Ximending

The name Ximending dates from the Japanese era. At that time most residents lived inside the Taipei city walls, and this area outside the West Gate was their main place for leisure. In its early days cinemas were the main business here, followed by department stores and other entertainment venues. After the Zhonghua Market was completed in 1961, Ximending was for a time the largest commercial and entertainment centre in Taiwan. Landmarks and shopping centres include the rainbow street art, the Red House, the Wannian Commercial Building, a marker of its era, and the American-style Ximending American Street. There is also a wide range of food, including Hong Kong-style, Taiwanese and American dishes, drinks and ice desserts, cafés and bars. After a quiet period in the 1990s, Ximending was transformed, helped by the MRT and government planning, into Taipei's first landmark pedestrian zone. Shops sell food, clothing, everyday goods, entertainment and all kinds of fashion and novelty items. It is a centre of youth culture and street performance, and a place where young people dress up for dates. American Street, beside Wuchang Street, has American-style hip-hop clothing, streetwear and graffiti. Ximending has witnessed history and also leads new pop culture: older people come to reminisce, while fashionably dressed young people show off their style, so two very different ways of life meet here.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.