Vibrant, tolerant and tropical, Taipei exudes sex appeal. Add in some sleek skyscrapers, ancient temples and musclebound natives and you have the perfect mix for a city island escape!
Discovering Taipei – Asia’s No 1 Gay Friendly Destination
Taipei is a city of contrasts. Surprisingly good ones at that! From the typical tourist attractions of night markets, temples and hot springs to the sophisticated hotel, restaurant and cafe scene, the city is emerging as one of the most gay friendly and welcoming destinations in Asia.
Home to more than 3 million people, Taipei City is also known as the San Francisco of the East. Tolerant, open and progressive, the city attracts guys and girls from all over Asia and beyond who want to be themselves without being judged or labelled.
Same sex sexual activity is legal. Workplace discrimination based on Sexual orientation is banned and the annual gay pride attracts more than 50,000 people each year.
Taipei’s Gay Scene and Districts
The gay scene is wild and vibrant. Combine tropical weather with gourmet food, stunning shopping experiences and a rich history of culture and art, Taipei is a city oasis that never ceases to surprise. Add in a cruising gay beach, gay hot springs, circuit parties and the hot and muscled native Taiwanese guys and you are set for a holiday to remember.
Taipei has become famous for its large scale circuit parties, usually taking place on public bank holidays. These events attract large number of visitors from other Asian countries including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. These parties sell-out fast and hotels can be fully booked for weeks in advance so plan and book early.
Taipei’s main gay scene is centered around the Red House entertainment complex and Ximan, a veritable gay village full of bars with large outdoor terraces.
The main gay scene is centered around the Red House entertainment complex and Ximan, however there are many other gay venues dotted around the city, most notably in the Jhongshan area just north of Ximen, Zhongshan Dunhua and Taipei City Hall to the east.
The Red House district is home to more than 25 different gay bars, shops and restaurants. There is a bar for everyone, Karaoke to Leather and S&M to Bears and their admirers. Most of the bars have large outdoor terraces perfect for watching the hot guys walk by.
Getting around Taipei is quick and convenient. The MRT or subway makes getting around the city a breeze. Taxis are available 24 hours a day. Unless you speak Mandarin, make sure you keep a card of your hotel with its address so you can easily find your way back home after a night of partying as few drivers will speak English.
Clubbing – Where to Party
The clubbing scene in Taipei is one of the hottest in Asia, most notably thanks to the efforts of the G5 party organisers. The party moves around different venues depending on the event with the most recent events taking place in the ATT4Fun complex. The queues can be long so go for a VIP ticket if you can.
Jump is a popular gay club hosting theme parties every Saturday such as Follow Me and Woof. The club plays a mix of house, electro, club and tribal. The space is divided into three main areas offering a different ambiance in each one. Tickets should be purchased in advance.
Circuit parties during public holidays, prides and long weekends, attract thousands to the island, so be warned and book tickets and hotel early.
Funky, one of the oldest gay clubs in Taipei offers a fabulous 70’s style disco complete with underfloor lighting, mirror balls and lots of kitsch!
Finally Luxy, Taipei’s luxurious night club and the largest in the city offers regular theme parties featuring top DJs, artists and performers. The bars and clubs section of the guide has full details of the best gay bars and clubs to see and be seen.
Taipei Saunas
Taipei has some of the best gay saunas in Asia. Aniki is one of the most famous in the region. The facilities and service are renowned and comes complete with an large dark room and 28 luxury suites which can be rented out per hour or overnight. The sauna attracts a mix of fit Asian guys and foreign tourists. Weekends are busiest with several themed parties and foam nights. The sauna is open 24 hours per day but is busy from 6pm onward. For more check out the detailed Sauna listings.
We will come back to presenting Taipei soon. In any case, this is destination we could strongly recommend for COVID19 affected travel in 2021/2022.