Taipei has improved significantly during the last decade: more relaxed, more fun, more freedom. Public rapid transit makes getting around the city easier than ever. Yet while the excellent planning and maps of the train system transport you from here to there with ease, once you leave the station you’re back in a tangle of English transliteration that doesn’t match your map, their map, or the street signs. So visitors may end up cabbing from a station to their destination anyway. It’s just easier. Have your hotel write down the address in Chinese, or show the cabby a business card you’ve picked up.

Taipei’s population is 2.7 million (that's over 100,000 Utopians).

• Lesbian listings
• Men in Taipei message forum
• Taipei Gay Scene Updates message forum

The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Taiwan offers a fresh insider's glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 12 cities including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order

• Gay Chat
  Taida University. Student gay group which organized the recent first gay pride march and occasional raves.

  
  

Click here for Taipei hotels and accommodations.

Click here for Taipei bars and clubs.

• Eslite (Dun-Hua store)
  2/F, 245 Dun-Hua S. Rd, Section 1, (near Jen-Ai Circle), 2775-5977. Flagship store of this upmarket book chain is open 24 hours every day. Quite cruisy, with a fairly well-stocked gay and lesbian section. MRT Nan-kang line, Zhong-xiao Tun-hua station.
• Eslite (Xin Yi store)
  No. 11 Song-Goa Rd, Xin Yi, 8789-3388. The biggest book store in Taiwan. Open daily 10am-2am.
• Eslite (NTU store)
  98 Xin-sheng South 3rd Rd, 2362-6312. MRT Hsintien line, KungKuan station.
• Sho Chun Bookstore
  2371-0495. Japanese publications available.

Click here for Taipei discos.

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Click here for Taipei massage for men.

• 2-28 Park (formerly called New Park)
  Evenings. Infamous setting of Taiwan's first gay novel, Crystal Boys, which was also made into the feature film, "The Outsiders". Cruising takes place all around, but mostly near the pagoda pond. Lots of lonely students. If you're a non-Asian and speak no Chinese, let them cruise you first so that you'll know they are interested and can communicate. If you're a non-Chinese speaking Asian you may have to strike up a conversation first to find out if they can talk to you. Younger crowd.
• Chang-te St (Black Street)
  Beside the old Taiwan University Hospital (called the old Taidai Hospital usually). Next to 228 Park and the exit of the MRT line. "X and Y" gangs are cruising around midnight.
• Chung-Shan Football Field
  Action starts at night until 4am. Take the MRT Tam-shui Line to Yuan Shan Station, where the football field located. Described as follows: "Explore the city's dirtiest scenes. Adventure yourself in terrify darkness!"
• City garden
  Huge park a short drive from Taiwan University (Taidai).
• Eslite Bookshop, Dun-Hua store (see under Bookshops)
• Sha Lun Beach
  Dan-hai, Tam-shui, MRT Tam-shui Line, Tam-shui station. Then take a red bus 26 to Hung-shu-lin station. The most popular gay beach in Taiwan. Not easily reached, so hopefully you'll meet a friend to guide you there. Some nude sunbathing.
• Yong-Jiu Cinema (Xing-shen)
  17 Alley 26, Lane 63, Hua-cheng Rd.
• Youth Park swimming pool
  Shui-yuan Rd. Open May through Sept. Closed Mon. Very popular in summer. This is where local guys like to hit the catwalk in their new Speedos.
• Yu-chen Park swimming pool
  55 Zhong-po Sough Rd, 2726-7381. Open May through Sept.
• Yuan-man Cinema
  3F, 38 Ning-xia St. MRT Tam-shui line, Zhong-shan station. Walk along Nan-jing W. Rd to a circular intersection, turn right into the market, ticket both is at the side of a mini-mark, walk up by staircase.

• Blue Note Cafe (mixed)
  Corner of Shida and Roosevelt. Jazz club, some gays.
• Cité
  2703-6927. Snacks, coffee and tea.
• Free Bird
  B/1 No. 18 Alley 10, Lane 216, Sec. 4, Jungshiau E. Rd., 2772-7231. Chunghsiao MRT Station, Exit 3. Turn right and walk down the lane. When you see HiLife convenience store, turn left. After a minute, you'll arrive at Free Bird. A good place for you and your friends to have a coffee or snacks. Relaxed and good service from the waiters. There are also many magazines and books to read.
• Hours
  Right next door to GinGin's gay shop and across from Love Boat, 2364-2742. This very popular gay café is run by a young gay couple. They also have a selection of music and books. Open 2pm-11pm daily except Tue.
• Indian (beer and snacks)
  2705-8866. Don't miss this wacky, huge theme restaurant mixing the American wild west with dinosaur fossils. Look for the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton on the roof.
• Shintori (Asian and Japanese)
  68 An He Rd, Sec. 2, 2702-5588. Start with this main branch (the other six branches have different themes). Descend the Tadao Ando-like cement and bamboo Zen stairway and confront enigmatic iron doors with no handles. Hint: stick your hand in the Japanese stone lantern. Go ahead, ignore the frazzled wires, or you'll stand here until someone else comes along. Ah...the doors slide as if on Astroglide. Very James Bond (or Get Smart, perhaps?). Rock fountain burbles in an empty void. Cocktails shimmer in pin spots. Cold sake arrives on crushed ice in an aluminum petal. Select your favorite sake glass from a tray (perfectly Kyoto, ne?). Staff wear their red sashes low on the butt. Time to eat. Alas, Chinese flavors have colonized the Zen grub. Never mind: wall of lilies, wall of roses, wall of video. Gooonnnnngggg.
• Ti-Mu Restaurant
  1F, No. 208-1, Sec. 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd, 8771-6982, email. Located in the very popular Zhongxiao East Rd shopping District, Ti-Mu Restaurant, (established in 1999) is affectionately referred to as a "family" restaurant by many regular gay patrons.
• Wild Chrysanthemum Thai Restaurant
  59-1 Zhong-yuan East Rd (Xin-zhuang district, off Hua-cheng Rd or Si-yuan Rd), 2994-0299. Closed Mon.

Click here for Taipei saunas for men.

• GinGin's
  1/F No. 8, Alley 8, Lane 210, Roosevelt Rd, Section 3 (close to Taipower Subway Station and 10-minutes from National Taiwan University), 2364-2006, email. Next to the gay Hours café and across from Love Boat lesbian shop. Gay and lesbian book shop with pride goods, DVDs, gifts, and gay magazines from the region. They welcome visitors from all over the world. Open daily from 11am-10pm. Friendly staff, some English spoken.
• Golden Nails SPA Salon
  32-34 Lane 308, Guang Fu South Rd, Da An, 2721-6050. Spa manicure and pedicure treatments, using international brands, system and products. Gay and lesbian-friendly.
• Sun Studio
  Well known gay-friendly tanning salon, established in 1992. Six convenient locations (see their website). Try their 7-minute stand-up tan booths. Handsome, polite staffs and professional service.