Once Glorious, Now Gone: 5 Night Markets That Have Shut Down

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Night markets are a highlight promoted by Taiwan’s tourism board and a must-visit attraction for many international tourists. The various night markets across Taiwan are also an integral part of local life. In recent years, many new night markets have sprung up in Taiwan—some even claiming to be the largest in the region—but ultimately ended up closing down. Let’s take a look at five once-popular night markets that have since shut their doors.

▲ Dubbed “New Taipei’s Largest Night Market,” the “New Taipei Cultural and Creative Night Market” closed just six months after opening. (Photo / fromNew Taipei Cultural and Creative Night MarketFacebook page)

New Taipei Cultural and Creative Night Market
The “New Taipei Cultural and Creative Night Market” in Banqiao was touted as New Taipei City’s biggest night market. However, lacking its own unique identity and with many stalls overlapping with those in other night markets, it reportedly closed on May 7, ending its brief six-month run. Opened in November 2016, the market focused on cultural creativity, boasting up to 250 stalls at its peak and covering an impressive area of 4,000 ping (approximately 13,200 square meters), thus earning the title of New Taipei’s largest night market. However, critics pointed out that despite its name featuring “cultural creativity,” there was little actual content related to it—the name was apparently chosen through fortune-telling.

▲ Economic and Trade Cultural and Creative Night Market. (Photo / provided by Gui Xiaosun)

Economic and Trade Cultural and Creative Night Market
Located at the site of the old Taichung Shuinan Airport, the “Economic and Trade Cultural and Creative Night Market” covered an area of 6,000 ping, with plans for 700 stalls and 700 parking spaces, plus air-conditioned, five-star-standard restrooms. It claimed to be Central Taiwan’s largest night market and opened in grand fashion in July 2014. Its early days saw massive crowds, with traffic jams extending all the way back to Jingmao Second Road. It shut down on April 30.

▲ Taichung’s new night market, the “Dali Tourist Night Market.” (Photo / provided by Dali International Tourist Night Market)

Dali International Tourist Night Market
Built with an investment of NT$70 million, Taichung’s Dali Night Market was billed as a “five-star department store–level” night market, featuring a rainproof roof, luxury restrooms, and a well-planned parking area. Yet it went bankrupt in less than two years. Covering 3,000 ping, the Dali Night Market opened in grand style in late May 2015. At one point, over 300 stalls attracted 30,000–40,000 visitors daily, with walkways even named after international cities like “London Street” and “Bangkok Street.” The dedicated underground parking and air-conditioned, five-star restrooms spared visitors worries about parking or toilet access. However, within two years it faced closure, officially shutting down at the end of February 2017, with plans to repurpose the site as a supermarket.

▲ Taichung’s “Monster Night Market” closed after just four months in business. (Photo / provided by Qianqian)

Monster Night Market
If we don’t count the Municipal Tourism Night Market, which stirred controversy for operating illegally, then Taichung’s “Monster Night Market” might be the city’s shortest-lived night market. It opened in May 2016 but closed in less than half a year. Located in Taichung’s West District, the market used red torii gates similar to those in Jiufen’s Monster Village as its signature feature. Despite the strong theme, some travelers reported that aside from the big red gate at the entrance and lanterns hanging above the stalls, there was little actual “monster” vibe to be found.

Jiannong Night Market
The “Jiannong Night Market,” located at the intersection of Jiannong and Jiande Roads in Kaohsiung’s Sanchong District, opened at the end of 2015. It was once the only indoor night market complex in southern Taiwan, spanning over 1,300 ping with nearly 500 stalls offering goods for visitors. The market used 700 lanterns to create an old-time atmosphere, aiming to let people enjoy a traditional night market experience—even when it wasn’t raining. However, it closed just over a year after opening.