Don’t know if this include Feb 3 or not “This year’s market is expected to draw as many as 300,000 revelers and will stay open right up until Lunar New Year’s eve on Feb. 3.”
Interesting “festive menu includes taro puree and eight-treasure rice for waishengren (外省人, people who migrated to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War) as well as steamed radish cake for benshengren (本省人, people who arrived before World War II).”
“the Taipei City Government and Taipei City Office of Commerce are weaving a dose of wry humor, competition and augmented reality into this year’s market.”
Oh god, oh god.
Is there a good day or time to visit this market, when it’s lively enough to be enjoyable but not insanely crowded? Or is it ever enjoyable?
Before or near 5pm during weekday.
Thanks!
Unfortunately, someone saw the numbers at Taiwan News and gave the order: follow that line into FB success!
Any other time of the year.
Ha. So there’s nothing particularly special about this time of year, then? I walked around that area a few years back to see the restorations, and it was nice enough, but I haven’t taken any international visitors there.
The photos in the linked article above don’t exactly inspire enthusiasm. (Apologies if they’re by a forumosan!)
Most of the restorations are pretty fake. This is happening all over Asia as people try and create fake “old streets” to drum up tourist business. I doubt anyone is looking at original images of the buildings, it’s just slap on a fake facade and create a vaguely old-timey feel.
Nightmarishly crowded with people screaming “buy our peanuts!!!” but nothing new or unique.
This time I went in the opening day for photo ops and it was so crowded I took back streets I hadn´t been to before. I was greeted by mini izakaya style bars, really cute cafes and out of the way tea places. I definetively want to go there…after the madness…on a non professional role.
It is a pity as there are some awesome building taht have not been restored which would be stunning. I was taken back in time to old memories of European style building sin the old country, French doors and all…surrounded by dead plants, rubbish and the usual urban detritus.
Great spot for a drink or snack one block off main crowded street.
Le Zinc 洛 Café & Bar, No. 34, Lane 362, Minsheng West Road, Datong District, Taipei
https://maps.app.goo.gl/tJN1Z
Shhhhhsh it…
A lot more candy, I think.
I’m definitely gonna need to augment my reality to make it through CNY, if you know what I mean.
I hears you bruv. Bring on those blue dreams.
I am always suspicious of those big tubs of candy.
Ha. I have a massive sweet tooth and even I don’t dare buy from those things. I’ve come home from several CNY gatherings with my pockets full of them - I couldn’t politely refuse them, but I could at least claim I’d eat them later. And they wind up in the garbage.
You’re right to be suspicious. The candy only goes a few inches down.
Last time I went the vendors has microphones hooked up to amplifiers at uncomfortably high volumes. Would never take kids as they may suffer permanent hearing damage.
Article didn’t even provide a shot of the streetscape… red expectorant everywhere maybe ?
There’s a four spirits soup place on the corner as you come into the main market from memory, and at least one chou dou fu stall. The scent of these two together are enough to make me expectorate all over the payment just like the workers slinging up the dusty lanterns.