Ximending is a youth shopping district in Taipei City home to various shops, bars, movie theaters, and more. Read on to learn whether it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
I’ve visited Ximending at least more than 20 times and want to help you determine whether it’s worth visiting. Hence, I compiled a bunch of recommendations and information.
- Keychains shaped like Taiwan
- Pineapple cakes or sun cakes from Red Sakura
- Magnets
- Chia Te pineapple cakes from snack shops
- Red House merch. like post cards
Any time of the year. So long as you visit at night. There isn’t much foot traffic during the day.
Ximending (西門町), Shi-men Ting, or Ximen, sits within Taipei’s Wanhua District and serves as Taipei’s young people’s shopping district. Many also call this area the “Shibuya” or “Harajuku” of Taipei. Both of these nicknames stem from youth districts in Tokyo, Japan.
What can you do in Ximending?
It’s a source of subcultures, clothing, Taiwanese and Japanese culture, street food, pubs, clubs, and various activities.
The Ximending Pedestrian Area doesn’t draw crowds until the evening, when everyone gets off work and out of class.
While Taipei doesn’t have much crime, I recommend securing your belongings. That way, you could deter potential pickpockets. Since you’ll find yourself moving through crowds, thieves have a perfect opportunity to snatch someone’s belongings.
25 Fun Things To Do in Ximending
Explore all my recommendations and see what you’ll want to add to your Taipei itinerary.
1. Get a Drink at The Red House Theater
| Chinese name | 西門紅樓 |
| Address | No. 10, Chengdu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri: 11 AM–8 PMSat: 11 AM–10 PMSun: 11 AM–9:30 PM |
The Red House historic theater used to serve as a theater that hosted operas, among other functions.
Nowadays, it’s an area used to promote the Cultural and Creativity Industry. Many locals will sell handcrafted goods here.
Outside the theater are various gay bars. If you want to experience Taiwan’s LGBT+ culture, the Red House is where you want to go.
At night, the outdoor seating area fills with chatters and laughs. If you want to partake, order affordable drinks or food, depending on which bar you enter.
The hours for the bars around the Red Theater will vary.
2. Visit the Site of a Former Japanese Temple
| Address | No. 174號, Section 1, Zhonghua Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Price | Free entry |
There isn’t much to see here. But if you’re interested in seeing relics from when the Japanese Empire took over Taiwan, the Nishi Honganji Square is a great place to go.
It has a large recast Buddhist bell that’s the only remnant from the temple named The Taiwanese Branch of Jodo Shinshu Honganji School that the government burnt down in 1970.
Other than a seating area and a lot of well-groomed grass, you’ll find a building restored as a traditional tea house. Also, a lot of literature lining the walls that’ll tell you about Formosa’s (Taiwan) history.
3. Watch Street Performers
No matter where you go throughout the Ximen area, you’ll find crowds circling performers presenting various stunts.
Sometimes, I’ve seen The Joker breakdancing, and others being people who painted themselves silver and act like robots.
If you’re looking for street performers who primarily play instruments, you’ll want to head toward the Xinyi shopping area.
4. Explore the Various Shops: Find Souvenirs
Ximen doesn’t have any noteworthy souvenirs. But if you want to get your mitts on some trinkets while you’re exploring, I encourage you to visit the souvenir shops.
You’ll find plenty of cool-looking keychains and magnets of Taiwan’s various destinations.
However:
I don’t recommend buying souvenirs from those destinations. Instead, support the locals by buying from stalls that sell handmade stuff, or from vendors in the Red House Theater.
You can find plenty of great trinkets and such while visiting the places they originate.
5. Visit Tianhou Temple & Pray for Peace
| Chinese name | 天后宮 |
| Address | No. 51號, Chengdu Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10844 |
With donations from immigrant merchants, builders finished the Tianhou, or Ximending Mazu, Temple in 1746, which makes it one of few major temples that are from the Qing Dynasty.
This place of worship is meant for prayers to the goddess, Mazu. And if you want to pray for safety and peace, she’s the deity who you want to visit.
It’s a small temple nestled between regular buildings and apartments, but it’s a temple that you’ll want to cross off your temple exploration list.
6. Eat Food Out of a Toilet Bowl at the Modern Toilet Restaurant
| Chinese name | 便所主題餐廳 |
| Address | No. 7號, Lane 50, Xining S Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri: 12–9:30 PMWeekend: 11:30 AM–10 PM |
Have you ever eaten food out of a toilet bowl?
Here’s your chance. Ximending’s Modern Toilet Restaurant gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eat dishes like hot pot, spaghetti, and whatever other meats you can think of from a dish-shaped like a toilet bowl.
After you’re done with lunch or dinner, order soft-serve chocolate ice cream in a toilet bowl dish.
If staring at things that look like poop while you’re eating doesn’t agree with your stomach, you may want to avoid this place and eat street food.
7. Explore Shinjuku Plaza
| Chinese name | 西門新宿 |
| Address | 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Xining Rd, 72號之1 |
| Hours | 12–10:30 PM |
Shinjuku Plaza used to have a lot more stores. Since COVID-19, this designer haven has lost many of its stores.
But if you’re looking for a place with a modern design to get some clothing shopping done, you’ll want to come to Shinjuku—plaza.
You’ll find varying reseller shops that sell designer bags, jewelry, shoes, and other clothes. Or, get your nails done at one of the various nail salons.
At the time of writing, the pandemic has almost faded in Taiwan, things are slowly transitioning to how they once were. So, maybe by the time you come to Taiwan, Shinjuku Plaza will have more shops to see.
8. Chow on Some Taiwanese Food
| Xing Fu Tang Address | No. 101號, Hanzhong St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken Address | No. 36, Hanzhong St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108 |
In another article, I mentioned that Ximending has a night market. While it’s not officially a night market, you will find a lot of street food vendors once the sun sets.
You’ll also likely find food stalls during the day, which I also encourage you to check out.
The best food that I’ve had here is Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken. They’re a joint that sells large chunks of Taiwanese fried chicken.
If you want to take your unhealthiness to the next level, pair your fried bird with a cup of pricey brown sugar bubble tea. Get good pearl milk tea from a place known as Xing Fu Tang (幸福堂). I noticed they recently started selling dumplings too.
I haven’t tried their dumplings, yet, because dumplings and caffeine don’t mix well with me. But I suggest trying them if your stomach can handle the combination.
Find More Information in These Guides
Facts About Taiwan Food: Taiwanese Food Culture
Guide to Ximending Night Market
9. Try Traditional Taiwanese Soy Milk & Breakfast
| Recommended restaurant | Yong He Soy Milk |
| Chinese name | 世界豆漿大王 |
| Address | No. 30號, Section 2, Hankou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | 12 AM–2:30 PM7:45 PM–12 AM |
| Price | <NT$100 per item |
Lots of foreigners have good things to say about Yong He Soy Milk, even though they have multiple locations throughout Taiwan. However, if you’re planning a trip to Ximending, Yong He is where you’ll want to go for the first meal of your day.
It’s a traditional Taiwanese breakfast joint that has:
- Great-tasting soy milk
- Fried breadsticks
- Radish cakes
- Dumplings with ginger
- Rice rolls
Meals won’t cost you much—you can usually find items under NT$100 each at the cost of not having much English support.
They have an English menu, take your menu to the staff and point at what you want. When they announce your total, they’ll likely do what most Taiwanese do to foreigners, show you the total on a calculator.
You can find seating inside and out, depending on the weather.
10. Admire Graffiti
While making your way through Ximending, you’ll notice some “graffiti.” However, once you near American Street, or around Cinema Street, alongside the movie theaters, skateboard shops, bars, and restaurants, you’ll find good graffiti.
I love this area’s graffiti art. The artists seamlessly blended the designs with the surrounding environments. Moreover, the colors on these pieces pop, which makes them fascinating to watch while eating.
Artists based most of these designs on pop-culture references.
Shinjuku in Japan has the giant Godzilla head. However, Ximending has a Godzilla made of bricks, spray cans, a car exhaust, wires, and other miscellaneous items.
Most graffiti is in or around American Street. While it sounds like there should be a lot to do here, there isn’t. It’s basically a ghost town with a few apparel shops. Hoping they’ll add more to the street later on.
11. Stroll Through Bopiliao Historic Block’s 18th Century Architecture
The Bopiliao Historical Block acted as one of the most prosperous areas in Taipei during the late Qing Dynasty period. During that time, various merchants set up shops in this area. It was also a major area for trading coal.
During Japan’s occupation, the government repurposed this area for better efficiency, which slowly removed the meaning from this area.
During the early 2000s, the Taipei City Government restored this Bopiliao, transforming it into a historical site. As you walk through this spot, you’ll find red brick archways, stone terrazzo flooring, and cement walls that’ll bring you back to the architecture used by various colonialists.
For instance, you’ll find architecture that has influences from modern Western, Chinese Qing Dynasty, and Japanese.
Bopiliao isn’t in the Ximen area. But it’s close to Longshan Temple, which is about an 11-minute walk from Ximending.
12. Read a Book or Get a Drink at Eslite Spectrum
| Address | No. 52, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | 11:30 AM–10 PM |
Taiwan’s massive book chain, Eslite, has a massive book store that’s also mixed with a shopping mall within Ximending.
Toward the top floor, you’ll find the actual book store along with a drink shop to escape the heat. As for the books, you won’t just find books written in Chinese, but you’ll also find German, French, and English books.
If you want somewhere to binge manga, also do that here.
Or, stroll through the other floors, which have shops like Yankee Candles, clothing stores, and shops that sell other trinkets.
13. Check Out DIY Items Made by Locals
You won’t find these all the time, but once in a while, you’ll find stalls throughout Ximending with locals selling trinkets they’ve made. If you like what they have, or want to support small businesses, check out what these people offer.
You’ll usually find these booths outside Ximen Station’s Exit 1. Once you take the crowded roads into the pedestrian area, you’ll also find locals set up on the sides of the road selling things they’ve made.
14. Try One of Taiwan’s Craft Brews (Driftwood Brewery)
| Address | No. 46, Kunming St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri: 5 PM–12 AMWeekend: 5 PM–1:30 AM |
If you’re into pricey craft beer, go to Ximending’s Driftwood. It’s an official Taihu brewery taproom with a dim and wooden interior that’ll kinda remind you of an islander bar with its thatch roofing.
15. Try Pork Floss or Wasabi Flavored Ice Cream @ Snow King
| Chinese name | 王冰淇淋 |
| Address | 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Section 1, Wuchang St, 65號2樓 |
| Hours | 12–8 PM |
| Price | NT$100+ per scoop |
雪王冰淇淋 (Xuě wáng bīngqílín), or the Snow King, opened its doors to Taiwanese and foreigners alike in 1947. From there, Kao Jih-hsing, the owner, conjured hundreds of flavors that I never knew anyone could turn into ice cream.
There are plenty of unique flavors you won’t around most places in the world like:
Most of these flavors cost around NT$100 ($3.00) per scoop, which makes them a great deal compared to other ice cream shops in the area.
When I went, I tried the osmanthus and mochi flavors. The mochi flavor was strong, but it counteracted the interesting salty and sugary taste of the osmanthus ice cream.
Don’t get me wrong, both flavors tasted good, which was a surprise. However, it’s just not something that I’m used to.
Snow King has an English and Chinese menu. Moreover, the staff won’t have a difficult time figuring out what you’re saying.
All the flavors Snow King has in March 2022.
The seating wasn’t cramped. If you sit alongside the wall, you’ll see the small business’ awards and newspaper clippings. Read these while you’re waiting for your ice cream and eating.
You may have a hard time finding Snow King, because they don’t have an English sign. However, here’s a picture of what to look for. Once you arrive, make your way up the stairs and the staff will give you a menu.
From there, you choose your seat. Whenever you’re ready to order, make your way to the counter and tell (or show) them what ice cream you want.
| Osmantus | Custard apple | Kaoliang liquor |
| Oolong tea | Egg | Wasabi |
| Curry | Basil | Sesame oil chicken |
| Sticky rice | Ginger | Chili pepper |
16. Try Famous Taiwanese Beef Noodles
| Recommended restaurant | Fuhong Beef Noodles |
| Restaurant Chinese name | 富宏牛肉麵 |
| Address | No. 67–69, Luoyang St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Price | NT$100 |
Taiwanese brought red braised beef noodle soup to life in 1949 after the Kuomintang (KMT) fled China during the Chinese Civil War [1].
Now you’ll find beef noodle shops throughout Taiwan. However, a noteworthy one resides in Ximending.
Fuhong Beef Noodles. It’s a humble restaurant that looks like any regular Taiwanese restaurant. Yet, they cook up some of the best beef noodles the city has to offer.
I love thick noodles and prefer a little softer meat, which my meal had. The noodles also weren’t too soft or thick—they had an ideal texture.
Price-wise—a medium-sized bowl, which is likely all you’ll need, will cost you NT$100 ($3.00). It’s an amazing deal, considering the amount of food you get. Also get a free soda with your meal.
I recommend first trying your beef noodles without any sauces. Afterward, if you want to experiment, add chili sauce, black or white vinegar, and other sauces to your noodles. I don’t recommend adding too much chili sauce, though. If you don’t like too much salt, you’ll want to be careful at Fuhong.
I didn’t see an English menu when I went there. Order by saying 中碗牛肉麵 (zhong wan niu rou mian), or show the staff this Chinese word. 中 (zhong) is medium. If you want a small bowl, say 小 (xiao). Or, say 大 (da) for large.
You can also translate this list on Google Translate, pick what you want, and show it to the staff. These Chinese characters are written vertically (top to bottom).
After ordering, just wait at your spot, play on your phone, and once your noodles arrive, feast.
17. Travel to the North Gate
| Chinese name | 北門 |
| Address | Section 1, Zhongxiao W Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100 |
During the Qing Dynasty, builders finished the Taipei City Walls, which were massive walls that enclosed the city.
When Japan’s colonialists took Taiwan in 1895, they destroyed the West Gate, which would have been in Ximending, along with the rest of the walls.
However, when the Republic of China (Taiwan) became a part of the country, builders rebuilt the South (Xiaonanmen) and East (Dongmen) gates. Unfortunately, the North Gate (Beimen) was the only gate to retain its original appearance.
Take the Taipei MRT to Beimen Station, walk 11 minutes, or ride a YouBike for a few minutes to get to this gate.
There isn’t much to do in this area. However, there’s a fair number of stone slabs that’ll describe Taiwan’s history. Also, if you’re in Taiwan during the Lantern Festival, Beimen will host a 3D laser light show every 20 minutes at night.
The light show seems to not have happened the last couple of years due to a certain pandemic. Hopefully, it’ll come back.
18. Try an Erectile Cake
Taiwan has a lot of foods that look like they’re from, or are actually from the testicular region. However, that’s a topic for another post.
As seen in this picture, you’ll find a couple stands in Ximending that sell these veiny snacks that have a cute, or 可愛 (ke ai), mascot.
What flavors can you try? If you’re in the mood for something chocolate(y), choose milk or dark chocolate flavors.
If you want to ease yourself into this new food, you want to go for the tried-and-true normal flavor.
Or, if you want something that’ll give you a kick when you put it in your mouth, try the green tea flavor.
Don’t worry about embarrassing yourself if you buy one of these, because you won’t. Almost everyone won’t say anything.
19. Explore Ximen’s Cinema Street: Watch a Movie That You Can’t Miss
While you can see a movie anywhere, Ximen’s Cinema Street houses more than 20 movie theaters, and it gives you a chance to see what movie theaters are like in other countries.
You will usually find tickets between NT$200–300, which isn’t too bad, especially compared to the states. However, foods inside movie theaters are still expensive and fattening.
20. Try One of the Hundreds of Taiwan’s Claw Machines
Taiwan has more than 200,000 claw machine arcades, and Ximending hosts a lot of them [2].
Most blocks, from what I’ve noticed, have carved out buildings with these flashy machines filled with real and counterfeit toys, trinkets, instant noodle packets, and laundry detergent. Yes, you can find interesting items that you could otherwise buy at a supermarket for a lot cheaper.
You’ll need to pay NT$10 ($0.35) for an attempt at these addicting money-sucking machines.
If you make the right choice and buy an EasyCard, you don’t have to exchange banknotes for change. Most claw machines will allow you to pay with your smart card.
21. Buy a Tailored Suit
It cost me NT$4,222 ($137) for a tailor to custom-make a suit jacket and pants. These also included decent-quality metal buttons. Not all the folks here speak English, though. And it’ll take 1–2 weeks for them to craft your suit.
That timeframe was when I told them I urgently needed the suit for a wedding. This isn’t the best option for a tourist in Taiwan for a week or 2.
Here’s an address for one of the suit shops: No. 53號, Section 2, Hankou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 10842
Make your way down this street and you’ll gradually see more similar shops. Venture into each one and check out what each tailor offers. Compare their pricing, fabric choices, custom buttons, and other additions.
22. Take a Picture at a Korean Photo Booth Studios
| Avg. Price | NT$200 per session |
| Hours | 24/7 |
Remains of former businesses in Ximending transformed into Korean photo booth studios. These studios host many photo booths with access to props such as hats, eyewear, and other “cute(sy)” accessories.
I don’t know whether the staff sanitizes this stuff. Consider spritzing it with sanitizer.
And I don’t recommend any particular stand. I’ve noticed these appear out of nowhere recently. You’ll see them everywhere.
23: Sing at PARTYWORLD Karaoke
| Address | No. 55, Section 1, Zhonghua Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, 100 |
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Price | NT$440–NT$2,680/hr. |
PARTYWORLD is a karaoke television (KTV) place for folks to rent rooms and choose among Japanese-, Mandarin-, and English-language songs. Many room rentals also include unlimited finger foods and non-alcoholic drinks.
The amount paid depends on the number of people in your party and the time you rent. Different price points based on the number of people are as follows:
- 1–6
- 7–10
- 11–12
- 13–15
- 16–18
Let’s check out a couple examples. Rent on Monday at 2 AM for 16 people. You’ll pay NT$2,144 an hour. Rent on a Monday at 7 AM and pay NT$440 an hour for a group of 5 people.
24: Get Some Ink at Ximending Tattoo Street
| Address | Lane 50, Hanzhong St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108 |
| Hours most stores open | 11 AM |
Tattoo street has various tattoo and piercing shops. And that’s it. From what I understand, this street isn’t home to any famous tattoo artists.
Tattoos aren’t looked down upon in Taiwan like in Japan. Whether the tattoo artists speak English will depend on the store chosen.
Ximending Visitor Information Center: Visit to Rest & Find More Information
| Address | No. 45, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei |
| Hours | 1:00–10:00 PM |
| Phone Number | 02-2388-5255 |
Ximending recently (at the time of writing) opened a 4-story information center with a police station. The intention of this place is to give tourists an “oasis” to relax and learn more about the surrounding area.
- Locker rental
- Tourist books
- Relax in an air conditioned room
- Restrooms
- x2 free device charging stations
- Each has 1 USB 2.0 port & 1 type B electrical port
- Speak to police
- Basic tools for bicycle repair
- Baby care rooms
- Water dispenser
- English- & Mandarin-speaking staff
How Do I Get To Ximending?
You can reach Ximending Pedestrian Area by taking the Taipei MRT Blue or Green Line to Ximen Station.
If you’re around the National Immigration Agency in Taipei, reach the Pedestrian Area by walking or renting a YouBike within 10 minutes.
Find More Information in These Guides
Guide on Getting Around Taiwan
Taipei MRT Guide: How to Master Taipei’s Metro
How to Use a YouBike: Taiwan’s Bike-sharing System
What Is There to Do Near the Ximending?
Here are some things to do near Ximen:
| Activity/Place | Walking Distance | To Do |
|---|---|---|
| National Taiwan Museum | 14 min. | Natural history & more |
| Presidential Office Building | 14 min. | President’s office |
| 2/28 Peace Park | 14 min. | Various displays |
| Taipei City Mall | 18 min. | Shop |
Head east to the National Taiwan Museum, president’s building, and the peace park. Head north, and you’ll reach Taipei Main Station (Taipei City Mall). It’s quicker to take the Taipei MRT to there, but walking is healthier.
So long as the weather’s not burning you alive. Or it’s not raining buckets.
Upon reaching Taipei Main Station, you’ll have a transfer station to the Taipei Metro Red Line, the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) and High Speed Rail (HSR) stations. And you’ll have plenty of attractions near there like:
- Ningxia Night Market
- Yongle Market
- Museum of Contemporary Art
Or why not take the Red Line to Taipei 101, Tamsui, or Xianshang (Elephant Mountain)? Continue down the Blue Line, and you’ll reach the technology malls, the infamous Simple Kaffa, and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall.
It’ll take you fewer than 20 minutes to reach the above destinations from Ximending. But you’ll need to choose your hotspots wisely to build the best itinerary. I’d dedicate a separate day to Taipei 101, Tamsui, and the tech. mall.
Each destination has plenty to do around the area, which could result in a day trip.
Find More Information in These Guides
33 Top Things To Do in Taipei
Hotels Near the Ximending Shopping District
Amba Taipei Ximending
No. 77, Section 2, Wuchang Street, Wanhua District , 108 Taipei, Taiwan
7-minute walk from the Red House & 7-minute drive from Huaxi Street Night Market.
Ximen Wow Hostel
108, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Hanzhong St, 42號8樓
Close to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall & Ximending.
Cho Hotel
No. 119, Kunming Street, Wanhua District , 108 Taipei, Taiwan
Reasonably-priced & 400 meters from Ximending Metro station.
Roaders Hotel
No. 68, Yanping South Road, Zhongzheng District, 100 Taipei, Taiwan
6 min. walk to Ximen MRT Station and 400 meters from Ximending.
History of the Ximending Shopping Area
The name of this shopping area came from its location outside Taipei’s west gate. In Mandarin Chinese, 西 (xi) means west. Whereas, 門 (men) means gate or door.
When Japan occupied the island nation, they transformed a road into a business and entertainment hub. One of the first buildings they constructed was the Red House Theater, which I’ll mention later in this post.
Over time, Ximending became an infamous theater street and a haven for scalpers. But as eastern Taipei became popular, the crowds began migrating away from the youth district.
In 1999, Taipei’s government created the Ximending Pedestrian Zone. They wanted to assess its popularity to see if it could improve the shopper’s atmosphere.
Fast forward to now.
Ximending passed its test. It remains as one of the more popular areas in Taipei City.
FAQs About Ximending
Explore these commonly asked questions about Taipei’s Ximending Pedestrian Area.
Find more frequently asked questions about Taiwan here.
Are Ximen and Ximending the Same?
People use Ximen and Ximending interchangeably to refer to the Ximending Pedestrian Area. When people mention Ximen, they may also refer to Ximen Station, a metro station on the Taipei Metro’s Green and Blue line.
What Is Ximending Known For?
Ximending is known for its graffiti areas, movie theater street, custom-tailored suits, and outdoor-mall-like atmosphere.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to run out of things to do in Ximending. There’s art and movie theaters everywhere, plenty of shopping and food to keep you busy for hours, and a lot of cultures to take in.
If you could only spend a day max in Ximending, I recommend following all the places and restaurants that I listed. These places will keep you busy, entertained, and intrigued during your time in Taipei.
