Night markets typically open daily, and host a variety of vendors who have stalls selling clothing, consumer goods and food – they call it xiao chi (pronunciation: Shao - tr-er), similar to snacks or fast food, and specialty drinks. Some of my favorite snacks to eat in night markets are Taiwanese fried chicken (basically Taiwanese-style popcorn chicken), sweet potato balls (imagine little sweet and crispy potato puff balls) and Taiwanese burgers (kind of like an open pork bun). Some of my favorite beverages are papaya milk, dragon fruit juice or just a classic oolong milk tea! Besides snacks and beverages, I love taking visiting friends to night markets to shop for fun goodies, like accessories or key chains, or to play games, like balloon darts.
How many are there and where are they located?
Night markets have at least a 200-year history in Taiwan and now are seen as an important part of understanding Taiwanese culture. Taiwan boasts over 300 night markets scattered across the island, spanning its northern, southern, eastern and western regions. Each night market boasts its own unique charm, whether it's nestled within the narrow lanes of a neighborhood or stretching along a bustling thoroughfare. Some night markets are very famous for tourists and are congested almost every night. It can take over an hour just to walk 600 meters (about 1,900 feet) because of how many people are passing through or from being distracted by all the activity. People go to night markets to eat meals or buy the latest products. Food and commodities are often sold at much cheaper prices compared to department stores. For example, a shirt can be priced at around 200 NTD$ ($6 U.S.
