Ximending 西門町, Taipei City

Where the cool kids of Taipei hang out

Ximending in May, 2010.

Ximending 西門町 (sometimes written as Hsimenting) is a shopping district and the biggest pedestrian area in Taipei City, famous for being a meeting point of young people. You have cinemas, shops, bars, karaoke, restaurants, clubs and street performances all around the area. It's been labeled as the Harjaku of Taipei, but I think you can't compare Tokyo and Taipei for various reasons. Don't expect to feel like you're in Japan, when you come to Ximending. Taiwan is different. Even though Ximending is large and crowded, it's really a safe area, even at night. Taiwanese generally don't get drunk and prance around like they do in Seoul, Korea. So you won't be harassed, unless you come across a weirdo. And these are found in all big cities around the world, Taipei included.

Read more about Ximending here>>

I have blogged about Ximending in general or some specific parts, such as restaurants and food stalls. Please check the links below and be sure to bookmark this post, because I will add new ones, when I visit and explore more of Ximending in the future.

This is the junction, where the West Gate or Ximen stood a little more than a century ago.

Party World building is famous for KTV or karaoke, read this blogger's experience.

Street artists gain a lot of attention in Ximending.

The Red house theater was built in 1908, it's one of the oldest buildings in the area.

Ximending at the Exit 6 of the Ximen MRT station.

Ximending is a place that attracts young and old...

...but young people are dominating.

[My TAIPEI page][TAIWAN][All photos by MKL, 2010]