Every­day Cul­ture in Taipei: Be­tween Bub­ble Tea and Beethoven from the Garbage Truck

Even though Taipei is considered a “small” metropolis by Asian standards, it still has 2.5 million people living within the city limits – and another 4 million in the larger metropolitan area. So, if you're used to the size and crowds of Berlin, like I am, you might expect public life here to function in a similar way. That was at least the (maybe slightly naive) assumption I had when I arrived here two months ago – and I quickly realized that things run quite differently than they do back home. Even though I’ve gotten used to a lot of it by now, I’ve collected a few interesting, curious, and sometimes even quirky impressions that I want to share with you in this blog post.

The poetry of standing in line

One of the first things I noticed during my semester abroad – actually on the ride from the airport into the city – was how quiet and orderly the MRT (Taipei’s subway system) is. Everything is calm, people are on their phones or wearing headphones, and signs at the stations ask you to keep conversations quiet. Sadly, drinking my morning coffee (actually, now it’s Bubble Tea) on my way to uni isn’t allowed – but in return, everything is super clean. On the platform, there are markings showing where to wait, and people queue in neat lines. They wait until everyone has gotten off the train first, and many wear masks. Being used to Berlin's BVG, it feels like a parallel universe – but a pretty pleasant one.

Waiting and lining up seem to have a special status here in Taipei. People queue up with a seriousness that I would almost describe as poetic. Whether it's at the Bubble Tea stand, in restaurants, in front of elevators or in the university cafeteria – everyone just naturally forms an orderly line. No pushing, no awkward glances trying to figure out who's next (the HU Mensa could never). One time, I wasn’t standing on the designated waiting spot at the MRT platform, and a staff member kindly but firmly pointed me to the end of the line. Since then, I’ve become a huge fan of this silent agreement – it really helps keep nerves and chaos in check in a busy city like this.

"Trash time" equals neighbourhood time

One cultural surprise I totally didn’t see coming: Taking out the trash in Taipei is a whole science in itself. Public trash cans? Hardly any. And yet, the streets are super clean. Instead, a fleet of garbage trucks drives through the neighbourhoods twice every evening – and announces itself by playing Beethoven’s "Für Elise". If you want to get rid of your trash, you have to run outside when you hear the music, bags in hand, and hope you’re not too late. At first, this was honestly a bit stressful (I missed the truck a few times and once even got a friendly reminder from the garbage man to be more punctual next time), but now it actually feels kind of communal: “trash time” has also become a bit of neighbourhood time.

Something that runs through a lot of everyday life here is, in my experience, a remarkable sense of restraint and consideration in public spaces. Loud laughter, taking up too much space, loud conversations, and general chaos – these are things you rarely hear or see here. It’s fascinating how, even with so many people around, life in Taipei feels so calm and organized. At first, I felt like I was being too loud, too fast, too “German direct”. But now I’ve slowed down a little – not because I have to, but because it just feels good to be part of this quiet culture of consideration.

22.04.2025