
Expat dating is prevalent in Taipei. When traveling to Taiwan’s capital city, you’ll witness many relationships between foreign men and Taiwanese women.
If moving to Taipei is like opening a new chapter in your life, dating a Taipei person is like walking through it. You will learn a great deal about Taipei, Taiwanese, and Chinese culture, as well as your own. It’s tremendously eye-opening to get a glimpse into the mind of someone who sees the world from a viewpoint different from your own.
Another positive thing is that, when you’re dating someone from a different culture, it’s just plain interesting.
People in Taipei are generally pleasant, and most of them like teaching foreigners about their country. The more you know about someone, the more they can and will reveal to you. You get to understand them and all of their unique characteristics that make them special. And, as a result of the cultural differences, you get to learn so many different customs that you would not have encountered at home.
If you’re one of the many foreigners who want to experience expat dating in Taipei, you have reached the right page. In this article, we will go through everything you need to know to successfully date Taipei locals.
Taipei Dating Culture
Prioritizing the family
Women have a lower social rank in Chinese societies than men. Regrettably, this is still visible in the structure of families in Taipei. A married woman must relocate from her parents’ home to her husband’s parents’ home, as per Chinese tradition. In her husband’s household, she is expected to play a subordinate role.
In Taiwan, a rising awareness of women’s rights has resulted in the repeal of some damaging legislation that enforced the conventional family structure. In the event of a divorce, for example, the father has guaranteed child custody rights. Nonetheless, it is still expected of a Taiwanese lady to live with her husband’s family.
If you want to date a Taipei single and hopefully move your relationship to a more stable phase, you must be prepared for this responsibility.
Women’s perceptions
If marrying in Taipei is too far away to contemplate, it would be more beneficial to first understand Taiwanese traditional dating practices.
Every culture establishes a set of “desirable” feminine characteristics for women. Taipei is no exception. Being feminine in this context is being frail, dainty, and innocent.
For women, bringing their own backpack, inviting a guy out on a date, and ordering drinks for themselves at a bar could all be interpreted as unfeminine by Taiwanese. It’s even possible that it’s vulgar.
Granted, not all Taiwanese people would agree, and you probably won’t want to date someone who does. But, it’s worth thinking about what gender stereotypes are still prevalent in Taiwan. Before you can start expat dating in Taipei, you’ll need to think about how you’ll deal with them.
Work (and dating) life in Taipei
Many Taiwanese people follow an East Asian work ethic, which may significantly impact their dating life.
Unfortunately, the notion of Taiwanese people slaving away at professions they don’t enjoy is often accurate. Working extra long hours at their employers’ request, or addressing leisure activities with brutal and robotic discipline, are commonplace in Taipei.
This is why Taipei people have less spare time than their Western counterparts due to their work ethic. That means there will be less time for dating as well.
Even if they find time for dating, Taipei people may view it differently than Westerners. They frequently regard conventional Western dating traditions — such as going to the movies or dining at a fine restaurant — as trivial. For them, the term “dating” could describe the stage when two individuals begin to hang out with the idea and understand that they like each other. They may even have romantic dinner dates together at this point — going ice skating or spending a wonderful afternoon at the beach together.
The concept is that Taipei people begin dating to get to know each other better while also understanding that they are both attracted to each other.
The significance of physical touch
Most Taiwanese people do not want to have sex — or even holding hands and kissing — before committing to a relationship. When physical intimacy occurs, some individuals consider it the start of a relationship. For others, it is a symbol of commitment.
This extremely cautious approach may be attributed to mind control and lack of freedom during the martial law era. Still, it is also a relic of the old Chinese custom of honoring female purity.
Characteristics of Taipei People
1. They are incredibly nice
When you’re an expat dating in Taipei, one thing you should know is that Taipei people are extremely nice and friendly. Taipei locals enjoy making new friends, and it’s not unusual for them to come up to tourists or expats on the spur of the moment to strike up a conversation.
However, this is only true for people who can communicate well in English. Nonetheless, those who can only speak Mandarin or Taiwanese will genuinely make you feel at home if you make an effort to communicate with them.
2. They are helpful
If you stand on a street while holding a map and look clueless, at least one person will try to help you within a few minutes. What’s more remarkable is that even people who don’t know English will pitch in with some form of help. They’ll find someone who can figure it out if they can’t understand it themselves.
Feel comfortable here, and you’ll be astonished at the lengths to which your local friends will go to help you.
3. They are ecstatic about their home
The Taiwanese are tremendously proud of their country. Once you witness the masses on Double Ten Day, it can be a truly unforgettable experience. This incredible feeling of pride is a charming trait that may put many other places of the world to shame.
4. They care for the elderly
Younger generations in Taipei frequently stop their scooters to assist elderly people in crossing the road or bring their bags. Taiwanese people are well aware of the importance of caring for the elderly, and it’s inspiring to see young people watching out for the elderly.
5. They are honest
Many instances exist of tourists and expats who had misplaced their handbags and had lost all hope of ever recovering them — only to find out that they had been turned in at a local police station, still complete with cash and all.
People in Taipei are simply that straightforward. Even if you place your keys in the front door and go on vacation, they’ll most likely be where you left them when you return.
6. They are willing to try everything
Taipei people are eager to try new things. This is especially true when it comes to cuisine. If you give your local friend something to eat, they’ll take a taste. It’s most likely how many of them discovered that stinky tofu tastes better than it smells after giving it a shot.
Where Can Expats Meet Taipei Singles
Meeting with locals as an expat can be quite challenging. So, here are a few tips on where you can find Taipei singles!
Ximending
Ximending is a Taipei neighborhood and shopping center located in the Wanhua District. It was Taiwan’s first pedestrian zone. This is a bustling commercial district with stores, shops, and cafes that are usually open 24 hours a day.
This is the ideal place to go out and meet as many beautiful singles in Taipei as possible. The following are some more good malls and shopping areas to meet potential dates:
- Taipei City Mall
- Miramar Entertainment Park
- Mitsui Outlet Park
- Taipei 101
- Breeze Center
Online
A person from another nation can pique the interest of single people, including Taipei singles. Although some will want to go on a date with them, others may simply want to hook up for a new experience.
However, communication may be difficult, and it is not always possible to grasp a quick understanding of a city’s dating or hookup culture.
That’s where a Chinese dating site can help you out. It will allow you to start meeting singles in Taipei online before you even arrive.
With a reliable dating site, you can chat, video call, and get to know Taipei singles. When you visit and finally meet up, they already have a sense of who you are. You’ll find all kinds of singles on the site, but the majority of them will want to start a serious relationship with you. So, make sure you know what you’re looking for and tell them ahead of time so you’re on the same page.
Start expat dating in Taipei today
We hope this guide has helped you get to know expat dating in Taipei. May you enjoy your expat dating in Taipei experience now that you are aware of the cultural conventions that exist in Taipei dating.
For more Chinese dating advice and relationship tips, check out our blog today.
