Let us say that we got to Ximending Commercial Area by accident. Or something to that effect. I knew that Ximending is near our area, but I never imagined it to be right in our backyard, or behind our hotel. And I didn’t expect it to be so alive, just like Seoul’s Myeondong area.
It was our first morning in Taipei and right after breakfast, we thought of a way of finding a bank and getting to the Taipei Zoo. As we were still trying to familiarize our area, I suggested that we take a walk down the block and see if there were some bank along the way or we’d find the MRT station.
At the second cross-section, I saw this interesting street filled with eateries and shops. A KFC logo was looming at the end of the street. We took a right turn and was instantly enamored by our “discovery” – the Ximending Commercial Area.
It is said to be the first pedestrian zone in Taipei. We walked the street and saw interesting stores, though many were still closed at nine o’clock in the morning. Farther down the length of the street at a circular area, we found a vendor selling Xiao Long Bao at daytime, and bought some to taste. Then we spotted a shoe store, called My-My Store, that was already open at that time. They were selling great shoes at wonderful prices – NT 200 (USD 6.13) and NT 300 (USD 9.2)
The streets within the area get populated as the sun sets and the neon lights light up amidst the darkened sky. More shops are open, hawkers fill the streets, and street performers take their respective spots.
I sat on one side and watched people go by. Fashionable young people went by. Many trooped to food stalls and vendors. Others were captured by the hip performances of young dancers and musicians.
The whole area was alive. Hungry? There are stalls, eateries, diners and restaurants available, offering varied cuisines and menus. Looking for goods to shop? There are clothing stores, beauty shops, electronics, gift shops and souvenir items everywhere. Want to be entertained? Here you will find a theater, street performances, historical landmarks, giant LED screens, and local artists. And what’s even better, you can do all these in an open air under the brightly lit sky.
You can get to Ximending via MRT. Just get off the Ximen station. You can also take a bus or taxi. Better yet, book a hotel right at the heart of Ximending and enjoy all these attractions at your fingertips.
Check out http://www.ximending.tw/ for more information on what to see and do in Ximending. For more photos of Ximending, check my Facebook page album.
For a complete list of blog articles on my 2015 Taiwan trip, visit this introductory post.
Billboards, LED screens and neon lights to add glam & vibe to the ambiance.