Ximending guide: Explore Ximending Taipei night market & best things to do in Ximending Taipei

Where is Ximending Taipei night market? What to do, eat and buy at Taipei Ximending Market? Let us tell you the experience of traveling to Taipei Ximending Market through our Ximending guide and Ximending blog with best things to do in Ximending Taipei below!

Traveling to Taiwan, especially Taipei, is always an attractive destination with unique cultural and culinary experiences for tourists. In this most vibrant city, standing out among the noisy neighborhoods is Ximending Market, where the colors and traditional flavors of Taiwan gather.

Located right in the center of Taipei, Ximending Market is not only a shopping place but also an ideal destination for you to enjoy typical street food and deeply experience the culture and life of Taiwanese people.

In the following article, we will explore with you the specialties, beauty and special attractions of Ximending Market!

Where is Ximending Market?

Ximending Night Market – or Ximending Taipei Night Market – is one of the most vibrant places in Taipei, located on Xining South Road, Wanhua District. Established during the Japanese occupation, the market is imbued with Japanese culture and is often compared to Tokyo’s Harajuku or Shibuya. This is a paradise for shoppers and foodies, where you can experience authentic Taiwanese street culture.

Opening from 4pm and lasting until late at night, Ximending Night Market is always bustling and colorful. The Ximending Market area is divided into many areas for you and your friends to explore such as: Shopping area with countless fashion stores, accessories and cosplay clothes; Food area with a variety of attractive street foods such as fried dumplings, Taiwanese sausages, milk tea, … Finally, there is the entertainment area with cinemas, cafes and bars.

Taipei Ximending Night Market

• Address: 177, Xining South Road, Wanhua District, in the west of Taipei City, Taiwan
• Opening hours: 16:00 to 24:00 daily

How to Get to Ximending Taipei Night Market?

Getting to Ximending Night Market is quite easy and convenient. You have many options to get to this vibrant area, of which the 3 popular and affordable means are MRT, bus and taxi.

Get to Ximending Night Market by MRT

The most popular means of transportation is the MRT. You just need to go to Ximen Station, which is on the Bannan Line (blue line) and the Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (yellow line). Ximen Station is the 5th stop, and from here it only takes about 5 minutes to walk to Ximending Night Market.

Take a Bus to Ximending Night Market in Taipei

If you like to walk around a few times to see the city view, choose the bus to travel. Bus routes 218, 235, 260 and 265 all have stops near the night market. Just get off at Ximending stop, and you can start exploring this famous market.

Take a Taxi to Ximending Night Market

Taxi is also a convenient option, especially if you want to get there quickly and don’t have to worry about the schedule. Just tell the driver the address “Ximending Night Market”, and you will be taken right to the market entrance.

Taxi fares in Taiwan are usually calculated by the number of kilometers you travel. Taxi fares range from NT$75 to NT$85, or about 57,000 – 65,000 VND, for the first 1.25 km, then NT$5 for every next 250m. You can also negotiate the price in advance if you want to feel more secure about the cost.

With convenient means of transportation and especially many attractive promotions from Klook, you will easily and quickly reach Ximending Night Market.

What to do in Ximending Taipei? Best things to do in Ximending Taipei

Enjoy Local Cuisine

Ximending Night Market is a culinary paradise with countless attractive street foods. You can enjoy Taiwanese specialties such as fried dumplings, Taiwanese sausages, soy milk, and famous bubble milk tea.

The food stalls are always bustling, selling everything from traditional dishes to delicious and fragrant snacks. This is a great opportunity for you to explore the diverse and unique culinary culture, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere and enjoy the wonderful flavors of Taiwanese cuisine.

Feast Your Eyes with Street Graffiti (#Ximending blog)

Ximending is not only a place for shopping and dining, but is also considered by many young people who love to travel as an outdoor street art museum. The walls are covered with colorful and creative graffiti, reflecting the free spirit and personality of this bustling area.

You can spend time walking around the small streets, admiring unique works of art and taking impressive souvenir photos. Each graffiti painting has its own story, creating a lively and interesting art space.

Experience Knife Massage at Ximending Market

One of the most unique and interesting experiences in Ximending is knife massage. This traditional massage technique uses blades to apply pressure to the body, helping to relax and relieve stress.

Explore the Neon Street at the Walking Street

If you want to feel the vibrancy and modernity of Taipei, you cannot miss the brilliant neon street in Ximending. Stepping through the impressive dragon archway, you will be immediately attracted by the sparkling neon lights illuminating the entire street, creating a sparkling and magical scene at night.

Here, you can take beautiful photos, watch vibrant street art performances, or simply stroll and admire the colorful shops, bars and clubs. This vibrant and colorful space will definitely bring you interesting experiences and unforgettable memories.

Ximending Tattoo

If you love tattoo art, Ximending Tattoo is a destination not to be missed. This area is home to many reputable tattoo shops with talented and creative artists. You can choose for yourself a unique and individual tattoo, with your own mark.

Ximending Tattoo is not only a place to get a tattoo, but also a place where you can interact and learn about the artistic art of tattooing in a vibrant, bustling space in the heart of Ximending Market.

Try Your Luck With Claw Machines & Gachapon

When exploring Ximending Market, don’t miss the opportunity to try your luck with the extremely interesting and famous claw machines in Taiwan. Taiwan has more than 200,000 claw machines and the Ximending area is one of the most prominent destinations with a series of colorful claw machines, containing all kinds of toys, snacks, and cute souvenirs.

Each play costs about 10 NTD on average. And you don’t need to worry about changing small change, you can easily pay with EasyCard because most machines accept this smart card. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the convenience of traveling and paying without cash at many popular tourist destinations in Taiwan!

Shop for Anime Items at Animate Store

If you are an anime fan, Animate Store at Ximending Night Market is definitely a destination not to be missed. This store is located in the basement of a large building, although the space is small, inside there are full products from famous anime series: character models, posters, clothes to accessories.

Immersing yourself in a space rich in Japanese culture, you will have the opportunity to discover interesting things, and also collect unique items for your passion. Nearby Ximending Market, there is also ABC-Mart or DON DON DONKI store for you to freely experience a variety of products from food, household goods, cosmetics to souvenirs.

Enjoy Street Performances at Ximending Market

When walking through the streets and alleys of Ximending Night Market, you can see crowds gathering around street performers. Street performances are an integral part of this night market and often take place at major intersections.

The performers come in a variety of styles, from humorous to bizarre, providing entertaining moments. Typically, you can see an artist dressed as the Joker with strange but extremely attractive movements that make us unable to take our eyes off.

What to Eat at Ximending Market? Discover Taipei Ximending Cuisine

If you are passionate about food and want to explore Taiwan’s typical delicacies, visit Ximending Market. You will enjoy everything from Ay-Chung chewy noodles to Okinawan grilled rice cakes with attractive toppings. Ximending Market is not only a shopping place but also a meeting place for those who love vibrant and diverse street food. When you come to Taipei Ximending Market, you absolutely cannot miss the following delicious dishes.

Eat Famous Hot-Star Fried Chicken in Taipei (#Ximending guide)

If you love food, don’t forget to try the famous Hot-Star fried chicken at Ximending Night Market. The giant, crispy chicken pieces, marinated with special spices and fried to a golden brown will make you fall in love.

Hot-Star is a famous fried chicken brand in Taiwan, with each piece of chicken almost as big as your face or hand. Because of the popularity of this dish, it is often crowded with tourists waiting to buy, so be careful. If you want to enjoy this dish, come early to line up or avoid rush hour to avoid waiting too long.

Experience Mala The Spicy Hot Pot

Another culinary experience not to be missed at Ximending Market is Mala Hot Pot. Mala Hot Pot is famous for its spicy flavor, a perfect combination of many spices and fresh ingredients. According to Klook’s experience, you should make a reservation before coming because the hot pot restaurants here are often very crowded.

Yonghe Soy Milk

This is a familiar and popular drink at Ximending Night Market. Soy milk is delicious, light and nutritious, an ideal choice for breakfast, especially when eaten with dumplings or buns. (*) Reference price: 20 – 60 NTD.

Taiwanese Braised Pork and Egg Rice

It sounds like a common dish but it is very attractive to tourists in Ximending. The rice is mixed with the flavor of eggs and braised pork, so it is very delicious. This dish is often served in family restaurants. (*) Reference price: 25 – 60 NTD.

Ay-Chung Noodles

If you like the feeling of being immersed in the bustling street space of Taipei and want to try a typical noodle dish that cannot be missed, visit AY-Chung. The crispy noodles, melting in your mouth with the rich soup from the bones will make you really surprised and satisfied. The noodles here are not only a dish but also an experience of delicious taste and exquisite culinary skills. (*) Reference price: 55 – 70 NTD.

Okinawa Grilled Rice Cake

The cake is lightly grilled with charcoal and is prepared with a variety of toppings such as sesame sauce, plum sauce, peanuts, and many other flavors. Each piece of cake brings you a unique and sophisticated culinary experience. (*) Reference price: 30 NTD.

Taiwanese Beef Balls

Made from fresh, delicious beef, cut into small pieces and mixed with delicious spices. The beef balls are fried crispy or cooked in fragrant broth, often served with Taiwanese noodles.

Sesame Oil Chicken

This is the perfect combination of fresh chicken and rich sesame oil sauce. The chicken is fried crispy on the outside and the meat is tender, soaked in the sweet sesame oil, often served with hot white rice.

Taiwanese Stinky Tofu

One of the famous and challenging dishes for tourists when coming to Taiwan is stinky tofu. Although the smell may make you hesitate at first, just try a piece and you will be attracted by its special and attractive flavor. The stinky tofu is fried crispy, soft inside, often served with pickles and spicy chili sauce.

Taiwanese Bubble Tea

When mentioning Taiwan, it is impossible not to mention milk tea – a drink that has become a symbol for young people everywhere. You can easily find many types of milk tea with diverse flavors and toppings at Ximending Market, from small street stalls to large chains such as Xing Fu Tang, 50 Lan, … Try and find your own favorite version of milk tea!

Hotels near Ximending Taipei Market

Ximending Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan, is a must-see place for tourists who love the hustle and bustle, diverse street food and shopping. For the convenience of exploring the market and surrounding attractions, choosing accommodation near the night market is a smart decision. Have you chosen a satisfactory accommodation near Ximending market?

Just Sleep Taipei Ximending Hotel

900m from Taipei Station, you can easily find Just Sleep Taipei Ximending Hotel. This place brings convenience to visitors with its central location and comfortable, luxurious resting space. (agoda, booking)

• Reference room price: $110.57/night
• Address: 5F, No. 41, Sec. 1, Zhonghua Rd.

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel is 2.9km from SongShan Airport, a symbol of luxury and class in Taipei. With its majestic architecture and attentive service, this hotel is an ideal choice for those who want to experience luxury and comfort. (agoda, booking)

• Reference room rate: $103.91/night
• Address: 1 Zhongshan N Road Sec 4, Zhongshang District

Orange Hotel – Ximen

Located just 200m from Ximending Market, Orange Hotel – Ximen combines modern style and convenience for visitors. This is the perfect stopover for those who want to explore this bustling area. (agoda, booking)

• Reference room rate: $78.52/night
• Address: 166-2, Sec 1, Zhonghua Rd., Wanhua

Moshamanla Hotel – Ximen Branch

Moshamanla Hotel – Ximen Branch prioritizes providing comfort and quality service. This hotel stands out with its elegant style and comfortable space, creating a familiar feeling like home. (agoda, booking)

• Reference room rate: $27.74/night
• Address: 8F, No.54, Sec 2, Hankou Street, Wanhua District

Walker Hotel Ximen

Right next to Ximending Market, just 100m away, you can refer to Walker Hotel Ximen. This hotel has a quite dynamic design and full service facilities, a good price choice to enjoy your holidays in Taipei. (agoda, booking)

• Reference room rate: $38.62/night
• Address: 10F No. 144 Sec 1 Zhonghua RD., Wanhua District

Ximending blog: Things to Note When Visiting Ximending Market

• The most ideal time to visit the market is in the evening, from 6pm to 11pm, when the atmosphere becomes vibrant and brilliant with shimmering neon lights. This is also the time when the stalls and food stalls are crowded, so it will bring you many interesting shopping and culinary options.
• Shopping at Ximending Market will be a great experience with a series of fashion stores, accessories, souvenirs, and street food stalls,… Note that you should ask carefully about the price when buying to get the best price. In addition, you should also be careful with your belongings and money because the market is quite crowded and bustling.
• For payment, shops and food stalls at Ximending Market accept cash and a few shops may allow electronic payments. Therefore, bringing cash is the optimal choice to avoid the hassle of buying things at the market.
• When traveling to Taiwan, preparing a sim card in advance is essential so that you can conveniently communicate and use the internet at any time. You can buy a sim card right at the airport or convenience stores near Ximending Market. Make sure your phone is not network locked to use the sim card most effectively.

Ximending Market is a unique and attractive destination for tourists who want to explore Taipei’s unique culinary culture. Be ready to be “overwhelmed” by the diverse street food, immerse yourself in the vibrant space of a modern city, and explore other rich artistic activities.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taipei you can refer to

• Taoyuan Airport Private Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Sedan Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• [SALE] Taoyuan Airport MRT Ticket & Exclusive Shopping Coupon
• Luxury Taoyuan Airport Transfers (TPE) for Taipei
• Explore Taipei City
• Taipei Free Walking Tour Historic Route
• Taipei Double Decker Bus Tour
• Taipei Popular Sightseeing Private Car Charter : Jiufen, Pingxi, and North Coast (Chinese/English/Korean)
• Northeast Coast Scenic Day Tour
• Jiufen Shuttle Bus from Ximen
• Yehliu, Shifen, and Jiufen Day Tour with Korean and English Speaking Guides
• Taipei: Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Shifen, and Golden Waterfall Day Tour
• EasyCard (TPE Airport Pick Up)
• Klook Pass Taipei (For international travelers)
• Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket
• Maokong Gondola Ticket
• Yeliou, Jinguashih, Juifen and Shihfen Join Day Tour
• Taipei Unlimited Fun Pass
• Taipei: Beitou and Yangmingshan One-Day Tour
• [10% Off + 1 Extra Free Day] 4G SIM Card (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Chunghwa Telecom
• 4G SIM Card (TPE Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan from Far EasTone Telecom
• 4G WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Taiwan
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for Taiwan from WiFiBB (Unlimited Data)
• 4G LTE WiFi (TW Airport Pick Up) for Japan
• [Sale – Taiwan Food Promo] Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taipei
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Consecutive Unlimited Pass (2 or 3 Days)
• Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Discounted Ticket from Taoyuan
• THSR Exclusive Discount One Way Ticket from Taoyuan (Two Tickets for the Price of One)

Are you finding more top things to do in Taipei: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Taipei itinerary 4 days — How to spend 4 days in Taipei & what to do in Taipei for 4 days perfectly?