TAIPEI, Taiwan — Night markets are a thrifty tourist’s best friend: Stores sell the cheapest local food, best-priced souvenirs, and goods, and offer a peek into the country’s culture.
Take a look at these photos taken inside the night market Taipei, Taiwan, which is located near the Shilin’s Metro Rail Transit station.
While the rest of Taipei’s busy citizens rest at night, stores at the Shilin District’s Night Market stay awake, selling food, clothes, souvenirs, and other merchandise to local and foreign customers. (Photos by GABRIEL PABICO LALU/ INQUIRER.net)
A Taiwanese vendor selling candied strawberries and tomatoes — that is, fruits dipped in hot syrup until they become hard candies — smiles to shoppers at the Shilin Night Market. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
Tourists try grilled beef and pork being sold at the Shilin Night Market. This stall is just one of hundreds in the area, with prices varying from NT$30 to NT$100. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
Souvenirs are readily available at the Shilin Night Market. Prices vary/ Some items you can find here are cheaper than in high-end stores, but there are also things way too expensive, compared to markets and even duty-free shops in the Taoyuan International Airport. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
A Taiwanese worker rests after delivering goods to the night market stores in the Shilin District. Aside from food, the area is a known hub for shoes, textiles, clothes, and fashion accessories. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
Older vendors selling drinks and snacks prepare to close as midnight approaches. Several shops close out after 11:30 p.m., but others remain operational even until 2:00 a.m. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
Aside from food, the area is a hub for shoes, textile materials, clothes, and fashion accessories. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
Tourists from neighboring Asian countries — like South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines — are drawn to the Shilin Night Market because of its food culture. Street shops are plentiful. Some are oriental versions of Western delicacies, while others are part of Taiwan’s favorite traditional cuisine. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
A man walks along Wenlin Road late at night. Shilin Night Market is accessible by three forms of transportation: buses ply the route, a train station is located nearby, and taxi cabs know the crowd-favorite area. Usually, cab rides are the most expensive, with an automatic flag down rate of NT$90. (Photo by GABRIEL PABICO LALU / INQUIRER.net)
(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)