Standing wide-eyed on the busy streets, one is almost inundated by a sea of shoppers. That is the effect the night markets of Taiwan have on most people. The sensory stimulus is quite unlike any other. Think of Taiwan, and you can’t help but think of the night markets. An integral part of the country’s culture, these markets started initially around the numerous temples that dot every major city for informal vendor meetings. Today, they have expanded into de-facto shopping areas for the residents complete with groceries and even the swankiest of brands. Most of these markets start bustling around 10 at night when the shoppers returning home from work can pick up their daily requirement.
Unlike Taipei, Tainan’s night markets are open only three days a week. With a wide array of Taiwanese snacks like stinky tofu, grilled seafood to Korean spicy rice cake, Japanese takoyaki and sushi, it is a non-top food marathon. The stinky tofu stalls draw quite a bit of crowd and your nose will pick it out even before your eyes have. Usually served deep-fried along with pickled cabbage and a spicy sauce, the tofu in itself is quite silky amidst a complex set of textures and flavours. Try it with some deep-fried cuttlefish or down it with some of the famous papaya milk.
Also, the game stalls offer the perfect venue for families and friends. You’ll find the much-loved pinball, dart shooting, hoopla, basketball shooting and many others.
Here are a few other markets to check out.
Huaxi Street
One of the first tourist night markets in the country, the Huaxi Street Night Market has signboards in both English and Cantonese and has been around since the 50s. The speciality here are the exotic foods, especially the preserved snakes and snake wines. Huaxi also offers squid soup, goose and even eels.
Shilin
It is one of the largest indoor markets in Asia and is known for the scrumptious street food and the stores selling popular street fashion. Centred around the Yangming Theatre and Chicheng Temple, this place is mostly frequented by locals as they tend to buy their daily stuff here. The specialities here include the pancakes, hot pot on stone and the quintessential Shilin sausages. Do not forget to bargain hard.
Feng Chia
It was established in 1963 and is Taichung’s largest and most popular night market. Home to an estimated 15,000 shops, restaurants, and stalls, the area boasts food stalls, clothing stores, restaurants, games to play and most notably, lots of snacks to please any palate. Do grab some packets of the famous pineapple cakes made with candied fruit.
Also, if you are spending enough time in Taichung, then a day trip to the Sun Moon Lake is well worth it. It’s located about two hours south of Taichung and is easily accessible by bus. It is one of the largest lakes in Taiwan and has a beautiful biking track around it.
Ita Thao
The laidback atmosphere here is perfect for relaxing while the Thao Cultural Centre gives you an insight into the traditional culture.