Ximending
Encyclopedia
Ximending is a neighborhood and shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei
, Taiwan
. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan.
of Taipei" and the "Shibuya
of Taipei". Ximending is the source of Taiwan's fashion, subculture, and Japanese culture. Ximending is also the main
LGBT district of Taiwan, with a host of gay clubs and pubs surrounding the area. This area is in the northeastern part of Wanhua District in Taipei and it is also the most important consumer district in the Western District of Taipei. The well-known Ximending Pedestrian Area was the first pedestrian area built in Taipei and is the largest in Taiwan.
Ximen Station
(Banqiao Line
and Xiaonanmen Line).
, referring to an area outside the west gate of the city. The area of Seimon-chō included modern-day Chengdu Road (成都路), Xining South Road (西寧南路), Kunming Street (昆明街), and Kangding Road (康定路). However, today the Ximending Pedestrian Area not only includes Seimon-chō but also Wakatake-chō (若竹町) and Shinki-chō (新起町). The historical spelling of this area was Hsimenting, which is based on the Wade-Giles
romanization of Mandarin Chinese
. The use of the character 町 is unusual in a Chinese context; it is a chō
(a part of a ward
) in the Japanese municipality system.
. Later, the Japanese decided to follow the example of Asakusa in Tokyo to set up an entertainment and business area. The earliest entertainment facilities constructed included the Taihokuza in 1897, Eiza (now called New Wanguo Market) in 1902, and the Red House Theater
in 1908.
and away from Ximending, it began to lose business. In 1999, the city government and local stores established Ximending as a pedestrian area, prohibiting the entrance of vehicles on weekends and national holidays, a move that attracted young consumers and brought back business. Today, Ximending has over twenty theaters and six thousand vendors, and is a popular area for small concerts, album launches, and street performances. It is also home to the Red Envelope Club
s set up in the 1960s.
is another prominent building from the Japanese era.
The namesake West Gate was torn down in 1905. Chunghwa Market used to extend to this area, but was demolished in 1992.
of Taipei". The local bookstores sell Japanese magazines, books, CD albums, and clothing, making it a haven for the "Harizu", or Japanese culture adorers. Individual vendors gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square during the day, and Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116
later at night.
Due to the density of young people, Ximending is comparable to Shilin Night Market
and the Eastern District
to be areas with the highest crime rates. In addition, Ximending is well-known for student prostitution.
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...
. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan.
Overview
Ximending has been called the "HarajukuHarajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
of Taipei" and the "Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
of Taipei". Ximending is the source of Taiwan's fashion, subculture, and Japanese culture. Ximending is also the main
LGBT district of Taiwan, with a host of gay clubs and pubs surrounding the area. This area is in the northeastern part of Wanhua District in Taipei and it is also the most important consumer district in the Western District of Taipei. The well-known Ximending Pedestrian Area was the first pedestrian area built in Taipei and is the largest in Taiwan.
Access
Because many bus lines gather on Zhonghua Road, Ximending is also an important area for bus transfers. Ximending is also accessible via exit 6 of the Taipei MetroTaipei Rapid Transit System
The Taipei Metro, more commonly known as the MRT or formally as the Taipei Rapid Transit System, is a rapid transit system serving metropolitan Taipei in Taiwan. The system is built and operated by the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation and consists of 89 stations and of revenue track...
Ximen Station
Ximen Station
The Taipei Metro Ximen Station is located between the Zhongzheng and Wanhua districts in Taipei City, Taiwan. It is a transfer station on the Nangang Line, Banqiao Line, and Xiaonanmen Line...
(Banqiao Line
Banqiao Line (TRTS)
The Taipei Metro Banqiao Line is a high-capacity underground line and is a major transportation route between Taipei and New Taipei. It runs from Ximen in western Taipei to Fuzhong in eastern Taipei, consisting of 6 stations and 7.2 km of track...
and Xiaonanmen Line).
Name
The Ximending Pedestrian Area is named after the administrative division Seimon-chō (西門町), which existed during Japanese ruleTaiwan under Japanese rule
Between 1895 and 1945, Taiwan was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century....
, referring to an area outside the west gate of the city. The area of Seimon-chō included modern-day Chengdu Road (成都路), Xining South Road (西寧南路), Kunming Street (昆明街), and Kangding Road (康定路). However, today the Ximending Pedestrian Area not only includes Seimon-chō but also Wakatake-chō (若竹町) and Shinki-chō (新起町). The historical spelling of this area was Hsimenting, which is based on the Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
romanization of Mandarin Chinese
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
. The use of the character 町 is unusual in a Chinese context; it is a chō
Towns of Japan
A town is a local administrative unit in Japan. It is a local public body along with prefecture , city , and village...
(a part of a ward
Wards of Japan
A is a subdivision of one of the cities of Japan that is large enough to have been designated by government ordinance. Wards are used to subdivide each city designated by government ordinance...
) in the Japanese municipality system.
Origin
The name of Ximending was derived from its position outside the west gate of Taipei City. In the beginning during Japanese rule, Ximending was an area of wilderness, through which there was a road connecting the west gate of Taipei to the town of BangkaWanhua
Wanhua District , known in Taiwanese as Bangka a.k.a Monga, is Taipei City's oldest district. The district is home to historic buildings such as Longshan Temple, Taipei's oldest temple, and the Red House Theater, the first and largest teahouse and playhouse in Taiwan...
. Later, the Japanese decided to follow the example of Asakusa in Tokyo to set up an entertainment and business area. The earliest entertainment facilities constructed included the Taihokuza in 1897, Eiza (now called New Wanguo Market) in 1902, and the Red House Theater
Red House Theater
The Red House Theater , often called the Red Theater or Red Play House in English, is a historic theater in the Ximending area of Taipei, Taiwan. Built in 1908 during Japanese rule and designed by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, it was originally a market building but was used as a theater from...
in 1908.
Theater street
Ximending became a well-known theater street in Taipei in the 1930s and grew even more prosperous after the defeat of Japan. In the 1950s, every theater was full to capacity and scalpers ran wild. Gradually, more theaters opened one after another; At one point, Wuchang St Section 1 had over ten theaters. However, in the 1990s, as Taipei City developed toward the Eastern DistrictEastern District of Taipei
The Eastern District of Taipei refers to the newly developed area in eastern Taipei, Taiwan. In its broadest sense, the Eastern District of Taipei is the whole region east to FuXing South Road...
and away from Ximending, it began to lose business. In 1999, the city government and local stores established Ximending as a pedestrian area, prohibiting the entrance of vehicles on weekends and national holidays, a move that attracted young consumers and brought back business. Today, Ximending has over twenty theaters and six thousand vendors, and is a popular area for small concerts, album launches, and street performances. It is also home to the Red Envelope Club
Red Envelope Club
A Red Envelope Club is a form of Cabaret in Taiwan that originated in Taipei in the 1960's as an imitation of Shanghai Cabaret. In these cabarets, female singers sing old Chinese songs from the 1920's to 1950's to mostly older men, many of whom were soldiers in General Chiang Kai-Shek's...
s set up in the 1960s.
Historic sites
Because of its history, Ximending is home to several historical sites. Built during the Japanese occupation, Ximending Mazu Temple is an important historical temple. Originally opened as a market, the Red House TheaterRed House Theater
The Red House Theater , often called the Red Theater or Red Play House in English, is a historic theater in the Ximending area of Taipei, Taiwan. Built in 1908 during Japanese rule and designed by Japanese architect Kondo Juro, it was originally a market building but was used as a theater from...
is another prominent building from the Japanese era.
The namesake West Gate was torn down in 1905. Chunghwa Market used to extend to this area, but was demolished in 1992.
Popularity
Ximending attracts an average of over 3 million shoppers per month. It has been called the "HarajukuHarajuku
Harajuku is the common name for the area around Harajuku Station on the Yamanote Line in the Shibuya ward of Tokyo, Japan....
of Taipei". The local bookstores sell Japanese magazines, books, CD albums, and clothing, making it a haven for the "Harizu", or Japanese culture adorers. Individual vendors gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square during the day, and Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116
Eslite Bookstore
Eslite Bookstore is one of the largest retail bookstore chains in Taiwan. It also provides one of the largest English language publications and translation materials in Taiwan. Its headquarters are in Xinyi District, Taipei.-Brief history:...
later at night.
Due to the density of young people, Ximending is comparable to Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market
The Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city.-Overview:...
and the Eastern District
Eastern District
"Eastern District" or "East District" can refer to:Government* Eastern District, Hong Kong* Eastern District of Taipei* Eastern District, American Samoa* Eastern District, Upper Canada...
to be areas with the highest crime rates. In addition, Ximending is well-known for student prostitution.