If
you don't like crowds, its best to spend a Taipei weekend in bed
with a book - waves of humanity can be found everywhere else.
But if you love to peoplewatch, one of the best places is the
Weekend Market, which draws in everyone - the trendy and the traditional,
socialites and bumpkins. At the east end of the Ta-an Forest Park,
you'll encounter the Chienkuo overhead expressway, and underneath
it, a series of ordinary parking lots. But on Saturdays and Sundays,
this space transforms itself into an extravaganza of colors and
people.
Besides
the crowds, there's more than enough stuff to feast your eyes
on too. South of Hsinyi Road is the books and paintings area.
Directly on Hsinyi Road is the puppy area, where you can adopt
a free stray pet (kittens are often available too). Between Hsinyi
and Jenai roads is the flower market, where you'll find absolutely
everything imaginable for your garden - including full-grown trees.
North of Jenai Road is the jade market, where hundreds of collectors
sell and swap their jade and jewelry. Because of the competition,
and the reputation of fairness that the market enjoys, this is
a great place for the uninitiated to go for their first purchase.
But even if you're not in a buying mood, the sight of thousands
of exquisite Chinese jade carvings lined up one after the other
is something that shouldn't be missed.
If
you don't like crowds, its best to spend a Taipei weekend in bed
with a book - waves of humanity can be found everywhere else.
But if you love to peoplewatch, one of the best places is the
Weekend Market, which draws in everyone - the trendy and the traditional,
socialites and bumpkins. At the east end of the Ta-an Forest Park,
you'll encounter the Chienkuo overhead expressway, and underneath
it, a series of ordinary parking lots. But on Saturdays and Sundays,
this space transforms itself into an extravaganza of colors and
people.
Besides
the crowds, there's more than enough stuff to feast your eyes
on too. South of Hsinyi Road is the books and paintings area.
Directly on Hsinyi Road is the puppy area, where you can adopt
a free stray pet (kittens are often available too). Between Hsinyi
and Jenai roads is the flower market, where you'll find absolutely
everything imaginable for your garden - including full-grown trees.