Post date:2017-09-13
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Open 24-7! An Old Market with New Technology
Shilin Market Runs Day and Night
Article|Tu Xiny Photos|Jiang Youren, Shilin Market
Back in the Qing Dynasty, Shilin (士林) was the transit center connecting Danshui (淡水) and Jinshan (金山) to downtown Taipei. Ships traveled between Jiantan (劍潭), Dadaocheng (大稻埕) and Banka (艋舺), loaded with goods that were wholesaled in Shilin. Therefore, markets sprang up, of which, Shilin, founded in 1913, became the most modern.
After Mingchuan (銘傳大學), Soochow (東吳大學) and Chinese Culture Universities (中國文化大學) were established, students began to gather in this area, and brought business with them. Vendors set up illumination for the evening hours, offered food and snacks at reasonable prices and Shilin Night Market has been thriving and growing ever since. Within a few years of opening, it had expanded into a morning and night market, and had become the first 24-7 market in Taiwan.
Integrating Technology with Old and New
Shilin Market is a Taipei must-see – for Taiwanese and overseas tourists both. In the peak hours, there can easily be 100 tour buses bringing happy visitors. In order to meet the needs of customers, the official website, on-site signage, and eatery menus are all provided in a variety of languages. The guided tour’s QR Code can be scanned at a number of spots, and some vendors offer you a smart payment option using your mobile device.
“Which market in Taiwan has set up an information center?” proudly asks Taipei City Public Shilin Market Council (台北市公有士林市場自治會) Chairman, Guo Fengshi (郭逢時). “Only Shilin!” The info center he refers to responds to inquiries and provides services, even an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). “Every security guard has taken basic CPR and medical device training,” says Guo. “Not too long ago, a tourist was suffering from shock and the AED saved his life.”
All-in-One Service Based on Green Energy and Carbon Reduction
Situated near the National Palace Museum (故宮), Taipei Expo Park (花博公園) and Beitou Hot Spring (北投溫泉), Shilin market serves up a feast of scrumptious goodies amid its special ambience. What’s more, the Long and Short Buildings, municipal heritage sites on either side of the market, give Shilin market an historical atmosphere, making it doubly popular with tourists. However, as the crowds come and go, the need for more and more washroom space is a never-ending reality. So the market has invested in a specially-designed rainwater recycling system, whereby toilets and urinals are flushed and the landscape watered – all in a manner that is both efficient and green.
And even more has been done to promote green energy: in 2012, Shilin Market replaced all its lighting fixtures with energy-saving and carbon-reducing LEDs. Through all these efforts, this 24-7 food emporium has become a model low-carbon green site and been certified a “Green market” by the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Shilin Market was built many years ago, but over the past 100 years, it has responded to customers’ needs, rebuilt and upgraded facilities and technology as the times demanded. It has even attracted business people from Mainland China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, who come to visit as well as to learn. This proves that Shilin is not just a market for eating and having fun, but also a pioneer commercial center worth studying.
With both morning and night service, Shilin Market is Taiwan’s first ever 24-7 market.
Shilin Market
First floor (closed on Monday)
Morning market 02:00~14:00
Night market 14:00~02:00
B1 Food court (closed on Chinese New Year’s Eve)
Monday to Thursday 15:00~02:00 Friday to Sunday 12:00~02:00
101, Jihe Rd., Shilin District
MRT Jiantan Station, Exit 1, walk about 5 minutes
Yang Meihuei’s Old-styled Snacks
With her brilliant cooking skills passed down by her mother, 73-year-old Yang Meihuei (楊美惠) makes old-style snacks every day. Fa-gau (rice spongy cake, 發糕), southern and northern styled zongzi (rice dumpling, 粽子), jianzong (alkaline rice dumpling, 鹼粽), red tortoise cake (紅龜), and herbal rice cake (草仔粿) made with home-grown cudweed are just some of the delicacies that have been served for over twenty years. They are waiting for you to come and enjoy them!
Jiayi Meat Balls
These meat balls are made with pork fast frozen to keep in the original umami flavor; no borax or preservative is added. They are freshly made by hand every day, and sold with free soup. No MSG added! Flavors include original, mushroom, celery, water chestnut, and taro. Jou-gen (specially-processed pork served in a thick soup, 肉羹) is available, too.
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