TAICHUNG -- area code (886-4)

Population is over 1 million (that's close to 40,000 Utopians).
• Men in Taichung message forum
• Taichung Gay Scene Updates message forum

The updated and expanded 2nd Edition of the Utopia Guide to Taiwan offers a fresh insider's glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 12 cities including Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order

Click here for Taichung hotels and accommodations.

• G Plus Lounge Bar
  121 Gong Yi Rd (across the street from Nova) 2301-3498. Small, but nice. Dance floor and two lounges on three levels. Open 8pm to 5am weekdays and 9pm to 3am weekends and holidays. No credit cards.

• Ai Qiao
  B/1, 216 Cheng-gong Rd, 221-1975. Not far from Hon Hwa Gong Sauna & Tai-chung Park. Upbeat, nicely decorated and the trendy people. The music is also quite cool. A great place to go before and after dinner.
• Big Elephant
  8F-3, No. 12, Sec. 2, Tzu Yu Rd, 222-4336
• Flower City
  9F-1, No. 9, Sec. 2, Tzu Yu Rd, 220-0380, 220-1165. Young crowd.
• Macro
  Manpower show on the weekend.
• Purple Grindery
  Basement, No. 60, Chung Shen Rd, 220-2126
• Shin Chiao
  Lane 19, Section 1 Shuang Shi Rd. Japanese style karaoke bar. Mature customers.
• Sydney Disco Pub, 226-2890.

• Taichung Park
  Located at the intersection of Gong-yuan Rd and Shuan-shi Rd. Take bus number 4, 14, 16, 32, 41, 100 or 102 and get off at Tai-chung Park stop.
• Taichung Movie Theater
  188 Gong-yuan Rd, 202-3820. Shows straight adult movies, but mainly gay audience.
• Train Station

• Life Restaurant
  100 Xue-shi Rd, 234-4145. Next to Zhong-zheng swimming pool, inside Zhong-zheng Park. Take bus number 38 or 31 and get off at China Medical College Stop. It shares facilities with the swimming pool and gym so lots of things may be observed.
• Sunny Park Café
  259-12 Xi-tun 2nd Rd (next to Ming-liu Plaza), 258-7425. Take bus number 102 and get off at Ding Shan Shi Li stop or take a cab to Xi-tun 2nd Rd, Shang-shi North 5th lane.

• Adam
  Shuang She Lu 1 Tuan (Section 1) 19 Siang No. 2, 2220-1069. This place is on the corner. Look up for a big vertical white neon sign board with 4 red chinese characters and their phone number below it (there is no English sign, but you can match the phone number listed here). Large and international. Multiple floors and many different rooms: karaoke, wet areas, TV lounge, gay videos, dark areas, fun spaces, etc. Young crowd and some mature who like younger guys.

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Adam sauna is in the 'only if you're desperate' category. The shower/toilet area is dirty, smelly and frankly disgusting; the spa pools are empty; I didn't dare venture into the steam room; and some don't respect the big 'no smoking' signs. A large facility, upstairs is somewhat better with many small rooms, a bar area, TV rooms, etc. It could be a great place but not at present. Maybe Tue night (when I went) is not a happening time in Taichung and the weekend is more active? A little hard to find - the phone number on their big neon sign isn't working at present. My recommendation for tourists would be to find a friend on the Internet and take him to your hotel - it would at least be much cleaner!" -- bear4unz, Jan 4, 2010

• Hon Hwa Gong
  B/F 145 Kuang Fu Rd, 225-2665. Open 24 hours.