Aside from the places and food, one thing that tourists like me aim for is to have a souvenir from the places I’ve been to, and it has also become one of the attractions in Taiwan. It’s living evidence that I set foot in a foreign country. Others see shopping in a different country as an opportunity to find unique items or purchase things that are cheaper there than in their home country.
Shilin Night Market
Shilin Night Market is one of the attractions in Taipei when it comes to shopping. Indeed, there are a lot of bargains to be found — from local merchandise to international brands. The food is also overflowing! What I liked the most were the friendly sellers/vendors who undoubtedly gave me a free taste of what they were selling, whether fresh or packaged. Along the alley, I usually saw food, refrigerator magnets, clothing, shoes, cosmetics, home decorations, and more. The stores are not arranged in any particular order, so my friends and I had already prepared ourselves for a long walk.
The legit Takoyaki? – 5 stars
We thought it was over until my friend was looking for a comfort room and she accidentally discovered a place where there are games, bring home-packed food, and Taiwan shirts.
That part of the night market was full of energy! It is located in the inner section of the market. There are games like darts, shoot the ball, catch the shrimp, play the cards, and many more. We wanted to play, but we were totally running out of time since we had to get some rest in preparation for tomorrow’s itinerary. Check out my raw video to see how lively this place is!
VIDEO
This is where we shopped for most of the “pasalubong” or take-home gifts for our friends and family. As I mentioned, choosing what to buy wasn’t a problem because the vendors generously offered free samples of what they were selling. I liked everything I bought!
Ximending
Ximending is the shopping district in the Wanhua District of Taipei, known as Taiwan’s fashion hub. It was the first pedestrian zone in Taiwan — imagine Japan’s Shibuya. You’ll find movie theaters, hair salons, restaurants, and more here. This is also where we bought gifts for our friends. Ximending is very close to our hotel, Diary of Ximen Hotel. Check out our video of our Ximending experience!
Jiufen
Food, and unique finds are found in Jiufen. More elaborate post here.
Taipei 101
All branded shops can be found in Taipei 101. There’s also a food court on the lower ground floor. More info here.
