r/Kaohsiung

I am from the Philippines and I am accepted as an exchange student this fall semester. I want an honest discussion on what is NSYSU like?

1. I will be staying in the dorm on campus. What is the dorm like is it comfortable? Or should I stay in the cheap apartments outside campus?

2. What are the student friendly options for food around campus?

3. I will be taking Mandarin classes, are professors nice towards international students?

4. Are the monkeys aggressive? Do they go inside dorms or bother those who are just chilling in the outdoor?

5. What is the overall atmosphere of the university?

Thank you!

hellloo! i am an international student who will intern at kaohsiung for 3 months starting from mid-may. this is my first time visiting taiwan (super excited and little nervous too). i would love to meet other international students or locals who are down to explore the city, try food and hang out. if you’re around kaohsiung and open to show a newcomer the city or vibe together let's connect! also, any tips for foreign visitors on getting around the city, must-visit spots, hidden gems, or general life advice for living in kaohsiung would be hugely appreciated. feel free to drop recommendations in the comments or dm me! thank you :)

Hi everyone! I’m an international student staying in Kaohsiung for about two months. I’m a girl in my 20s and I’d love to meet new people here. Maybe there’s other international students or girls who would like to hang out, explore the city, grab coffee, go out, etc.

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for good places, apps, events, cafés, bars, student groups, language exchanges, or communities where it’s easy to meet people in Kaohsiung. Any tips would be really appreciated :) Thanks!

Heyy everyone!

I’m a 23-year-old student from Spain. I will be doing a 6-month internship (starting in September) at a university in Kaohsiung. It will be my first time in Taiwan, although I have some experience travelling in Asia. I am currently very excited reading about the city and country, and I thought I´d ask if you all have any nice recommendations.

Exploring Kaohsiung:

It seems I have been very lucky with the city. As it is often described as having kind and open people (generally Taiwan, but maybe moreso Kaohsiung) (and cheaper than Taipei!). Although some people complain about it being somewhat small/lacking plans. Therefore, any cool/local activities would be great. I am a very social guy, and I love to interact and make friends with the locals whenever I travel, so any plan that helps in this regard (I can also be shy/run out of social battery) is appreciated.

I am a pretty outdoorsy guy, I love eating, and I like working out. So, anything relating to food markets (I´ve read about Ruifeng Night Market being relatively local, although I guess real local places won't really appear so frequently on Reddit?), walking/hiking routes (Shoushan National Natural Park looks awesome, any particular spots?), public workout parks? local student bar areas?, ect.

Honestly, I am just thinking out loud since I saw in other posts people saying that they couldn´t recommend anything if the OP didn´t specify what they liked, but I am a very curious person, so I´m super open to any cool plans you guys enjoy or things specific to this city. Of course, I also want to do the touristy "must see" things, which I am also happy if you recommend, but since I am going for 6 months, I want to try to get a deeper understanding/immersion of the city/culture/people.

(PD: Any activities such as attending a local sporting event/racing event/local festival/concert would be awesome.)

General Questions I have:

-I believe it is a very scooter-centred society. I would love to rent/buy a cheap scooter to move around the city (maybe even into the mountains or to Donggang). However, in Spain I can drive scooters (up to 125cc) with my car license, and in Thailand and mainland China I had no problem renting w/out a license (I have the IDP for the car but not the specific motorbike license). Is there any chance I could also do this in Taiwan (especially in the South?), or is Taiwan (understandably) a lot more serious on this? If not, does the concept of cheap scooter taxi exist, like in Thailand? I´ve heard public transport is very good, but the freedom of a scooter is often unmatched.

-Housing. I´ve been offered the chance to stay in the university dorms. Sharing a room with 3 strangers halfway across the world can, of course, make me feel a little nervous, but I am mostly excited, and I think it is a great chance to integrate with the locals. However, I am curious, maybe for a few months after arriving, how much and where I could find a cheap studio / shared room in Kaohsiung (Sanmin district). I haven´t been able to find much information in English.

-Language- I am curious about the language level. How much English should I expect? Is Hokkien still used by the younger generations? Full Mandarin? I know some very basic Mandarin, and I am planning on taking classes/studying by myself for the next 4 months, so I hope to arrive with some semblance of a conversational level.

-A lot of people have asked about a monthly budget. It seems a question one can never omit, but also super dependent on the person/lifestyle. I will get a 20k NTD (not sure if including rent), and I have some savings. However, besides trips, where I am super happy spending my savings, I hope to have a daily routine akin to my classmates/coworkers, and I believe I have a generous stipend in the context of being a local student. So correct me if I am wrong, but I feel I should be ok here.
I believe local students often don't have kitchens and have every meal in street stands (similar to what I experienced in Thailand). Is this the lifestyle I can (happily) expect?

-Payments: An important one, is it full cash? Digital? QR-based? How foreign-friendly are the digital payments? Where can I get the best exchange rates if I bring Euros? I believe I will open a Taiwanese bank account, so that should help.

Day/Weekend/Short Trips:

I guess the title is pretty self-descriptive. I am still learning about this country, and there isn´t as much information as in other destinations (which I think is great). So anything you can explain/recommend would be great. Travel by train? Is it worth it to rent a car? (I love driving) Which cities should I prioritise? Tainan, I guess, is the closest. Xiaoliuqiu seems like a must-visit. The beaches in the south? Some natural park/mountain/green trip, Alishan National Scenic Area? Of course, Taipei!

If you´ve read this far, I appreciate it. If not, at least it has helped me get a clearer outline of my trip :). I’m open to any advice, from food spots, adventures, to practical tips like where to get a SIM card.

Thanks in advance for your help! Can’t wait to explore Taiwan!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a nightlife street or area with bars in Kaohsiung, located within an area with multiple nightclubs around, maybe a central spot where people meet up and hang out.

Somewhere with bars close together, where people are hanging out both inside and outside the bars, socializing, drinking, going for a night out, dressed up. A place that is crowded, with a lively and social vibe.

I’ll be traveling to Kaohsiung later this year, and I was wondering:

• Are there any streets or areas like this there?
• And are there certain days or times when places like this get especially busy?

Would love to hear your recommendations!

Hi! I am a recent undergrad graduate. I'll be studying Mandarin at a university here for the summer before I return to the US for my PhD in the fall. I'm hoping to make some friends while I'm in Kaohsiung from June-late August. I love outdoor activities (hoping to travel around and hike in my free time) and cafes, but I'm open to any opportunities to meet people and practice my Mandarin (though any nationality/languages you speak is fine!!).

Please feel free to PM if you want to connect or let me know if there is a better online platform I should join to meet others. Also open to any suggestions on places to visit!!