Top 10 Facts about Huaxi Street Night Market

Photo by Wpcpey from Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Huaxi Street Night Market

Huaxi Street Night Market is located in Wanhua District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is situated near the Bangka Lungshan Temple.

The Market consists of a two-block long night market in Wanhua District, the oldest district of Taipei, Taiwan. It contains stalls serving local snacks, and restaurants that serve traditional Taiwanese dishes and other delicacies including snake blood and meat.

Huaxi Street Night Market was recognized by the  Michelin Guide in 2019. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments.

Here are the top 10 facts about Huaxi street night market.

1. Huaxi Street Night Market is also known as Snake Alley

Photo by Zairon from Wikimedia

Huaxi Street Night Market is also known as the Snake Alley. it got its nickname due to the several street restaurants serving snake meat. The snake-meat restaurants would try to entice their potential customers by displaying snake performances.

 The snake handlers would kill and skin lives snakes in front of the customers. However, the government banned the practices in the mid-2000s. This was both to adhere to Taiwan’s Animal Protection Act, and also to appease the public’s growing outcry about animal welfare.

On May 21, 2018, the Huaxi Street night market’s last snake-meat restaurant was closed down.

2. Huaxi Street Night Market was once a Red Street

The Huaxi Street Night Market has a history of over 50 years. Until the 1990s, it was a red-light district infamous for prostitution. Pornography stores and strippers would congregate along the streets.

Prostitutes were readily available in the numerous brothels which were located in the area. In 1991 the Taiwanese government outlawed prostitution and all the brothels in the area closed down.

3. Huaxi Street Night Market is the First Tourist Night Market in Taiwan

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Huaxi Street Night Market is the first tourist night market in Taiwan. The market is conveniently situated next to Longshan Temple and Bopiliao Historical Block, other popular sites with tourists.

The market is one of the more traditional markets in Taiwan,  most of its stalls have been operational for years. With a large palace-style archway marking the entrance of the market, it has become an icon of Taiwanese rich history.

The market is famous for snake soup, a special treat available on Huaxi street night market. Other shops offer traditional Taiwan artifacts, bookstores, boutiques, and Chinese traditional massages.

4. Snake Meat is a Popular Delicacy in the Market  

Despite the government ban on snake performances and slaughter in public, snake meat, and snake soup remain a popular delicacy in Huaxi street night market.

Bowls of hot soup with pieces of cooked snake meat and herbal ingredients; pan-fried or baked snake meat; snake oil pills; wine glasses filled with red, clear, and yellow liquids said to be made of snake blood; snake penis wine and snake gall are still being served at snake cuisine restaurants.

Traditional Chinese medicine prescribes eating snake meat soup to alleviate fever and detox. Snake meat soup is the most popular dish because it is believed to cool an overheated body.

5.  Huaxi Street Night Market was Honored by Michelin Guide

Photo by Zairon From Wikimedia

In 2019 Huaxi street night market was recognized by Michelin’s guide for excellence in cooking pork belly buns also known as Gua bao.

Gua Bao is a type of lotus leaf bun, that consists of a slice of stewed met and condiments sandwiched between flat steamed bread known as lotus leaf bread.

The traditional filling for Gua bao is a slice of red-cooked pork belly, typically dressed with stir-fried pickled mustard greens.  coriander, and ground peanuts. The Gua bao originated from the coastal regions of Fujian province in China.

6. Huaxi Street Night Market is a Popular Tourist Spot

Huaxi Street Night Market is situated near Longshan Temple, and two other night markets on Guangzhou Street. Together the markets are organized into the large Monga Night Market, which is a popular destination for visitors

There are old, historical shops along the street that provide great traditional Chinese and other types of dishes that are only found here. Danzai noodle restaurant, the favorite of Japanese tourists is also located here.

In the summer, chopped ice plates and fresh juice are in great demand. In the winter, dishes with Chinese medicine attract many visitors.

7. Other Famous Sites near Huaxi Street Night Market

Huaxi Street Night Market is near Longshan temple, a historic Chinese folk temple in Taipei. The temple is in front of Mengxia Park a fountain dancing with water.

Other famous sites neighboring the market include the Ambassador theatre, Bopiliau, Bopiliau ancient street, Cing Cao lane, Huajiang wild duck nature park, Lao sung park, Jinde temple, and Hanko 60.

8. Traditional Chinese Lanterns Illuminate the Market

Photo by Mk2010 from Wikimedia

Huaxi Street Night Market announces itself with a grand ceremonial gateway with charming Chinese lanterns providing decoration and more powerful lights illuminating the area to near-daylight levels.

Chinese traditional post stands at the entrance of Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market, with traditional Chinese lamps hung along the street. The traditional Chinese lanterns are used to represent royal status or upper-class society.

 9. Huaxi Street Night Market’s Oil-paper Umbrellas

Huaxi street night market’s Oil-paper Umbrellas are among the most visually stunning mementos one could buy in the market. The umbrellas are made of an intricate bamboo frame and transparent paper, both artfully painted with intricate designs and then lacquered.

These umbrellas are a traditional component during wedding ceremonies; they symbolize a happy, complete life. They are also believed to bring good luck and are often given as gifts at symbolic events in the family.

10. Huaxi Street Night Market is Easy to Access

Huaxi Street Night Market is located in Taipei’s Wanhua district, just west of Longshan Temple. By MRT, take the Blue Line to Longshan Temple (Exit 1). A number of buses also stop near the market and temple.

Huaxi Street Night Market is open from 4 pm until midnight daily. the market at its liveliest late in the evening or at night.