Hi
Im new here on forumosa
I wanted to know what and where are all the shopping complex in taipei city
i never been to taiwan before but will be studying so i just wanted to know where is everything is at before arriving?
shopping places can be food and etc and department store and etc
if there online website where i can order stuff that be great too=D
thank you and hoping for replies
Hey there and welcome to Taiwan! Here’s my rundown on shopping in Taipei based on my experience so far:
-Wufenpu Commercial Zone, near the Houshampi MRT stop in eastern Taipei. This is the “garment district”, where all the other boutiques in Taipei go to buy their wares. This means that the clothes, shoes, and accessories here are SUPER inexpensive. You can get a whole new outfit (and possibly half a whole new wardrobe) down to the jewelry for less than 1000 NT. Quality varies wildly, however, so it’s important to be mindful of this- some of it is very decent quality and some of it is very shoddy so be careful. Also, most places don’t allow you to try clothing on, meaning it’s just fine for casual t-shirts, dresses, and leggings but buying pants/jeans or anything structured is a real gamble. Is fantastic for shoes, handbags, and accessories. The entire operation is outdoors and Taipei is VERY hot in the summer time so I recommend shopping here in the evening during the week as to avoid crowds. General style is ultra-trendy.
-The Living Mall (also called Core Pacific City). Near Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall MRT stop in eastern Taipei. This mall has the distinction of being shaped like a giant golf ball. More than just being place to eat and go shopping, its internal structure is labyrinthine and it’s a lot of fun just to walk around in and take pictures. For shopping, eating, and entertainment, though, it’s great. There’s a movie theater, a stellar food court on the first floor, and several other eateries. Shopping here is very “accessible” as prices range from very inexpensive to quite upscale depending on the shop. Shopping here is a great “one-stop shop” and provides everything you need under one roof in terms of clothing. It’s nice because there are both local shops and international chains, as well as a 12-floor Mira department store complete with cosmetics and fragrance department. There’s also a banquet hall, KTV, and some sort of children’s entertainment store. All this AND it’s indoor and climate controlled.
-Taipei 101 Mall (right next to 101, near Taipei City Hall MRT stop). The 101 mall is extremely upscale, to the degree where I would not generally recommend shopping there; unless of course you really do routinely purchase clothing at places like Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Armani Collection, Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, and many others. There are some affordable shops on the basement floor (Esprit and Zara come to mind) as well as a killer food court. HOWEVER, there is another shopping mall/area across from 101 with equally fun but much more affordable shops like NET. Eslite bookstore is nearby, which is a big plus.
-Shopping area near Zhongxiao Dunhua MRT stop. There’s a Zara and Uniqlo, amongst others. Nice mix of local and international shops at a variety of price points.
-SOGO department store, Tienmu, near Zhishan MRT stop. The main reason I’m recommending this is the Uniqlo on the 4th floor where I spent A LOT of money on well-needed basics yesterday. Also has a very yummy selection of restaurants on top floor. Otherwise it’s a little bit pricey for my taste but not too bad if you know where to look.
-Night markets: Shilin (near Jiantian MRT stop) and Shida (near Taipower Building MRT stop) sell lots of fun trendy clothing at affordable prices and there are delicious food stalls everywhere. Can get hot and crowded, but the numerous spas that offer cheap foot/body massages, facials, and other treatments offer a wonderful air-conditioned respite from this.
-Ximendeng: Highly overrated and overpriced shopping area. Is often touted as the “Harajuku of Taipei” but frankly Harajuku offers far more interesting fare for a lower price and much quirkier and more fun cultural vibe. The international chain shops here are very pricey and the local little boutiques are shilling the exact same things you can get in Wufenpu at 3-4 times the price. Come here to people watch, take a stroll, have a few drinks and grab a bite to eat but don’t bother with the shopping.
Hope you found this helpful! Let me know if you need more information.