The smell of exotic putrid delicacies. Unimaginable gridlock. Neon flashing before my eyes. I’m in my element.
The Shilin Night Market located in Taipei, Taiwan is one of the most formidable markets I’ve ever visited in Asia. Encompassing two distinct sections it is home to over 500 plus food stalls. Aside from small eateries one can witness movie theatres, karaoke bars, video arcades and a host of other shops lined up along the side streets and alleys. Between 8 and 11 PM the market is saturated with a surplus of bodies all inching for space that seemingly doesn’t exist. Many businesses continue operating well past midnight.
I was simply mesmerized by sheer size of the market and the number of human bodies barraging through its crowded alleyways. The following photo essay is an attempt to replicate what it is like to be part of the hoard that gathers there each and every night:
This shot clearly depicts the sea of people that forms the pulse of the Shilin Night Market.
A close-up shot of people sampling some local delicacies.
A candid shot of a Taiwanese lady with a distinct face.
A young Taiwanese vendor dressed in funky attire tries to peddle shoes on the curb.
Various local delicacies (including meat and tofu) are spread out over a grill.
A vendor brushes the stinky tofu (臭豆腐) that lays skewered on the grill.
A shot of the crowd passing through the Shilin Night Market.
A candid shot of a Taiwanese lady.
A Taiwanese lady holding her dog smiles in this photo.
An illuminated pumpkin is on display at food stall.
*As a travel photography tip, one should consider using a fast lens for night photography on the street. A lens I personally recommend is the 50mm 1.8. The wide aperture allows one to take shots that are sharp when shot wide open with an ISO of either 800 or 1600.
A Taiwanese vendor arranges hot cakes that are sold to the crowds passing by.
A child holds onto her mothers back as she is being carried around the market.
A couple embraces with a hug as they wander the along the crowded Shilin Night Market.
A trendy young couple embraces in a vacant section of the market.
A homeless Taiwanese man extends his arm out for donations in a dimly lit section just outside the market.
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
What incredible shots!!! That tofu looks super delish!
Thanks Andi, it certainly tastes better than it smells
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Exceptional photos! And I MUST add, let’s not forget that Taiwan is it’s own country in its own right!
(I’m the white American woman who says so.)
Barbara recently posted..The Invention of the Fortune Cookie
It really is! Having travelled around a lot of Asia I wasn’t sure what to expect in Taiwan but I was pleasantly surprised.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
That’s a busy market. Luckily it has the ever present stuff on a stick to keep you fed
Laurence recently posted..Travel blogging tips from the experts: Leave your daily hell
HAhaha, yeah I practically lived off of street food while I was in Taiwan.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Love the close up of the brushed tofu.
Andrew recently posted..A Day in Colmar
Thanks Andrew, it was a tough shot considering how ‘stinky’ it was
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Wow this looks SO intense! I bet the food is delicious!
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Australia’s Top End: Swim with killer crocs!
The food definitely was delicious!
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Those delicacies looks so yummy! If I were at that night market, I will make sure that I will sample each item.
Edwin recently posted..cheap las vegas travel deals
Hey Edwin, that’s more or less what I tried to do but I could hardly even get close given how many different things there were to choose from
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Beautiful shots, I would so taste everything
Angela recently posted..In Sardinia, hitting the wine trail between myth and tradition
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Wow man, that’s just packed! Looks like a fantastic place to walk around and sample street food!
Mark Wiens recently posted..Gwangjang Market – An Overwhelming Bounty of Ambrosial Korean Food!
Oh you would love it there Mark! One of the best markets in Asia for street food IMO – great for people watching as well
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Almost as crazy as the night market in Keelung. Almost.
Wow, I’m going to have to go to the one in Keelung
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Wow! Are there any place to move? Really excellent photos of shilin night market and sample of street food. Thanks for sharing.
Jackson Cory recently posted..Celebrities Taped
Thanks Jackson,
There wasn’t a lot of space to move. Actually along some of the back alleys there was a little more room but it was more or less packed. I suppose to avoid the crowds it’s best to go during the weekdays.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
I love markets like this!
Raymond @ Man On The Lam recently posted..The Holy Grail of Hokey: Inside The Holy Land Experience (Part Two)
Yeah, I still find them fascinating even though I’ve been to many of them at this point.
Nomadic Samuel recently posted..Shilin Night Market | Taipei, Taiwan | Photo Essay
Can’t wait to browse through the markets in Asia! Great shots!
Vicky recently posted..Will Travel Force Me to Face my Fear of Technology?
I really enjoy going to this night market..Very exciting and enjoy buying because its too cheap..Thanks for sharing some photo I miss this place..
Crystal recently posted..Hot Tub Cleaning Chemicals
I’ve actually been to that market, but what great pictures you’ve taken! It is a bit overwhelming (and the tofu does stink) but it’s such a cool must-do Taiwan experience.
Sarah recently posted..Taiwan Engrish
You definitely captured the essence of our Shilin Night Market chaos. The first thing I learned after a few short weeks living in Taipei, avoid Shilin on the weekends as it was easily as bad if not worse than your photos (if it’s even possible to fit that many more people in lol). There are local night markets I like much more, but Shilin does sorta define the Taiwanese street food experience. It’s always on the list when friends come visit from out of town. And, I never thought I’d get used to the wretched smell of stinky tofu, but after three years, it’s strangely comforting. However, I will be the first to attest, all stinky tofu is not alike, and I’ve had some that left the group gagging the taste was so pungent.
Erin recently posted..Festival Dei Birrai Eretici – Craft Beer Festival in Bologna, Italy
Wow this is a great photo essay. The place looks so crowded! I think I would get claustrophobic!!
Jade Johnston – OurOyster.com recently posted..Sleeping With @Roomorama In Melbourne
Wonderful night shots! So vibrant and full of energy.
Arti recently posted..Where to Stay in Tokyo: Hotel Villa Fontaine Roppongi
Thank you Arti! It certainly is one of the more vibrant markets I’ve ever visited
Great food & people photos. I hope you got some tasty food! The market has way too many people for me to feel comfortable.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: Iberian Lynx
Thanks Mary! I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen so many people in one place before
Love this post Sam! You captured the market brilliantly.
Thanks Rhonda! It’s one of the most impressive markets I’ve ever seen anywhere in Asia.
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