Taipei, Taiwan is known for its large number and variety of shopping streets, markets and malls and has been known to tourists as one of the main "shopping city" in Eastern Asia along with Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Shopping venues in the city include department stores, malls, underground transit malls, night markets, and shopping districts.
Taipei has many night markets, the most famous and busiest of which is the Shilin Night Market in the Shilin District (accessible from Jiantan Station). Night markets are a popular place for low price eating and shopping. Most night markets in Taiwan open around 4 PM, and crowds reach their peak between during the late evening hours. Businesses continue operating well past midnight. Shilin Night Market has become the largest and best-known night market in Taiwan, especially regarding food, and is a favorite focal point for Taipei's night life among residents and visitors alike.
Other notable night markets in Taipei include the Raohe Street Night Market (Songshan), Tong Hua Street Night Market (Daan), Huaxi Street Night Market (Wanhua), Wanhua Night Market (Wanhua), Gongguan Night Market (Zhongzheng), Shida Night Market (Daan), Jingmei Night Market (Wenshan), the Nanjichang Night Market (Zhongzheng), Ningxia Road Night Market (Datong), and the Shuangcheng Street Night Market (Zhongshan).
Shopping malls in Taipei are mainly concentrated in the Daan and Xinyi districts, though they can be found all over the city (including in Tianmu and Dazhi). Most malls are located along Zhongxiao East Road (accessible from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station and Zhongxiao Dunhua Station) or in the newly developed Xinyi District (Taipei City Hall Station). Malls are generally the source for high-end shopping, while markets are for less expensive items. Prominent shopping malls include:
Due to its high population density and lack of space, Taipei also has many underground markets and malls that also serve as connections between metro stations.
Ximending became the famous theater street in Taipei in the 1930s. It continued to prosper after the defeat of Japan. In 1999, the area was redeveloped as a pedestrian zone and today, it is a popular shopping spot for young people (accessible from Ximen Station).
Guang Hua Digital Plaza is a technological and electronics market located between the Daan and Zhongzheng Districts (north of Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station). A few blocks west of Taipei Main Station on Hankou Street is the highest density of photography shops in Taiwan, selling camera-related products. [1]
On weekends, the Taipei Jianguo Jade and Flower Markets open for business underneath the elevated Jianguo Road and stretch for over a kilometer. [2] The Jade Market starts just south of Zhongxiao East Road and is one of the largest jade markets in all of Asia. Just south of the Flower Market is the Jianguo Artist Market, with vendors selling traditional Chinese handicrafts.
Wufenpu is an area in the Songshan District known as a wholesale hub for clothes retailers and is Taipei's largest wholesale clothing market. [3] Yuanling Street in Zhongzheng District is a market for shoes, including shops selling handmade shoes. [4] Aiguo East Road is home to over 20 bridal shops. [5] Along Xinyi Road Sec. 3 and 4 a few kilometers from Taipei Zhongzheng Sports Center is a cluster of shops specializing in outdoor sporting goods (mostly hiking). [6] On Minquan East Road is a row of shops selling fish and aquarium supplies. [7]
Chongqing South Road has over bookshops. [8] Xichang Street near Longshan Temple is lined with many herb shops. [9] Also around Longshan Temple on Xiyuan Road is a collection of shops specializing in Buddhist items. [10] Another area around Longshan Temple has many pet shops specializing in birds. [11]
Taoyuan Street is a well-known street lined with beef noodle soup shops, a Taiwanese favorite. [12] The Sihping St. Shopping Area is lined with many cafes, and it was historically the home to Taipei's tea trade. [13] [14]
During New Year's celebrations, the Dihua Street Market (in Datong District) attracts shoppers looking for Chinese medicine, traditional foods, [15] herbs, temple icons and incense, cloths and wooden handicrafts. [16]
Taipei, officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. Located in Northern Taiwan, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City that sits about 25 km (16 mi) southwest of the northern port city of Keelung. Most of the city rests on the Taipei Basin, an ancient lakebed. The basin is bounded by the relatively narrow valleys of the Keelung and Xindian rivers, which join to form the Tamsui River along the city's western border.
Wanhua District, known in Taiwanese Hokkien as Báng-kah khu and historically as "Monga" or "Monka", is a district in Taipei, Taiwan. It is Taipei's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as the Bangka Lungshan Temple, an iconic historic temple, and the Red House Theater, the first and largest teahouse and playhouse in Taiwan. Taipei's oldest, but decaying, garment district is also here.
Datong District or Tatung is a district of Taipei City, Taiwan. It is located between the Taipei Metro Red Line and eastern shore of the Tamsui River, and between Civic Boulevard and the Sun Yat-sen Freeway. The southern part of this area used to be the site of Twatutia, one of the first settlements in what is now Taipei and for a time the area's commercial center. Taipei's commercial center has since shifted south east to Zhongzheng, Da'an and Xinyi, and Datong is far less important economically. One of the last vestiges of Twatutia's commercial importance disappeared with the closing of the Chien-Cheng Circle in 2006. The north was the site of the village of Daronpon.
Daan District is an important educational, commercial, residential and cultural district of Taipei City, Republic of China (Taiwan). The name of the district means "great safety" or "great peace".
Xinyi District or Sinyi District includes Taipei 101, Taipei International Convention Center, Taipei World Trade Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and various shopping malls and entertainment venues. Xinyi District is also considered the financial district of Taipei.
Yonghe District is an urban area in the southern part of New Taipei, Taiwan. Yonghe District is the smallest district in New Taipei City. It is primarily a mixed residential and commercial area. With around 38,000 inhabitants per square kilometer as of 2019, Yonghe is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world.
Zhongshan Road, named after Sun Yat-sen, is a major arterial in Taipei, Taiwan connecting the Zhongzheng District in the south with the Datong, Shilin Districts and the Beitou District in the north. The road was built in Japanese rule period. It was called Chokushi kaidō, which was the road leading to Taiwan Grand Shrine. Zhongshan is notable as the commuting route of former ROC president Chiang Kai-shek between the Presidential Building and his Shilin District residence. Throughout the route, it is divided into express and local lanes, with landscaped medians in between. Notable landmarks located along Zhongshan Roads includes:
Fuxing Road is a major arterial in Taipei connecting the Daan District and the National Taiwan University in the south with the Zhongzheng, Zhongshan, and Songshan districts around the northern terminus. Most of the Taipei Metro's Wenshan Line runs above Fuxing Road, with provisions along the road for the line's extension to Neihu. In November 2006, Taipei City opened up a new section of Fuxing Road between Minzu E. Road and the Dazhi Bridge, providing people a new connection between Dazhi and central Taipei without having to drive around Songshan Airport. The new connection is a four-lane tunnel travelling under Songshan Airport and is restricted to motorized vehicles only. Fuxing Road is divided into north and south sections by Zhongxiao E. Road, as is with most north–south arterials in Taipei. The southern section is divided into two numbered sections, while surprisingly, the northern section is not divided into numbered sections. Fuxing Road is also known for the many elaborate shopping malls located along the road, such as the Taipei SOGO, the Breeze Center, the Sunrise Department Store, and many more.
Zhongxiao Road is a major arterial boulevard that is part of provincial highway 5 in Taipei, Taiwan, connecting the Zhongzheng district in the west with the Daan, Songshan, Xinyi, and Nangang districts in the east. Zhongxiao Road is known as a popular shopping and entertainment area, with many large department stores and shopping malls located along most of the entire stretch. About half of the Nangang Line of the Taipei Metro runs under the road, with stations located at major intersections along the road, which accounts for the significant pedestrian traffic along the road. The majority of the road is 8-10 lanes wide with a median dividing the road. At the intersection with Zhongshan Road, there is a two-lane underpass for traffic on Zhongxiao Road to bypass the intersection.
The Tamsui–XinyiLine is a metro line in Taipei operated by Taipei Metro, named after the districts it connects: Tamsui and Xinyi. It includes a total of 28 stations serving Tamsui, Beitou, Shilin, Datong, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, Daan, and Xinyi districts. At 29 km (18 mi), it is currently the longest line of the Taipei Metro.
The Bannan or Blue line is a metro line of Taipei Metro in Taipei, Taiwan, with a total of 23 stations serving the districts of Nangang, Xinyi, Daan, Zhongshan, Wanhua, Banqiao and Tucheng. The line's name is a portmanteau of Banqiao and Nangang.
Shilin is a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan served by Taipei Metro. It is a station on the Tamsui-Xinyi Line. The station was formerly a stop on the now-defunct TRA Tamsui Line.
Zhongxiao Fuxing is a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan served by Taipei Metro. It had a ridership of 20.688 million entries and exits in 2017.
Taipei City electoral constituencies consist of 8 single-member constituencies, each represented by a member of the Legislative Yuan.
Station Front Metro Mall is an underground shopping center located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is located directly underneath Zhongxiao West Road and is connected with Taipei Main Station.
Longshan Temple Underground Shopping Mall is an underground shopping center located in Wanhua District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is located directly below Bangka Park and is connected with Longshan Temple metro station. There are a total of 7 entrances to access the shopping mall from the ground floor. The mall has four levels. Level B1 is a famous fortune-telling street, where some stores also sell lucky charms and daily necessities; level B2 sells a variety of commodities, such as exquisite cultural goods and snacks, souvenirs, etc. Levels B3 and B4 are used as a public parking lot.