Taipei urban walks. Rambling through Zhongshan District. April 2025.
Markets, parks and food. Plus a sample route in Zhongshan,
Taiwan posts bibliography is here.
Dajia Riverside Park to Minsheng Community area.
Dajia Park on Keelung River is a nice place to relax. It is only 30 minutes from the Landis Taipei hotel where I normally stay (walk of course). The view of Taipei Grand Hotel, fish jumping up in the water, a few elderly walkers and plenty of younger vigorous cyclists.
Talking about jumping fish. When I was near the river I felt a strong shock with immediate message to my phone about an earthquake.
I looked around. Peopled continued to mow the grass, cyclists were racing as usual.
But the fish! I saw dozens of them jumping out of the river following the shock. Picture does not show it well, but it felt unreal.
After the park I decided to explore Minsheng Community area which is near the airport. The decision was reinforced by a chat on Reddit Taipei which actually is very helpful if you are trying to look for interesting places to see.
I walked close to Songshan airport (Taipei unique airport located within the city) and arrived at a fresh produce market not far from Rongxing Park.
The man cutting some pickled vegetables drew my attention. He was happily singing while doing this monotonous task. Happiness really has different dimensions. The guy probably does not realize how happy he is!
You can buy everything here, who needs supermarket! I like the institution of fresh produce market - it is breathing, inviting and full of energy. You can come here just to wander absorbing the local atmosphere, not something you would do with supermarkets.
Next is the park itself. In these parks you realize that Taiwan is aging. Around 19% of the population are over 65, not as bad as Japan (29%), but clearly visible. Parks are oases for the elderly where they chat with friends, exercise or simply enjoy the sun. I think it is good, people are subconsciously forming informal support groups and are less lonely. In Sydney I often see some elderly spending their time in pubs downing schooners. Well, although mostly also in the groups.
Here the main drink is tea.
Some prefer solitude.
With Songshan airport on my left (it really feels unusual to “pass by” an airport while walking in the city) I move to the alleys of Minsheng East Road. They do resemble longtangs of Shanghai - narrow lanes with low, 2-3 story buildings. A smidge of “international” feeling - whiskey shops, Pilates studios, fancy cafes, organic food, bilingual schools, yoga centers.
If you have time to kill before the flight from Songshan airport, it might be a good idea to leave your luggage at the airport, wander the area, then walk back for check in.
To help with the orientation below is the map of the area I was roaming around.
A walking route suggestion in Zhongshan District.
Whenever I travel to the same city, I always face the dilemma, should I change my stay in locations or try different suburbs. I mostly interchange the decisions depending on the country but tend to favor staying in the area I already know. I feel that it helps to understand the country better - if you know the place you are not wasting time on the route creations and instead focus on the reality around. Plus, it helps when the local business owners remember you and share some useful tips, language barrier permitting.
As mentioned in my earlier posts my default place of stay in Taipei is Landis Hotel in Zhongshan District. This year I explored the area around in more detail adding to the previous knowledge. My key landmarks around the hotel are Xintiang Temple, an important religious center established in 1960s, Shuangcheng Street Night Market and Songjian fresh produce market. Pray and eat. There is also an interesting stretch of shops and eateries on Jinzhou street between Zhongshan Senior High School MRT station on Wenhu Line and Xintiang Temple station.
You can start exploring the area from Zhongshan station. There is a park or rather a promenade called Zhongshan Shuanglian Linear Park. On both sides you can find design studios, snack shops, cafes and gift shops.
Basically, the route can be Zhongshan MRT station - Linear promenade - Shuangcheng Street Night Market - Xingtiang Temple - Songjian local market of fresh produce - stroll along Jinzhou Street.
Shuangcheng Street Night Market is one of the highlights, for sure. Even it is called Night Market it is also open during the day which I prefer, in a way. At daytime the atmosphere is lazier and calmer with definitely less choices, but good enough.
I always go for my favorite scallion pancake if it is morning or lunch time.
By the way, I found a shop in Japan which sells them frozen. Not as good, but nostalgically delicious enough…
The same market gets busier at nights.
Another local institution is Songjian Market. This is where locals buy their food - a simple covered area with dozens of stalls selling meat, fish, vegetables, fruits and many exotic things.
I was attracted to the name because in Japanese Songjian (松江) reads as Matsue, a capital of Shimane prefecture in Japan, a small and cozy town of 200,000 people.
It gets busy with housewives as troop leaders and husbands marching along carrying bags with produce.
Some interesting shops nearby. Stanley, as he calls himself, opened his pizza shop 15 years ago, now he is 40 and is determined to continue.
Juice bar is not something you see often in Taipei.
Finally, a couple of nice spots to eat in the area. I am a big fan of stinky tofu - 臭豆腐 (chòu dòufu). When in Taiwan I eat it every day - with cabbage, dry or in a soup with noodles - anything, it is an addiction.
But there is a new shop opened not far from Landis hotel. Run by heavily tattooed young and always smiling men they have a wide variety to choose from. For example, take stinky tofu in broth with mushrooms.
And nearby there is another good restaurant. They serve seafood and duck, many small snacks. Husband and wife run the business and both speak good English.
I also noticed that many restaurants in the area put their tables out and make it an al fresco dining (believe they need approvals for this). Have a closer look, even if it rains, no problem!
I also have a favorite place for my breakfast. Exit Landis hotel, walk right, turn right at the next small street, there is this little eatery opposite SevenEleven. After a few times, owners understood what I wanted plus I could communicate small random changes, so at the end I was treated with “Hello!” and smiles, the staff pointing at my usual table.
Well, probably I will try another suburb next time…
As someone from Shimane I will make a note to visit "Matsue ichiba" next time I visit Taipei :)
When I visit we usually stay near Banqiao in New Taipei and I go for runs along the Tamsui river. There's some interesting murals painted on the flood defense walls and the 新月橋 foot bridge is fun - Google calls it crescent bridge, but I'd call it new moon bridge personally