Job Discussion Forums

murman · Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 18

Hi,

My wife and I have been offered work in Taipei. We have been offered 55,000 dollars a month each (no appartment included).

I know this is a general question, but what are noise and air pollution levels like. I've been to Bangkok and my eyes ran from the pollution in the air. I've travelled in Thailand and am currently in Chiang Mai, in the north. They have banned large buses here, so everyone rides noisy, little motorcycles. They are everywhere - in swarms on main roads, up every back alley. SO noisy compared to cars. I've stayed in many different hotels. The guests are quiet, but the noise from the street, even the backstreets is incredible. Music, barking dogs, motorcycles.....

What is the air like in Taipei, is it choking, eye-burningly bad?

We are very interested in going to Taiwan, and just want to get some idea before committing ourselves.

I know that we can expect some noise and pollution anywhere in Asia so please, no answers like 'if you don't like noise and pollution you shouldn't come'. I just want to gauge Taiwanese levels.

Thank you

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

The pollution here is quite bad. Strangely, though it doesn't rate as one of the top ten worst in Asia. Noise pollution is similarly quite bad. It's not just the traffic. The Chinese don't value quiet the way westerners do. Noisy is fun.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

Will be worse than Chiang Mai...I went to Chiang Mai just afew months ago and got out due to breathing exhaust fumes from motorbikes in....I could of got that experience anywhere in Taiwan. Taipei isn't too bad pollution-wise anymore....Kaosiung is probably the most polluted city in Taiwan due to largely being a port town-however don't expect your whites to stay white for long. Firecrackers are common place and after a while they stop waking you up as often. However things like the MRT subway system means Taipei's pollution has reduced slightly in the last few years.

Taoyaun Steve is right the attitude to noise is that it is fun. 'renao' is how the Chinese describe it which approximately means lively.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

If you have a problem dealing with high levels of pollution you will have a problem dealing with everyday life in Taiwan.
The Chinese on Taiwan are compulsive liars. Pollution levels on Taiwan are as bad as, if not worse than most other cities in Asia. As the R.O.C. government is totally incapable of dealing with it they just use old, outdated and easily manipulated pollution detection sensors and calculating methods to hide the problem from you.

A.

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

I find Aristotle's posts laughable most of the time although some are useful...not being personal as I have looked at his webpage, I just don't think a lot of conspiracy theories have validity either. The pollution indexes are published in the daily English papers. There is an East Coast that few foreigner see that is reasonably unpolluted especially in comparison to the West Coast.

EOD · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 167 Location: Taiwan

From what I understand the current methods for evaluating air pollution in Taiwan are comparable to the new and improved clean air act redefined by the US administration.

St Vitus · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 16

I found Taipei foul due to the pollution levels. However, the situation was exacerbated by working a 6-day week. On the seventh day, I rested in my apartment with a hangover. I'm sure I'd have coped in Taipei working a 5-day week only. Yangminshan National Park and other natural paradises are only a stone's throw away and the air is perfectly clear.
If you can tolerate Monday-Friday coughing and choking, award yourself with a breath of fresh air on a Saturday or Sunday.