Last Updated on 12-30-2023
Taipei City is the center of business in northern Taiwan. It is also the center of Taiwan’s political, economic, educational, and cultural development. Although Taipei is a small city, it has everything inside. Many jobs and industries are mainly in Xinyi District, Daan District, Neihu District, and Nangang District, which are the four most important business districts in Taipei.
What is Taipei best known for?
Taipei is the economic, political, and cultural center of Taiwan. It is a modern metropolitan and diverse city that is filled with vitality. What’s more, the transportation here is quick and convenient, so you don’t need to drive the car yourself and worry about the time being too long from one place to another. But if you want to go to another city for a day trip, you can rent a car.
Apart from this, there are lots of stores here, like restaurants with delicacies, especially Din Tai Fung, which every foreigner likes, or if you want some special try, “Stinky Tofu” in the night market will be your first option. Also, there are a lot of convenience stores in Taipei, just walk a few steps and you will see one in front of you.
Taipei’s MRT is very convenient and there are various foods around each MRT station. If you want to find more delicacies in Taipei, we’ve put together some for you, just click the button below!
You will be pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the locals and the diversity of the culture, regardless of how long you stay.
Four popular business districts in Taipei
With the development of culture and the city, the western district of Taipei (Wanhua, Taipei Station area) is filled with many small and medium enterprise, traditional cultural clusters, or Ximending, where young people like to gather. Lots of corporations, technology companies, and financial companies are gradually gathering in the East District, Xinyi District, and Neihu District,which are not only separate business centers but also interrelated.
Neihu District
There are numerous new commercial and office buildings in Neihu Science and Technology Park that include technology, online game industries. The Tri-Service General Hospital and many of Taiwan’s media headquarters are also located here.
Neihu Science and Technology Park, which has the highest revenue in Taipei, and a rich concentration of area, technology and talent. It is the first science park in Taiwan that was developed by both private investment and the government. However, the traffic there is very congested during commuting time.
Many internationally renowned ODM (Original Design Manufacture), such as LITE-ON Technology, Compal Electronics Inc., international electronic brand MiTAC Technology, Taiwan e-commerce platform Fubon MOMO, and game companies like Gamania Digital Entertainment, also have head offices in Neihu Technology Park.
Besides, there are many “online game” companies gathered around MRT Xihu Station and Gangqiang Station to design relevant mechanisms for international game brand companies.
In addition, around Neihu Jiuzong Road and Neihu COSTCO, there are many TV media companies, such as Sanlih Entertainment Television, Next TV, and Era News.
- Nearby Attractions: Jinmianshan Hiking Trail, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE, Dahu Park
- Transportation: take the metro brown line from Xihu station to Donghu station.
Nangang District
In order to solve traffic congestion problems in the Taipei area, the government decided to build the MRT. On July 1, 2015, the High-Speed Rail Nangang Station was officially opened. Nangang Station has become the largest transfer station in Taipei, reducing the crowd of people who usually transfer at Taipei Main Station.
The Nangang Software Park is an extension of the Neihu Technology Park. The industries are based on knowledge-intensive industries, such as software IC design, digital creativity, biotechnology, and cultural creativity, while supporting service industries are allowed to move in to complete the living function of the park and retain the flexibility to introduce new industries, and to increase the competitiveness of the industry. By the way, the park will promote the upgrading of the software industry to achieve the goal of “Asia Pacific Software Center” and “Asia-wide R&D Headquarters”.
Nangang Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 were built near the MRT Nangang Software Park Station to expand the needs of the exhibition halls.
A significant park in Taiwan’s software industry: Nangang Software Park , there are phases 1, 2, and 3. KKBox, Yahoo Taiwan, and CTBC Bank Co., for example, have all established their headquarters here.
KKBox Group also includes KKBox, KKTV, KKStream, KKFarm and other group companies.
- Nearby Attractions: Nangang Bottle Cap Factory, Taipei Music Center, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center
- Transportation: take the metro blue line from Nangang station to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center station, or take the brown line at Nangang Software Park station.
Xinyi District
The Xinyi business district is known as the “Manhattan of Taipei” due to the prosperity of the area’s financial market and corporate headquarters in the weekdays, but it is a fashionable metropolitan area at night.
There is one department store every 0.5 square kilometers on average in the district, with the highest concentration of department stores. Many corporate and financial headquarters are located here. Also, the famous landmark, Taipei 101, is currently the tenth tallest skyscraper in the world.
Aside from the iconic Taipei World Trade Center and Taipei 101, the region also includes various corporations, such as Cathay Financial Center, Nan Shan Life Insurance Company and CPC Corporation Headquarters, as well as numerous department stores and recreational facilities, such as VIESHOW Cinemas, ATT 4 FUN, Uni-Hankyu Department Stores, Eslite Bookstore Xinyi, and W Hotel, making Xinyi District to one of the major commercial districts.
Besides, Google, WeWork, Deloitte & Touche, Shopee Taiwan, L’Oreal SA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Bloomberg, and P&G Taiwan have all set up Taiwan headquarters in Xinyi District.
- Nearby Attractions: Xiangshan, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
- Transportation: take the metro red line from Taipei 101 station to Xiangshan station, or take the blue line from Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall station to Taipei City Hall station.
Daan District
Daan District is a thriving business and entertainment district. It has everything from department stores to boutique shops to roadside stalls, cafes, and exquisite food. It is a popular shopping place for Taipei residents.
The name “Daan” is derived from its previous name, Daan Village. There are talented people, developed commercial areas, and convenient transportation in the district. It is the representation of an international city, and it displays a distinct style.
National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, and National Taipei University of Technology have enriched the area with culture and education. Xinsheng South Road is known as the “Road to Heaven” because of its many religious buildings. There is also the Daan Forest Park, one of the few large parks in Taipei, which is known as the “lung of the city”.
On weekends, the Jianguo Flower Market and Jade Market appear as a business, with Renai Road as the boundary, the Flower Market to the south and the Jade Market to the north. The flower market sells a wide range of flowers at low prices, whereas the jade market has nearly 1,000 jade stalls and a steady stream of visitors.
Also, MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station is a transfer station between blue line and brown line, there are Breeze Center, two Pacific SOGO department stores around the shopping area, and companies in some commercial buildings.
- Nearby Attractions: Yongkang Street, Daan Forest Park, Linjiang Street Night Market
- Transportation: take the metro red line from Dongmen station to Xinyi Anhe station, or take the blue line from Zhongxiao Xinsheng station to Zhongxiao Dunhua station.
The pros and cons of working in Taipei
Pros+
- Health Insurance
Public health insurance in Taiwan is great! You are eligible if you work here. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) makes treatment, medication, dental and vision care and hospitalization affordable. Foreigners who pass the health check required for a long-term visa in Taiwan and get an Alien Resident Card will be covered by Taiwanese public healthcare. - Public Transportation
Taipei has the best public transportation system, with a clean, safe, and on-time MRT system as well as a comprehensive bus system. This means people here don’t need to buy scooters or cars, it is unnecessary. - Convenient Life
Taiwan is one of the most convenient countries in the world. You will find convenience stores such as 7-11, Family Mart, OK Mart, or Hi-Life everywhere you go. These stores also accept bills or cash, purchase travel tickets, print pictures, and receive packages, buy daily necessities, and so on. - People Are Friendly
Most people are friendly to foreigners and willing to help foreigners. They also accept different races of people. If you are lost in Taipei or cannot find the place you want to go, they will help you, although some of them are not good at English, and then they will find others that can help you. - Safety
Taiwan is definitely a safe country. There isn’t a lot of crime that often occurs around every city. Just be careful when you go to crowded places. Maybe some petty crime will happen, but these situations are rare.
Cons-
- Humid Weather
Taipei has rain all year round. There are plum rains in spring, afternoon thunderstorms in summer, typhoons in fall, and rain in winter because of the northeast monsoon. - High Price
Everything in Taipei is expensive. Some Taiwanese people think the foods in Taipei taste bad and are expensive, but some foreigners think they are quite cheap. It depends on what you think, but there are still lots of delicacies you can choose! - Air Pollution
The air in Taipei used to be good, but in recent years, it has gotten worse due to sandstorms from China. Besides, the exhaust emissions from cars and scooters are also the reason that leads to severe air pollution. - Heavy Traffic
Many foreigners are put off by Taiwanese road culture, which leads to speeding, ignoring traffic laws, and congested roads. Accidents involving scooters are common, and some foreigners complain about noise levels near the main roads.
For some reasons, Taipei seems like a place to live, and a suitable place for long-term development and work. If you are the business workers that will come to Taipei in the future, then you can experience the culture in person!
Extended-Stay Hotels, Serviced Apartments Near the 4 District
| Name | Price | Place |
| The Denizen | from NT$3,300/night | Daan District |
| Dandy Hotel-Daan Park Branch | from NT$1,988/night | Daan District |
| Green World ZhongXiao | from NT$1,600/night | Daan District |
| Hotelpoispois | from NT$1,700/night | Daan District |
| The Corner House | from NT$2,999/night | Daan District |
Read More
- What makes a serviced apartment different from a hotel? Recommended serviced apartments in Taiwan
- The reasons why you should choose extended-stay hotels over regular hotels in Taiwan.
