Taipei is one of Asia’s most exciting yet surprisingly relaxed capitals—a city where sleek skyscrapers share the skyline with misty green mountains, and centuries-old temples sit just around the corner from hip cafés and night markets.

The first time the siren sounds on a smartphone in Taipei, many visitors look up in confusion. The alert, usually in stark block letters, flashes a simple message: “Earthquake Warning.” Around them, life barely pauses. Parents reach instinctively for their children’s hands. Café staff steady cups on the counter. Office workers glance at the ceiling, then at each other, quietly counting the seconds. Within a minute, the tremor passes.