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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
Taiwan is one of Asia's most progressive countries as far as LGBT rights are concerned, and certainly the most liberal of the Chinese diaspora. Not only does the government of Taipei print up its own free guide to the gay community, but school children are taught about homosexuality and tolerance for sexual minorities. Taiwan's first Gay Pride Festival was held on Sunday, June 29, 1997 at 2-28 Memorial Park (New Park) in Taipei (a favorite cruise spot at night). Over 30 gay organizations chose to celebrate in the sunlight at this location of Pai Hsien-Yung's famous gay novel, Crystal Boys.
Taiwanese, especially in Taipei, are adept at cruising on the Internet and many prefer making a quick and easy online rendezvous anonymously rather than the expense and time required to hang around a bar or sauna. Even so, the quality and selection of gay venues has increased noticeably along with the new openness of gays and lesbians in society. Young Taiwanese are opening trendy and stylish shops and meeting places. Wednesdays are considered "little weekends" and clubs may be a bit busier on that night than other weekdays.
There are lots of options these days for gay clubs, but many Taiwanese, especially the older generation, continue to socialize in small karaoke bars. When you order your first drink at a Taiwanese-style bar you are usually served two at the same time, plus a plate of snacks. Beer is often served warm with ice. Don't be surprised if the waiter or captain pours himself a glass and sits down with you. Drinking alone would be inhospitable. If you don't speak Chinese, everybody in the place will understand you are a foreigner and the staff will consider who should best communicate with you and who to introduce you to. They may even call up one of their friends who speaks English to come to the club and translate. This may take some time, so be patient. Also, if someone likes you they may ask a friend to talk to you first and then introduce you to their group. It may take hours to actually find out who wanted to meet you in the first place. Usually, verbal contacts are preceded by raised glass toasts from across the pub.
Because English is not commonly spoken or used on signs outside Taipei, visitors may have difficulty locating the clubs and spas scattered around the smaller cities. Use business cards to get around. Usually, one gay establishment will carry cards of others, or the staff may draw you a map of local spots. Ask your hotel concierge to call the numbers below and then write directions in Chinese for a taxi driver.
8251-0105. A coalition of lesbians and gays, transgendered persons, multi-sexuals, sexual dissidents, gender/sexual rights activists, AIDS activists, human rights activists, students, lawyers, teachers working for gender issues and sexual rights. Their goal is to dismantle the discrimination and oppression of gender and sexual minorities in the social institutions of the family, the education system, politics, the economy and the law.
Speak Out
PO Box 58973, Taipei ROC. Rights group and organizers of the Critical Point Theater dance group.
12/F #70 Roosevelt Rd, Sec 2 (near Guting MRT), 2392-1969, email. Founded in 1998, TTHA became the first nationally registered LGBT association in the country. They are located in a large, prime location, with offices and facilities for hosting meetings of various LGBT groups. Their private hotlines are open Thu-Mon, from 7pm-10pm, with three full-time workers and 40 volunteers to answer calls. They have an education committee than manages programs in schools, and also programs aimed at AIDS/HIV prevention. TTHA has also formed alliances with other tongzhi groups and participates in gay rights demonstrations. Their mission remains the eradication of prejudice against queer people and full civil rights for sexual marginals.
4/F 424 Min Chiuan Rd (between Min Sheng St and Jung Yi St, 100m from Zhong Zheng Park), 216-7021. Gay karaoke pub with friendly owner who speaks a bit of English. The clientele is mixed (ages, genders). Open daily from 9pm onwards.
Zhong Zheng Park
Between Guo-hua St, Ming-quan Rd , Zhong-yi St, and Bei-rong St. From the train station, walk along Zhong-shan Rd, turn left at Guo-hua St, and keep going till you see the entrance (about 10 minutes).
Zhong Shan Park
Walk along Zhong-shan Rd from the train station, just after the intersection of Qi-min Rd.
Chang-Hua -- area code (886-4)
Population is 225,000 (that's about 9,000 Utopians).
Tureman
2/F 17 Kong-men Rd, 724 -3131. Walk along Guang-fu Rd from train station for about 300 meters, make a right turn at Zhong-shan Rd, keep going and make another right turn at Kong-men Rd at the Cultural Center.
Tian Qin Sauna
3/F 26-12 Lane 324 Zhong-shan 2nd Rd, 722-4618. 300 meters away from train station.
Hsin-Chu -- area code (886-3)
Population is about 400,000 (that's about 16,000 Utopians).
Circular intersection at Easter Gate
From train station, go west along Zhong-zheng Rd about 100 meters.
Comments from Utopians:
"Men Come Sauna seems to have closed its doors for the last time." -- homoequus, Aug 8, 2004
Hualien -- area code (886-3)
Population is about 110,000 (that's about 5,000 Utopians).
Lover's Karaoke
211 Guo-Sheng 1st Rd, 833-9097. Call to confirm the address and ask for directions
Comments from Utopians:
"There is still a gay karaoke bar in the city. We went here last nite. We were surprised to find that Lover's Karaoke has been going on for four years, but even some local gays don't know about it. Normally open after 10pm and going on till very late. Although the place is very friendly, and people are good company, the owner and most of the clients do not speak English, so it is better to go with someone local or someone who understands Mandarin or Taiwanese. It is a very basic karaoke bar, nothing trendy or flashy. From outsite it doesn't look like a gay venue. But if you are in town you can give it a try." -- gayrice, Jan 4, 2008
Zhong Shan Park
Guo-lian 1 Rd. Walking distance from the train station. Some native Taiwanese guys. Especially cruisy on the weekends.
Comments from Utopians:
"I can confirm that the park is still operating." -- freegayn, Feb 13, 2008
Population is about 110,000 (that's close to 5,000 Utopians).
G-night
279 Luo-yang St , 935-9255.
Beach Park
At the end of Da-tong Rd, turn right and go to the end.
Taoyuan City -- area code (886-3)
Population is over 360,000 (that's about 15,000 Utopians).
The Base
3/F, 197 Min-chuan Rd, 331-7225. Near Lu-zhu big temple bus stop.
Boss Men's Club
2/F, No.224, Chung Cheng Rd, 337-1870, 337-2196
Chuan Ken
2/F, No. 4, Min-zhu Rd, 335-4148, 334-1010.
Foxy
No. 33 Nan Hua St, 339-5798. Gay and lesbian night on Fri.
Funky
B/1, 197 Min-chuan Rd, 338-3478.
Zhong Zheng Park
Behind the Art Museum and parking lot, walking distance from train station along Yuan-hua Rd.
Tai Shi Sauna
No. 137 Chung Hua Rd (at Nan Hua St), 335-5112,3.
Xin Tao-yuan
3/F 5th Lane 182 Min-zhu Rd, 335-3175,7. Fifteen minutes walk from the train station. Open 24 hours.
Zhong Li City -- area code (886-3)
Population is over 360,000 (that's about 15,000 Utopians).
Railway Station facilities. Also: on the weekends hundreds of Thai people (many of them very handsome and hunky!) spend hours drinking beer in an area opposite the Station and they all use the free-of-charge facilities.
Not far from the Railway Station, going right, there are two Bus Stations where people also meet in the facilities.
August 2008
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