Dihua Street Market

Dihua Street is quite famous for its kaleidoscopic identity. At once a cross-section of Taiwanese history, the buildings leaning into this street mirror the days of the Qing Dynasty or Japanese colonisation. A testament to the impressive work of the Taipei City government in rejuvenating the historical areas of the city, this market street has been rejuvenated by cleaning and restoration efforts.

The area attracts more Asian than Western tourists for some reason, but is easy enough to navigate and very easy to get to. Very nearby the artistic area surrounding Zhongshan MRT station and Shuanglian MRT station, this is one of the few places where people can get a real sense of old Taipei - rather than the modernised, internationalised city its become. High ceilings house rows of fabric stores and tailors. Back alleys reveal novel cafes and low-key backpackers' or budget hotels. 

This area is a very popular destination among locals for medicinal herbs and other traditional ingredients. It's also an excellent place to buy dried goods at a good price - pine nuts, dried fruits and other traditional Taiwanese non-perishables. Before the Lunar New Year, hundreds of vendors are on megaphones promoting their merchandise and stuffing samples to passersby. Tourists will find that just before Lunar New Year is a wonderful time of the year to visit Dihua street and see all of Taiwanese tradition in action.

Dihua street closes up early so it's best to visit late afternoon. Ningxia night market is very nearby. Once night falls, we'd advise tourists head out of Dihua street and stroll through this delightful snack market for dinner. There are U-Bike stands beside the 7-11 in Dihua street area. It's best to bike through this part of the city to get a true feelings for the weaving pathways the buses might not brush through.