Xi Men Ding | 西門町

Found in west Taipei, Xi Men Ding is a popular hotspot for both tourists and locals. The pedestrian streets were the first of its kind and are between Cheng Du Road and Wu Chang Street, the main streets. However, the true specialties and experience of Xi Men Ding lies in its alleyways. It is here you'll find the true side of Taiwan's youth culture, the places they hang out, the stores in which they work and shop in. They say that you haven’t been to Taipei if you haven’t been to Xi Men Ding (one of the many places you have to go to while in Taipei to count as having visited and being in Taipei…)

Xi Men Ding is close to Taipei Main Station, which is great for transportation to get here. You can take the buses, train, or THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) to the Taipei Main Station and then take a short MRT ride or a 10 minute walk to the Xi Men Ding area.

It is often very crowded so it is best to get used to crowds, and be able to navigate yourself at the same time without getting pushed or shoved around like me.  Being a hot spot in Taipei, a lot of Taiwanese celebrities can also be found around here and hold concerts/events at the Ximending Walking Street. 

Xi Men Ding is one of the most popular places for the youth culture of Taiwan to gather. This eight-branched intersection dates back to the Japanese occupation. It is home to the famous Red House Theater and Mazu Temple.

Mazu Temple

The Red House Theater 西門紅樓 was built in 1908. It used to be a public market until 1949 and was then converted into a theater. In the 1930s, the area became a center of Taiwan's film industry. Most cinemas in Taipei were founded there and now today there are over 20 cinemas that remain in the area, so you can catch a movie if you want while in Xi Men Ding).

Red House Theater

Because the area is populated by young people and it is an urban setting, eccentric stores, restaurants and people can be found here as well. The open-minded mentality at Xi Men Ding also attracts many same-sex couples to the area to hang out with one another without getting dirty looks.

Xi Men Ding is now a place bursting with shops selling fashion of all sorts of culture, fast food, shoes, sunglasses, scarves, Sanrio, Sony, and Western foods. It is commonly referred to as the "Harajuku of Taipei." It is here where you can get all the hottest new clothes and fashion trends, be it by observing the shoppers or shopping at the stores! They sell a wide range of clothing from Korean to Japanese to local Taiwan fashion.

I personally love shopping in here because the atmosphere is lively and exciting, very metropolitan city-like without cars everywhere like in other cities. It reminds me a lot of NYC's Time Square and 5th Avenue except with much more hub bub and things to do. There are lots to do and lots to eat! If you're a young person, I would definitely recommend going to Xi Men Ding. There are movies, fashion, KTV (karaoke), hairdressers, eccentric restaurants galore so that you'll never be bored in Xi Men Ding! You'll find lots of movie theaters on the Cinema street and street performers. Overall, it is a great place to people watch, catch a movie, meet young people, and just hang out.