Taipei gay district
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The space is a former abandoned sugar factory, made up of 22 warehouses that were built during the Japanese Colonial Period.
After sitting unused for quite some time, the area and space was repurposed by the Ten Drum Art Percussion Group, a music troupe from southern Taiwan that aims to promote local culture, music and art, and as a result the Ten Drum Cultural Village was born.
The entire site has now become a cultural venue – warehouses have been developed into museums, theatres, classrooms where guests can participate in a drum lesson, shops and restaurants.
There are even rides and slides and adventure activities to participate in – including some for thrill-seekers, such as a 7-story free fall ride, swings that go out over the tree top canopy, and zip-lines.
Things to do in Kaohsiung
Gondola Tour on The Love River
Formerly known as The Kaohsiung Waterway, or The Kaohsiung Canal, thanks to a boat company opening near the bridge called The Love River Boat Company, giving people the chance to row up and down the river, the name Love River was passed to the waterway itself – especially as the majority of people taking boats out were couples – “in love.”
The Love River divides the city of Kaohsiung into two, with various bridges connecting the two sections – such as the Jiangou and Jhongjheng Bridges.
I had the most incredible time on this little gay island utopia in Asia and can honestly not recommend it enough.
Now to see where the next progressive place in Asia is going to be!
allout.travel
Taipei, Taiwan’s bustling capital, is renowned for its vibrant LGBTQ+ scene, mouth-watering cuisine, and stunning architecture.
the patron god for gay men. The hall, surrounded by lush gardens, is a serene spot to reflect on Taiwan’s history.
The LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan are incredibly progressive, rivalling those of many Western countries, but I will come onto that shortly!
Laws and legislation aside, the attitude of local Taiwanese people towards LGBTQ+ travellers could not be any more welcoming.
There is also a rooftop access where you can have a close-up view of the Big Buddha Statue.
There is even a video room where you can watch a 3D video on the history of the Buddha!
Iactually really enjoyed my visit to the museum – religious aspects aside (although some of the teachings of the Buddha faith and the values they hold I could really get behind!), I was just in awe at the beautiful setting, the architecture and intricacy of everything.
Address: No.
1號, Tongling Rd, Dashu District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 84049
Explore a Night Market
Kaohsiung, like pretty much any of the other major cities, is full of street markets to explore, both night and day.
During my time in Kaohsiung, following the gondola tour on the Love River I returned to the hotel where I was within walking distance of the Ruifeng Night Market, the perfect place to grab dinner!
Ruifeng Night Market is currently the largest night market in Kaohsiung, and according to many people is one of the best.
During the time that I spent in Taipei, I noticed quite a few same-ʂex couples walking hand-in-hand, which is always encouraging to see!
I could not have felt safer and more welcomed!
Gay Rights in Taiwan
The LGBTQ+ rights in Taiwan are considered to be the most progressive, and the most comprehensive in the whole of Asia.
So pack your bags and get ready to explore this dynamic and colorful city!
Just a quick heads up: Some of the links and images in this post are affiliate links.
This view is romantic enough – but couple this with cruising up and down the river in a gondola, complete with romantic music being played (we had Ed Sheeran – Perfect as one of our songs!), and if you are lucky, your gondolier may even sing to you!
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is a Buddhist cultural, religious and educational museum located in the Dashu District of Kaohsiung.
Upon arrival, you pass through the main entrance area, which is almost small shopping centre like, with various food and drink outlets, including a Starbucks, and a couple of shops and stalls.
It is one of the most incredible views I have seen.
And if you feel really brave enough – you can even ascend to floor 101, which is the outdoor observation deck – but be warned, it gets quite windy up here!
Taipei 101 is also adjoined to a large, multilevel shopping mall, so once you have ascended and taken in the views, you can head back down for some shopping, or food at one of the many food and drink outlets.
Visit GinGin, the gay bookstore
GinGin is the first, and as a result Taiwan’s most famous LGBTQ+ bookstore, having been open for over 25 years.
GinGin has English speaking staff that are more than happy to assist, and as well as books, it also sells DVDs, magazines, items of clothing and more.
GinGin is also a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights for the people of Taiwan – they have long been avid participants in Taiwan Pride, and also use the store as a culture shop, featuring exhibitions, as well as holding different arts and cultural activities instore.
GinGin can be found on a small quiet street behind Taipower Building, full address 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Roosevelt Rd, Section 3, Ln 210, Alley 8, 8號1樓.
Just something to note – no filming or photography is permitted inside the store.
Visit the Rabbit God Temple
I still can’t believe that Taiwan has a god for the gays – let alone a temple where you can go to worship and make offerings and pray.
It was really interesting to learn about the history of The Rabbit God, especially the fact that such a large number of people make the journey to the temple each year.
Even if you don’t want to make any offerings or pray to the God yourself, it is still a really cool place to visit – after all, as I said above, it is the only religious shrine/place of worship in the world that is dedicated just for us gays!
228 Peace Memorial Park
228 Peace Memorial Park is a historic, municipal park located in Taipei, within walking distance from Ximending.
The park contains memorials dedicated to the victims of the February 1947 massacre, including the 228 Memorial itself standing at the centre of the park.
However, the park itself has been adopted by the gays.
It is also one of the most convenient to get to as well, located right next to the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station. This historic building houses numerous LGBTQ+-friendly bars, clubs, and shops, making it the perfect spot to begin your queer Taipei adventure. And for
Commander D
Commander D is a bar for the cheeky ones amongst us to check out, I mean, just use your imagination for what you think the “D” stands for!
Commander D is an underground cruise bar, and is fetiʂh and BDSM themed – dim red lights, dark corners, and even whips and chains hanging from the walls!
Commander D is about a 10 minutes’ walk from The Red House gay area, and generally attracts a mixed crowd, although most will be looking for some fun!
Address:No.
Bookmark the permalink. They even have Drag Race alum Pangina Heals performing here!
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The first Taipei Pride parade took place in 2003 and by 2017, it had grown to over 100,000 participants from all over the world.
Once you reach the observatory, you are rewarded with a panoramic, 360-degree view of the entire city – shopping malls, more skyscrapers, and surrounding the city, rolling green hills and mountains. The area offers a range of public and private hot spring facilities, as well as the beautiful Beitou Thermal Valley, where you can take a leisurely stroll.
Stay in LGBTQ+-Friendly Accommodations
- W Taipei: This luxury hotel in the upscale Xinyi district is known for its stylish design and exceptional service.
Even a lot of the signage, such as when using the public transport system is also in English.
- Power outlets are the same as in the US and Canada, so pack an adaptor!
Wrap Up
And there you have my complete LGBTQ+ travel guide to gay Taiwan!
I had high hopes for visiting and it certainly exceeded all of my expectations!
From the airport there are plenty of connection options into the city centre, such as MRT train, buses and taxis. Fast forward 20 years, and last year’s pride – the 20th anniversary celebration – drew in crowds of over 176,000 people! Inside are booth style tables, and a TV monitor used for karaoke.
It is a cash only bar, with a minimum spend, but they do allow you to bring your own food for consumption – so a lot of locals tend to hit the night markets first, stock up on food and snacks and then hit the bar, which stays open almost every day until 04:30.
Address: 803, Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Yancheng District, Jianguo 4th Rd, 306號3樓
Rainbow Thursday @ Brickyard
Brickyard is the name of a popular dance club in Kaohsiung, which, although not a gay bar or club, describes itself as “Kaohsiung’s most gay friendly bar since 2009!”
The owners of Brickyard are dedicated to ensuring that all the different types of people that both live in and visit Kaohsiung have not only a fun, but also a safe space to go, to meet up, meet new friends and enjoy the music and dance.
As a result, Brickyard theme nights were born – a bar that each night hosts something different to appeal to everyone, and ensuring that people have at least one night where they feel safe, such as Ladies Night on a Wednesday, Student Night on a Friday, Latin Nights, and Saturdays that mix it up.
And for the LGBTQ+ community, this is Thursday – known as “Rainbow Thursdays”, which is an extremely popular gay night.
The dance floor does have a reputation for being very crowded, especially after midnight.
The venue is spread across two floors – the main area including stage and dance floor is on the ground floor, and upstairs there are private karaoke rooms – although I have heard that karaoke may not be the only thing happening there….
The party then continues in Ximending with lots of LGBTQ+ bars by Red House like Locker Room or Taboo in Zhongshan.
You might like – Top 65 things to do in Taipei >
Taipei Rainbow Festival
Organised by the Taipei Culture Foundation and The Red House community, this annual gay Taipei event coincides with Taiwan LGBTQ+ Pride.
Progressive brands and local Taiwanese LGBTQ+ representatives curate events and Pride pop-ups across Taipei.
If you’re attending the 2025 Taipei Pride next month (25 Oct) or want to know more about LGBTQ+ activities and sites, you can also take a ride on the Rainbow Sightseeing Bus.
The 2025 Taipei Color / Pride bus runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 26 October 2025 and features onboard entertainment followed by a drag show and drinks.
There are two themed routes – Drag Bus and Party Express.
A Color Taipei free information leaflet should be available from tourist information offices all over the city plus locations like Red House in Ximending.
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels.
For booking tours, transfers and buying SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook.
With its welcoming atmosphere and diverse experiences, Taipei promises an unforgettable adventure for gay travelers.