One of the big attractions in Taipei for both tourists and locals alike is the Night Markets. There are several Night Markets around the city, so chances are, wherever you are in Taipei, you’re not too much more than 20 minutes away from one.

They’re pretty much unlike anything that I’ve ever encountered in America. A night market is a series of small alleys, all connected together, packed full of people and shops. There are a ton of small shops that are in the buildings on the sides of the street. There will also be a row of vendor stalls going down the middle. It’s not one straight street, it’s a twisting maze of alleys, all crowded with people.

They’re open every night of the week, from dusk until 1-2a.m. usually. I believe that they’re open later on weekends than during the week, but it’s always open really late. You can get pretty good deals on anything you buy there - I bought a nice suit for $150 and had it tailored right there - but you have to be a cautious buyer. There’s a ton of fake goods that enter through the Night Markets.

The crowd is usually teenagers up through twenty-somethings, although you’ll see a smattering of foreigners of all ages, checking out the bargains and the stores. There’s definitely a catering to the age group of the locals though. You’ll hear a lot of American rap music, or some Japanese J-Pop, as you move between stores. There are a lot of “arcades,” which have the machines where you try to make as many baskets as you can with a basketball, or rows upon rows of crane games. These places will usually also have photo booths where you can take pictures of you, yourself, and your friends, in a variety of fake backgrounds.

I have pictures from the Shiling Night Market up in my photo gallery, and you can see them by clicking on the picture below.