A Foreigner's Guide to Taiwanese Culture: What to Expect and How to Fit In

Taiwan will surprise you. Not in the dramatic, culture-shock way that moving to India or Egypt might — but in the quiet, specific ways that sneak up on you after a few months. You'll notice that your Taiwanese friends always insist on paying for your dinner. That the convenience store on the corner is basically a second home. That you've started taking your shoes off without thinking about it.

Taiwanese culture is warm, layered, and deeply social. It runs on small gestures of care — someone cutting fruit for you, a classmate offering you bubble tea, a stranger pointing out that your bus is about to leave. Understanding these gestures will make your time in Taiwan dramatically better.

Here's what to expect and how to navigate it all.

Night Markets: The Heartbeat of Taiwanese Social Life

If you study in Taiwan, you will go to night markets. A lot. They're not tourist attractions — they're where people eat dinner, hang out with friends, and spend money on things they don't need.

Every neighborhood in Taipei has a night market. The famous ones — Shilin (士林), Gongguan (公館), and Ningxia (寧夏) — are worth visiting, but the smaller local markets are where you'll actually spend your evenings.

What to eat:

• Stinky tofu (臭豆腐) — It smells terrible. It tastes incredible. Deep-fried, served with pickled cabbage. This is the food that converts skeptics.
• Oyster vermicelli (蚵仔麵線) — A Taipei staple. Thick noodles in a starchy broth with small oysters, topped with cilantro and chili. NT$60 at a night market.
• Scallion pancake (蔥抓餅) — Crispy, flaky, and served fresh off the griddle. Often stuffed with egg or pork.
• Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) — Born in Taiwan in the 1980s. You'll drink it at least twice a week whether you plan to or not.

Night market etiquette: Come hungry. Bring cash (most vendors don't take cards). Don't be afraid to point at what you want if you can't read the Chinese. And pace yourself — the best strategy is to share small portions with friends and try everything.

Temple Culture: More Than Just Religion

Taiwan has over 12,000 temples for a population of 23 million. That's roughly one temple per 1,900 people. They're everywhere — tucked between apartment buildings, sitting on commercial streets, occupying prime real estate in the middle of the city.

The most famous is Longshan Temple (龍山寺) in Taipei's Wanhua district, founded in 1738. But you'll find smaller temples on virtually every block.

What you'll see:

• People burning joss paper (ghost money) for their ancestors
• Elaborate stone carvings of dragons and phoenixes
• Fortune sticks (求籤 / qiúqiān) — shake a bamboo cylinder until one stick falls out, then match the number to a printed fortune
• Festival days with loud music, lion dances, and tables loaded with fruit offerings

Temple etiquette: You don't need to be religious to visit. Dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees). Don't point your feet at statues or altars. If you want to participate in burning incense, follow the person next to you — usually three sticks of incense, one for heaven, one for earth, one for the deity.

Temple festivals are some of the most spectacular cultural events in Taiwan. The Lantern Festival (元宵节, usually February) fills the sky with thousands of lanterns. The Dadaocheng Fireworks in Taipei every spring are a neighborhood-wide celebration. If you see a temple festival happening, stop and watch — you're witnessing something special.

Bubble Tea: A National Obsession

Taiwan invented bubble tea (珍珠奶茶 / zhēnzhū nǎichá) in the 1980s, and the country has never gotten over it. There are bubble tea shops on virtually every block in Taipei. Students drink it daily. Some drink it twice daily.

What to order as a beginner: Classic black tea with milk and tapioca pearls (波霸 / bōbà), 50% sugar, less ice. This is the standard. Once you're comfortable, branch out:

• Taro milk tea — creamy, slightly sweet, purple
• Oolong tea with honey — lighter, more floral
• Fruit teas — passion fruit, grapefruit, or lychee green tea for something refreshing

The culture around it: Bubble tea shops are social spaces. Students study there, friends catch up there, and the ritual of "do you want to get bubble tea?" is the Taiwanese equivalent of "want to grab coffee?"

Cost: NT$40–$70 ($1.25–$2.20) per drink. Yes, really.

Respect for Elders and Social Hierarchy

Taiwanese society is shaped by Confucian values, and respect for elders runs deep. You'll notice this in small ways:

• Students greet professors by standing up when they enter the room
• Younger people offer seats to elders on the MRT (and expect you to do the same)
• At dinner, no one starts eating until the oldest person at the table picks up their chopsticks
• Business cards are given and received with both hands

What this means for you as a foreign student: Show respect to your professors and older classmates. Use formal language (您 / nín instead of 你 / nǐ) when addressing elders. Accept food or drinks offered by older people with both hands. These small gestures matter more than you'd think — they signal that you understand and respect the culture.

Gift-Giving: The Unwritten Rules

Gift-giving is common in Taiwan, especially during holidays and when visiting someone's home. But there are rules:

Good gifts:

• Fruit (especially high-quality imported fruit — Japanese apples, American cherries)
• Pastries from a nice bakery
• Tea from your home country
• Alcohol (whiskey and wine are well-received)

Never give:

• Clocks — 送鐘 (sòng zhōng, "give a clock") sounds exactly like 送終 (sòng zhōng, "attend a funeral"). Major taboo.
• Umbrellas — 傘 (sǎn, "umbrella") sounds like 散 (sàn, "to scatter/separate")
• Anything in sets of four — 四 (sì, "four") sounds like 死 (sǐ, "death"). Avoid four of anything.
• Sharp objects — knives or scissors symbolize cutting a relationship

Wrapping: Red or gold wrapping paper is lucky. Avoid white or black (associated with funerals). Present the gift with both hands.

Hot Springs: A Weekend Tradition

Taiwan sits on a geothermal hotspot, and hot springs (溫泉 / wēnquán) are a beloved weekend activity. Beitou (北投), in northern Taipei, is the most accessible hot spring area — you can take the MRT there in 30 minutes from the city center.

What to expect: Most hot spring resorts have gender-segregated bathing areas. You soak naked (bring your own towel). Some places have mixed-gender outdoor pools where swimwear is required.

Cost: Public hot spring pools cost NT$150–$300 ($5–$10). Private rooms at resorts run NT$800–$2,000 for 1–2 hours. A full hot spring hotel experience in Beitou or Jiaoxi starts at about NT$3,000 per person.

Indigenous Cultures: Taiwan's First Peoples

Taiwan is home to 16 recognized indigenous groups, collectively making up about 2.5% of the population. These are Austronesian peoples — ethnically and linguistically distinct from the Han Chinese majority.

The largest groups include the Amis (阿美族), Paiwan (排灣族), and Atayal (泰雅族). Each has its own language, festivals, and traditions.

How to experience indigenous culture respectfully:

• Visit the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines in Taipei for an excellent introduction
• Attend indigenous cultural festivals (many are open to visitors) — the Amis Harvest Festival in August is one of the most accessible
• Visit Wulai (烏來), a town south of Taipei known for its Atayal community, traditional crafts, and hot springs
• Support indigenous-owned businesses and restaurants

What this means for you: Taiwan's indigenous cultures are an important part of the island's identity that many international students overlook. Taking time to learn about them — respectfully — will give you a much deeper understanding of what Taiwan actually is.

Want to learn more about daily life as an international student in Taiwan? Book a free consultation with our advisors. We can connect you with current students, help you prepare for the cultural transition, and answer any questions about what to expect.

For the practical side of things — what you'll actually spend each month — check out our cost of living in Taipei guide. And if you're just starting to explore Taiwan as a destination, our complete guide to studying abroad in Taiwan covers everything from universities to visas.