{"id":1259,"date":"2020-04-07T23:39:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T23:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saviowong.com\/travel\/?page_id=1259"},"modified":"2024-02-12T04:58:47","modified_gmt":"2024-02-12T04:58:47","slug":"taipei-2020","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saviowong.com\/travel\/taipei-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Taipei 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ximen (\u897f\u9580) Night Market<\/span><\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a city I have visited several times. It boasts numerous night markets, which are always a delight to explore. The Ximen (West Gate) Night Market is just a short walk from Taipei Main Station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ximen Night Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Hollywood styled Chinese dieties<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Animated advertizement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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fruits shop at the market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Live radio show at the market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Oysters omelet, one of my favourites<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Street scape near the Ximen Market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Out of stock: masks and rubbing alcohol <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Provincial City God Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Provincial City God Temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Entrance to a night market<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Jiufen (\u4e5d\u4efd)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jiufen, literally meaning ‘nine portions,’ has an interesting historical origin. According to Wikipedia, during the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the isolated village was home to nine families. Consequently, when shipments arrived from town, the village would request ‘nine portions.’ Over time, this hillside town gained popularity as a tourist destination, particularly after the release of the Taiwanese movie A City of Sadness<\/em>, which was set in Jiufen. The film tackled the 228 tragedy, a once-taboo subject in Taiwan that only began to be openly discussed in the late 1980s.
The 228 tragedy refers to an anti-government uprising by the native Taiwanese against the Nationalist Chinese government who were fighting a civil war against the Communists on the mainland. On February 28, 1947, thousands of civilians, including some unarmed negotiators, were massacred by the army sent to the island by the Nationalist government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A short train ride from Taipei to Ruifang<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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then a bus ride up to Jinfen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Freedom of religion is well respected in Taiwan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Traditional Taiwanese snacks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Advertizements<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Xiao-long-bao (steamed pork dumbling)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Taiwanese snacks shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fancy coffeee shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jiufen is built on a hillside<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n