Dining in Taiwan emphasizes communal sharing, respect for elders, and specific chopstick etiquette. Key rules include never sticking chopsticks vertically into food, bringing your rice bowl closer to your mouth, and not tipping. It is customary for the oldest person to eat first, and sharing dishes is common, with slurping noodles often encouraged.
In Taiwan, as a general rule, it is prohibited to bring in animal-derived foods, such as meat products such as ham and wieners, processed seafood products such as mentaiko and salted fish products, and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt, if there is no quarantine certificate.
If you're eating with Taiwanese people they will probably insist that you eat more even if you say you're full. The etiquette here is to politely insist you're full. Your host is just being a good host by offering more food and making sure you're not just too shy to eat more.
Walking or eating while walking or browsing at a market is not only acceptable, it's encouraged. Visitors must ensure they toss any garbage into a bin or hold onto it before reaching a transit station.
Never use your feet to move an object or to point as feet are considered dirty. Place your hands in your lap when sitting. Men should not cross their legs, but rather place both feet on the floor. Putting an arm around someone's shoulder, winking, and pointing with your index finger are all considered rude gestures.
Travel. Heroin, morphine, opium, cocaine, coca leaves, poppy, poppy seeds, amphetamine, marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana derivatives containing over 10 ppm of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), derived products of the said materials, etc. are prohibited.
Yes, you can absolutely wear red in Taiwan; it's a very auspicious color symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and celebration, used extensively in festivals, weddings, and temples, though you should avoid writing someone's name in red ink as it's considered bad luck and a sign of death. Red clothing is common and welcomed, especially during festive times, and generally, you can wear whatever you like, with few restrictions.
Toilet paper has short fibers and disintegrates easily, therefore it can be flushed down the toilet, as long as it is not done in large quantities deliberately. If the public toilet has the “Flush Toilet Paper Down the Toilet” sign, please do so as instructed.
The five core food safety rules, promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and others, focus on Keep Clean, Separate Raw & Cooked, Cook Thoroughly, Keep Food at Safe Temperatures, and Use Safe Water & Raw Materials, preventing contamination and illness by ensuring hygiene, proper cooking, correct storage (hot stays hot, cold stays cold), and safe ingredients.
After eating, unless they explicitly state that tipping is allowed, it's considered rude and may make people feel that you think of them as low or poor. Some restaurants automatically add a 10% gratuity fee in some places when you're dining with a big group of people, so you don't have to worry about tipping.
What is the main payment method in Taiwan? The most popular digital payment method in Taiwan is the credit card, which is widely used for both online and offline retail. E-wallets like LINE Pay and JKOPAY are also extremely popular for in-store QR code payments, P2P transfers, and bill payments.
Taiwanese people often greet foreigners with a handshake. However, a polite handshake in Taiwan is not as firm as in many other countries. Also, men should wait for women to initiate a handshake.
Most have tp, handsoap, and are clean esp if they're in public buildings like mrt, malls, etc. But individual restaurants, night markets, etc it's not guaranteed so just bring a couple small packs of tp and hand sanitizer just in case. I've never seen a paid toilet in taiwan in over a decade living here.
You may not import fresh, dried or canned meats or meat products from most foreign countries into the United States. Also, you may not import food products that have been prepared with meat.
Customs may impose inspection at both the Red Channel and the Green Channel. Any undeclared goods, false or fraudulent statement detected on site shall result in the confiscation of goods, fines or prosecution of the passengers pursuant to the related laws. Do not carry luggage or baggage for anyone else.
If the total time between 5°C and 60°C is: less than 2 hours, the food can be used or put back in the fridge for later use • between 2 and 4 hours, the food can still be used, but can't be put back in the fridge • 4 hours or longer, the food must be thrown out.
Can you brush your teeth with tap water in Taiwan?
For safety, it is advisable to rely on bottled water or to thoroughly boil tap water before consumption. Tap water is considered safe for brushing the teeth.
The "333 rule" in clothing refers to two popular minimalist fashion concepts: the viral TikTok trend of using 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 shoes to create numerous outfits (9 items total) for styling practice, and the more extensive Project 333, where you select 33 items (including clothes, shoes, and accessories) to wear for three months, excluding essentials like underwear, workout gear, and sleepwear, to simplify your wardrobe and reduce decision fatigue. Both methods focus on versatility, quality over quantity, and creating a functional capsule wardrobe.
While these envelopes are typically thought to be filled with money, they also carry a darker connection to the spirit world. According to local folklore, picking up a red envelope could mean you're being tied to a ghost seeking a spouse—often someone who passed away without marrying.
