Taipei vs. Vancouver: Similarities and Differences

Now that I’ve been over in Taiwan three times, I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about Taipei. On the flip side, I was born and raised in Vancouver and this city will remain my home for the foreseeable future. Both cities have a lot to offer, but they are certainly not without their differences. Part of it has to do with culture shock, but it also has to do with how each city chooses to operate.

Preferred Method of Transportation

Easily this is one the first things that struck me about Taipei. In Vancouver, we are still largely a car-based city. It’s getting better and more people are using public transportation or car-share programs, but many people still rely on their personal vehicles to get around town. Because the freeway doesn’t cut through the middle of the city, traffic on Vancouver streets can get quite congested.

The people in Taipei go about things in a different way. Their MRT system (Taipei Metro) is vast and efficient. It is certainly popular (and inexpensive), but a very large number of people ride their scooters instead. In fact, you’ll find the roads are largely designed with scooters, complete with areas toward the front of intersections where the scooters can “filter” through traffic and get to the front of the crowd. It’s a brilliant system, to be honest, albeit quite the frightening one for foreigners.

Your Choice of Culinary Delights

One of the main reasons why I love Vancouver is the sheer choice of food. We have cuisines from all sorts of different cultures, ranging from French to Vietnamese, Brazilian to Ethiopian. Some places are certainly more authentic than others, but the level of choice and the level of quality (if you know where to go) are to be applauded.

Taipei has some great food too, but I didn’t find that there was as much variety in terms of international cuisine. Yes, you have some great Taiwanese and Chinese dishes, as well as Japanese, but you won’t find nearly as much in terms of Greek, British (didn’t see fish and chips anywhere!), and Halal, for instance. The good news is that dining in Taipei is generally cheaper than Vancouver.

Courtesy and Politeness

Canadians have a reputation for being among the most polite people in the world. That may be true to an extent, but the level of courtesy and regard for your fellow man is on an entirely different level in Taiwan. Maybe it has to do with the Japanese influence, but I found the Taiwanese people to be incredibly courteous and friendly. They’re quick to welcome you to their stores, apologize if anything isn’t to your liking, and thank you regardless of whether or not you make a purchase.

There’s just a better sense of order to things; there are official “queue” lines to get on the subway, rather than unorganized masses pushing and shoving their way onto the trains. As my friend Josh puts it, everything “just flows.”

Landscape and Cityscape

Taipei and Vancouver are almost taking the same kind of approach, but in an entirely different kind of way. Both cities work hard to maintain a certain level of “green space” among the concrete jungle, introducing urban parks whenever possible and planting trees along roads. Taipei is much denser, though, with many roads making way for “lanes,” which in turn make way for “alleys.” All of these are populated with stores and other businesses.

Defining the cityscape in Taipei is Taipei 101. With 101 floors, it is easily the tallest building in the city and there are none that even come close. By contrast, the downtown core of Vancouver is littered with many glistening towers. The other key difference is that Vancouver is surrounded by both mountains and water, while Taipei may only have rolling hills just outside the main metropolis.

How to Go Shopping

In Vancouver, you can usually expect most “regular” businesses to open around 9am in the morning and close around 5pm in the evening. Such is not the case in Taipei. It is much more “normal” to see a store open around 11am and close around 9pm or later. In fact, some stores may open at 3pm and close at 1am. It’s an entirely different mindset for an entirely different lifestyle.

Another main difference is that types of stores tend to congregate into the same neighborhoods in Taipei. Need camera equipment? Go to camera street near Taipei Main Station. Need baby clothes? Go to baby street near Houshanpi. There is quite literally a street for anything, from pet stores to wedding photographers.

Language Barriers

Of course, language is different too. People in Taipei speak Taiwanese Mandarin, which is a little different from the Mandarin you’d hear in Mainland China. Given its position in the international economy, I was surprised that very few people spoke English in Taipei. There are more English speakers in Hong Kong, but that might have to do with the whole British rule thing.

In Vancouver, English is the de facto language, though you’ll encounter neighborhoods where other languages tend to dominate. Punjabi Market on Main Street and the “Chinese” malls in Richmond are good examples of this.

No Better, No Worse, Just Different

These similarities and differences represent just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure you could cite all sorts of other characteristics that the cities share with one another, as well as characteristics where they differ (like the lack of public trash cans on Taipei streets, as well as the general lack of litter).

It just goes to show you how important it is to get outside of your immediate sphere and experience cultures from other parts of the world. Drinking bubble tea in a local restaurant in Canada is not the same as heading over to Taiwan.