Gone in half a year: Banqiao’s “New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market” calls it quits

▲ Dubbed New Taipei’s biggest night market, the “New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market” closed just six months after opening. (Photo / from the official Facebook page of the New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Banqiao’s “New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market,” billed as New Taipei City’s largest night market, has reportedly closed on May 7 after only six months in business due to its failure to establish a distinct identity and the high similarity of its stalls to those at other night markets.

The New Taipei Cultural & Creative Night Market opened in November 2016 with a focus on cultural creativity. At its peak, it hosted up to 250 stalls and spanned an impressive 4,000 ping (approximately 13,200 square meters), earning its reputation as the largest night market in New Taipei City.

However, just six months after its launch, the market failed to carve out a unique character. Despite its “cultural creativity” branding, it lacked any substantial creative elements. Coupled with the high similarity of its vendors to those found at other night markets, public interest quickly waned. Adding to its woes, the official Facebook page had not been updated since April 8, and negative reviews from users made up more than half of the feedback—leading this once much-talked-about night market to close its doors in disappointment.