Shilin Night Market
Encyclopedia
The Shilin Night Market is a night market
Night market
Night markets or night bazaars are street markets which operate at night and are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets.-Geographical spread:...
in the Shilin District of Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city.
Overview
The night market encompasses two distinct sections sharing a symbiotic relationship: a section formerly housed in the old Shilin Market building, containing mostly food vendors and small eateries; and the surrounding businesses and shops selling other nonfood items. The food court holds 539 stalls, and the second floor serves as a parking lot for 400 cars.In addition to the food court, side streets and alleys are lined with storefronts and roadside stands. Movie theaters, video arcades, and karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
stores are also prevalent in the area. Like most night markets in Taiwan, the local businesses and vendors begin opening around 4 PM. As students begin returning home from school, crowds reach their peak between 8 and 11 PM. Businesses continue operating well past midnight
Midnight
Midnight is the transition time period from one day to the next: the moment when the date changes. In the Roman time system, midnight was halfway between sunset and sunrise, varying according to the seasons....
and close around 1 or 2 AM.
Tourist traffic has increased in recent years due to the opening of the Taipei Metro system. The night market is closest to Jiantan Station
Jiantan Station
The Taipei Metro Jiantan Station is a station on Tamsui Line , located in the Jiantan area of Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan...
on the Tamsui Line (Red Line
Red Line (TRTS)
The Red Line comprises three lines of the Taipei Rapid Transit System: the Tamsui Line , the Xinbeitou Branch Line, and the Xinyi Line. When completed, it will include a total of 30 stations serving the Tamsui, Beitou, Shilin, Datong, Zhongshan, Zhongzheng, Daan, and Xinyi districts, stretching...
) as it's known by locals. From the platform of Jiantan Station, riders can see the enclosed food court located across the street from the MRT station.
Historical development
The night market is located near the former location of a wharfWharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
on the Keelung River
Keelung River
Keelung River is a river in northern Taiwan.The Keelung River originates in the mountains west-northwest of the town of Jingtong in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, flows down to a rift valley and then flows ENE to Sandiaoling...
(Traditional Chinese: 基隆; Hànyǔ Pīnyīn: Jīlóng). Agricultural produce from farms in Shilin being shipped to other ports such as Banka and Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng
Dadaocheng , spelled Twatutia before Japanese rule, is an area in the Datong District, part of the Taipei Basin and a historic section of Taipei City. It was known as Daitotei by the Japanese and Tataocheng during the Kuomintang era...
would typically be sold in this area. The daytime Shilin Market was formally established in this area in 1909. With the influx of customers, many new businesses and food vendors began to establish themselves in the area and the Shilin Night Market was born.
Shilin Night Market has since become the largest and most well-known night market in Taiwan, especially with regards to food, and is a favorite focal point for Taipei's night life among residents and visitors alike.
Due to safety, sanitation, and fire hazard concerns, the old Shilin Market structure was demolished in October 2002 by the Taipei City Government; the food vendors formerly based within the old structure were relocated to a newer temporary structure a few hundred meters away, next to the metro Jiantan Station
Jiantan Station
The Taipei Metro Jiantan Station is a station on Tamsui Line , located in the Jiantan area of Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan...
. The original market was set to be renovated, but the project has been suspended indefinitely. Thus, the "temporary" structure has become a permanent fixture of the market.
Most famous foods
- Fried chicken steak (炸雞排)
- Literal translation: "Small bun wrapped in large bun" (大餅包小餅)
- Fried buns (生煎包)
- Peanut candy (花生糖)
- Oyster omelet (蚵仔煎)
- TempuraTempura], is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried.-Batter:A light batter is made of cold water and soft wheat flour . Eggs, baking soda or baking powder, starch, oil, and/or spices may also be added...
(甜不辣) - Lemon aiyu jellyAiyu jellyAiyu jelly , known as ice jelly in Singapore , is a jelly made from the gel from the seeds of a variety of fig found in Taiwan and East Asian countries of the same climates and latitudes...
(檸檬愛玉) - Pearl milk tea (珍珠奶茶)
- Stinky tofuStinky tofuStinky tofu or chòu dòufu is a form of fermented tofu that has a strong odor. It is a popular snack in East and Southeast Asia, particularly mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and in East Asian enclaves elsewhere where it is usually found homemade, at night markets or roadside stands, or as a...
(臭豆腐) - Deep-fried chicken fillet (豪大大雞排)
- Oyster vermicelliOyster vermicelliOyster vermicelli is the English name for a kind of noodle soup that is popular in Taiwan and Xiamen. Its main ingredients are oysters and misua , made to be tasty and full of aroma. One of the famous places serving this is in Dihua Street, Dadaocheng, Taipei...
(蚵仔麵線)