Language Books

[rohan]

Hi Guys,

Im due to arrive in Taiwan soon God willing and one of my objectives will be to learn Mandarin (and try to improve my Japanese). Could I ask what is the availability like in Taiwan for English/Chinese and english/Japanese language books?

Not sure to buy here in London where there is a good range but super expensive or to wait till I get to Taiwan (in the hope they have a reasonable range)?

Hope all are well
Rohan

[Petra]

You will be able to find large bookstores in cities such as Taipei and Taichung that have an English book section. Here you can find your favourite novels, magazinese, non-fiction books etc.. that you are used to seeing back home. Little more expensive than back home but not too ridiculous in price.

You have to weigh up the costs of buying in Taiwan or buying in the UK and lugging the stuff over. I would personally buy before you come, and that way it saves you having to look around for bookstores.

If you can't remember the below list, just take a walk in any city in Taiwan and ask a foreigner where an English book store is. They'll surely point you in the right direction.

HERE ARE A LIST OF BOOKSTORES IN TAIPEI

Bookman Books
Room 5, 2F, 88 Hsinsheng S Rd, Sec 3
(02) 2368-7226

Cafe Bookzone
2, Lane 93 Songjiang Rd
(02) 2509-5085

Crane Publishing Company
6F, 109 Hoping E Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2393-4497, 2394-1791
Take the elevator to 6th Floor (can't see from the road)

59 Chungching S Rd, Sec 2
(02) 2322-5437
Just south of Nanhai Rd. Big publisher of educational books. Lots of good classical English literature.

Eslite
Asiaworld Department Store in front of the Taipei Train Station

Gu Jin Bookstore
146, Dingzhou Rd, Sec 3
(02) 2367-1797

Lai Lai Book Company
4F, 271 Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3
(02) 2363-4265
has many foreign books.

Lucky Bookstore
129-1 Hoping E Rd, Sec 1
(02) 2392-7111
Same building as the Mandarin Training Centre of Taiwan Normal Univ.
Good for Chinese language study students (few English titles...)

Scholars Book Company
103 Chungching S Rd, Sec 1
(02) 313-0545
Lots of computer books

HERE ARE A LIST OF BOOKSTORES IN TAICHUNG

Kinokuniya Books (Sogo I)
12F, Sogo Department Store
Best foreign magazine section in Taichung

Caves Books
12, Kuanchien Rd
(04) 2326-5559
Just down from Natural Science Museum

[rohan]

Hi Petra,

thats great, even if I decide to buy the language books in London your (hug) list of English bookstores will be a great help Im sure.

Many thanks
Rohan

[rohan]

Hi Petra,

I just saw I said 'Hug' in my first reply. PLease don't think my appreciation become so overpowering I overstepped the boundaries of friendliness, I meant to say (huge).

Rohan

[Petra]

Gathered you meant to say HUGE.

Anyway, just remember to ask when in Taiwan for passerby's to point you in the right direction. This is probably the best way do find the book stores.