Beginner’s Guide to the Trade and Culture Creative Night Market – Don’t Miss the Grilled Squid and Dice Beef

Text & Photos /By Gui Xiaosun

These past two days, my Facebook feed has been flooded with posts about Central Taiwan’s largest 【Trade and Culture Creative Sightseeing Night Market】—6,000 ping (approx. 19,800 sqm) with 700 stalls!! It felt like I’d just woken up from a nap and suddenly caught fire with excitement. Without thinking twice, I decided to head there right after work on the opening day, July 11. I arrived around 7 PM, and it was packed with people and cars. Vehicles were parked all around Shuinan Airport, so be sure to have some patience.

If you’re nearby, riding a scooter is definitely more convenient than driving. Of course, there’s also a designated parking lot across from the night market, with a flat rate of 100 NTD per entry—but I’m pretty sure it fills up in no time. It’s all about luck tonight. We also spotted the 【Super Night Variety Show】 filming here during the opening, so we caught glimpses of Pang Chia-chia and Hsu Hsiao-shun in the distance. But with so many people crowding around, we got pushed way to the back, so we figured it was more practical to go look for food first.

Because I was really hungry—when you’re at a night market and constantly surrounded by the smell of food, it’s hard not to get hungry. Even before reaching the main area, just around the perimeter, we could see that certain roads were blocked off due to crowd and traffic control. The parking lot entrance is the one shown in the photo below. To be honest, getting a spot here probably required arriving right when it opened at 5 PM. For us working stiffs, that’s a bit tough.

But from what I could see around me, I’m not entirely convinced there were actually 700 stalls—maybe it’s just a difference in perception or how the space feels. You’ll have to judge for yourself when you go check it out. The first day of the opening was absolutely buzzing. Inside the venue, there was the 【Super Night Variety Show】, and nearby were bounce houses. Just from the entrance, you could feel the lively, chaotic atmosphere—it really gave off that classic night market vibe.

There were people and lights everywhere, along with the warm hospitality of Central Taiwan’s residents. Glimpsing the back of the show hosts, the lights and the flashes from everyone’s phones and cameras created such a lively scene, with even multiple news vans present. You can imagine there will be plenty of media coverage over the next couple of days. Taiwanese people love their night markets—this is bound to become another hot topic. The entrance was jam-packed, gridlocked in every direction. Walking around the night market in the summer heat is a sweaty affair for sure.

The food is hot, the people are hot, the lights are hot—and the passion of the night market is real. Our first stop was this stall selling scallion pancakes wrapped around sausages. Those glistening sausages immediately caught my eye. We ordered one as an appetizer right away. LOL. After trying it, the sausage was delicious, but the scallion pancake felt like it was frozen and just reheated—not particularly appealing. Next time, we’ll just get the sausage itself.
 

Next, we spotted this grilled corn stall. We were being smart tonight—for the sake of photos and variety, we decided to get one of everything at least once. Then came this grilled squid stall—we’re huge fans!! This vendor totally drew us in. The squid looked incredibly fresh, and the long queue plus the speed at which they restocked the grill made everything seem super fresh.

Standing nearby, we were surrounded by the aroma—it was irresistible, and I was seriously drooling. Each squid is 40 NTD, three for 100 NTD. They usually slice them up, but I asked the boss not to for the photo. Watching the boss pre-cook the squid was making my mouth water—I really wanted to grab one right then and there. The squid is brushed with a sweetish glaze that glistens beautifully from every angle. How could you possibly resist?!

I managed to snap a rough shot of the stall name, but with the crowd, it was hard to get a better angle. There are lots of grilled and fried squid stalls around, so be sure to compare and inspect the ingredients carefully—the freshness is usually easy to spot. Take a look at this squid of ours—doesn’t it make you want to run right over and buy some?

Then, all of a sudden, we heard firecrackers and the excited screams of the crowd. Turns out, they were setting off fireworks—a first for me at a night market. My vantage point was pretty random, and no matter how I shot it, the night market banners kept getting in the frame. But I didn’t care—I just went with it. This is the most authentic night market opening ever. If you don’t include the night market in the fireworks shot, how would anyone know it’s a night market celebration? I’m no expert at taking fireworks photos, so I just held down the shutter and snapped away. Here’s my favorite shot of the dazzling display.

Sharing with everyone the exciting atmosphere of the 【Trade and Culture Creative Night Market】 on its first day of opening. If you have the chance, come join the night market feast. Also, a cool highlight of this night market is the 【air-conditioned restrooms】. I don’t know if there are any other places in Taiwan with this, but I’m pretty sure you won’t find another one in Central Taiwan. I bet the coolest spot in the whole night market is the restroom.　

Next up, we also highly recommend this stall—it’s 【Dice Beef】!! One skewer is 40 NTD, three for 100 NTD, and buy six get one free. There are three flavors to choose from, but the most popular seems to be the sea salt flavor, and that’s what we went for—three skewers of sea salt. This place does a brisk business—we waited behind about 15 people. But I’ve noticed that even though night market lines can be long, the wait is usually pretty fast. These vendors know how to handle the crowds. Our group of 15 probably waited less than 10 minutes.

While waiting, you can take a little break and nibble on the snacks you’ve already picked up. Looking at those dice beef skewers on the grill, the color and the juicy sheen practically made me want to order more—even though I’d just eaten. The beef is skewered right there by an elderly lady in the back, so you know it’s super fresh. That’s the only item we bought more than one of all night—that’s how much we loved it. It’s Angus beef, and every bite has that rich, savory beef flavor. The sea salt flavor is really delicious just as it is. Three skewers for two people? Not nearly enough!! (Status: Honestly, we each wanted three.)

Next, we tried this 【Fu Jen Hong Kong Tea】 stall—it reminded us of 【Kowloon Hong Kong Tea】 from Fengjia Night Market. Since we love iced lemon tea, we immediately ordered one iced lemon and one winter melon lemon. The aunties running the place work super fast. Even though it was a line, they handled both sides efficiently, so the wait wasn’t long at all. The drinks were great—they can definitely hold their own against Kowloon Hong Kong Tea. And the best part? They’re cheaper too—lol.

In the photo below, I feel like that kid in the back is sneaking a peek at me (Status: Probably just my imagination). There were so many people—families, grandparents, kids, everyone came out. I was thinking, how does everyone hear about these events? Is it heavy news coverage? Or has Facebook become so widespread these days? It’s amazing how powerful the media is.

Turning the corner, we were drawn in by the aroma of freshly fried pork ribs. We quickly joined a small line. Prices are 60, 100, or 200 NTD. We went for the 60 NTD option to try it—and wow, it was delicious. There’s a hint of sweetness. Plus, my friend loves chewing on bones, and these have bones that are crispy, juicy, and hot. I leaned in to take this shot, and it totally reminded me of Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Chicken. Since it’s served from a big fryer, the line moves pretty fast—no need to wait too long.

At the night market, lining up is the way to go. Only the things people line up for are truly fresh. At 60 NTD per serving, it’s just the right portion for us—one piece is pretty big. We took turns eating, and it was super fragrant and satisfying. If you like pork ribs, give them a try.

And of course, the night market games are all here—dart throwing, ring toss, mahjong grab, and even the “shouting uncles.” The night market sells clothes, toys, and all sorts of knick-knacks—it’s pretty fun just to walk around and check things out. We didn’t manage to explore it all tonight, probably covering only about a quarter to a third of the area because it started raining later. We had to hurry before our cameras got ruined. Thankfully, we were already pretty full. But then we realized there’s also steak and Mongolian barbecue further back—we’ll have to come back next time to try those.

Along the way, we spotted peanut ice cream rolls and had to stop—ever since trying them in Yilan, my friend has been obsessed. But we have to say, the ones in Yilan are still better. This one wasn’t bad, but after having the good stuff, it’s hard not to compare. Right before leaving, while the rain was still light, we stumbled upon this 【Nanbo Wan Thai Green Papaya Salad】!!
 

We stopped immediately to buy some. Having just come back from Kenting, we were still craving that green papaya salad, and the owner here is so stylish—her outfit and makeup really caught our eye. She’s definitely going to be a walking advertisement—^^. Check out this green papaya—super fresh, super generous portions, it was almost overflowing. They don’t offer small or large sizes, just one uniform size for 100 NTD. The portion was even bigger than the ones in Kenting. We brought some home and could barely finish it. Thai food lovers, you can’t miss this. It’s refreshing and appetizing in the summer, and it totally excites your taste buds.

I quickly put this article together. If I go back again soon, I’ll add more content and hopefully make it even more complete. In any case, if you love night markets, use this as your beginner’s guide and make time to visit Central Taiwan’s biggest night market for food, fun, and games. GO!!

【Trade and Culture Creative Night Market, Sightseeing Night Market City】: Facebook

Driving: Exit at Zhongqing Interchange, head toward downtown, turn right onto Jiaoyi 5th Road after about 500 meters.

Public Transport: Both Tonglian Bus and Taichung Bus can take you here; get off at Maoyi 3rd Village Station.

Google search: No. 1130, Section 2, Zhongqing Road (Taichung City, Xitun District, Zhongqing Road & Jiaoyi 5th Road, next to the old Shuinan Airport)

Business Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 5 PM to midnight