The Shilin Night Market has been embroiled in controversy, with the city government stating that out of nearly a thousand stalls, only 94 will be relocated underground.

The Shilin Night Market has faced ongoing turmoil since the decision to renovate it was passed, with many locals and vendors arguing that "undergrounding" the market would be akin to "digging its own grave." They believe this would not only reduce tourist spending but also damage the market’s original character, and the public is generally pessimistic about the government’s policy. On the 8th, the Taipei City Government clarified that out of the nearly one thousand future stalls, only 94 food stalls are planned for the basement level, and the space will actually be more spacious than the current setup, which is expected to attract more visitors.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin stated that the public mistakenly believes the city government plans to move the entire Shilin Night Market underground. In reality, out of the more than one thousand stalls located in the triangular area between Danan Road and Jihe Road, only the 94 food stalls from the former temporary market are scheduled for relocation underground. The Shilin Market, which is set to reopen in November, is located in the middle section of the district, so it is planned as a three-story underground and one-story above-ground structure.

Additionally, regarding concerns about stuffy air and fume emissions, the Taipei City Government responded that the basement level will be equipped with a central air conditioning system, featuring 128 air vents, as well as electrostatic oil removers. Each stall will also have its own range hood to address fume emission issues.