yeah the locks are definitely a student thing, been going on since i was in high school here like 15 years ago lol. seniors lock them up before graduation, some come back years later to see if theirs is still there. if you want another good drink spot nearby, there's a place on kangle street that does a really solid taro milk, way less sweet than most places

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Those padlocks are a student tradition that's been going on for years at Songshan High. Seniors who are about to graduate will lock them onto the fence as a symbol of their friendship or memories, and some couples do it too. It's not folklore or anything creepy, just a sweet ritual that's been around since the early 2000s. If you want a solid alternative to that grandma's spot, try the tea shop on Lane 155 a few blocks south, they use real milk instead of powder and it's 10 NT cheaper.

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honestly the lock thing is just what everyone else said, graduation tradition. but the really interesting bit is that some of those locks are ancient, like rusted through from the early 2000s. students used to hide spare keys under a specific loose brick by the main gate, but the school caught on and sealed it up around 2010. if u want a change from bubble tea, the old man selling scallion pancakes at the corner of lane 89 and xinyi road is legit, he's been there since before the mrt was built

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solid breakdown, covers the essentials. for zhongzheng, I'd point out that the area around chiang kai-shek memorial hall is dead quiet after 9pm, so if you want a drink or late snack you're walking 15 mins to guting or dongmen. but staying near nanmen market is a hidden gem, you get fresh breakfast stalls and that old taipei feel without the tourist crowds.

da'an is nice but honestly overpriced for what you get unless you're expensing it. I'd rather stay in zhongshan and walk to the same cafes, plus you get the bonus of those little speakeasies near the fine arts museum that nobody talks about. the mrt from zhongshan to da'an is like 5 stops anyway.

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honestly, this is a solid breakdown. i'd add that if you're into late night eats, ximending is unbeatable but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends. i stayed near zhongshan once and loved how easy it was to walk to those little alley restaurants around linsen north road, feels more local than da'an which can be a bit sterile.

for beitou, the public hot springs at the beitou public library area are free and way more authentic than the hotel ones imo. just bring a towel and flip flops.

neihu is underrated for families, yeah, but the mrt ride to central taipei is like 20 mins which is fine. my friends rented an airbnb there with a balcony and it was way cheaper than anything in da'an.

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i'd add that for the digital nomad crowd, taipei main station is actually underrated for coworking. there's a spot called q square that has this huge lounge area on the 3rd floor near the food court, free wifi and outlets everywhere, i used to camp there for hours between meetings. beats paying for a cafe in da'an.

if you're on a budget and want something between ximending and neihu, check out wanhua district proper. it's where ximending sits but the older parts around longshan temple have guesthouses for like $25 a night and you get actual temple vibes at sunrise. just don't expect fancy amenities, it's more about the experience.

the guide mentions beitou for relaxation but nobody talks about the hike up to yangmingshan from there. it's a 40 minute walk from the mrt station to the sulfur vents and you can soak your feet in a free stream along the trail. way better than paying for a hotel pool imo

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