Taipei, Taiwan Change location. Taipei, a high-tech industrial area, is the capital city of Taiwan and a special municipality of the Republic of China. It sits at the northern tip of the country, with most of the city located on the Taipei Basin. The city proper has a population of about 2. Taipei is also the largest city in Taiwan and one of the most populated urban areas.
Taipei was founded in the early 18 th century by the Chinese immigrants from the mainland and it became an important overseas trade center in the 19 th century. The Chinese government made it an entity in and then proclaimed a province of China in From then, Taipei continued its way in becoming a contemporary city with its notable building projects.
There is no specific red light district in Taipei, but Linsen North Road is the closest thing the city has to offer. The area has numerous bars that feature small KTV rooms. Most of the venues have bar girls who usually accompany predominantly male guests in drinking, singing, and other activities, depending on what the establishment can offer. Some places do offer extra services, but these are technically illegal. Wan-Hua also used to be the red light district city of Taipei, with sex workers soliciting customers every day.
It always had a thriving sex trade, but the government-regulated red light parlors were abolished in the s. Some brothels, however, are still operating illicitly. The sex trade in the area is offered by hostesses in unlicensed parlors and lounges. With complaints from some residents and merchants, however, the police carry out spot-checks in the area. Beitou was also a renowned red light district and used to be a place where men could soak in the hot springs and eat delicious meals while also being entertained by female workers.
The government, however, cleaned up the area in the late s. Today, Beitou is now a major tourist attraction known for its hot springs, lush green environment, and historical sites. During the Japanese colonial era, Beitou was developed into a hot springs resort. In the first half of the 20 th century or the time when Japan used to control Taiwan, the area around Beitou Parks became one of the largest spas in Asia.
