Raohe Street Tourist Night Market
Raohe Street Night Market is located in Songshan District, Taipei City, stretching about 600 meters between Section 4 of Bade Road and Fuyuan Street. It is one of the most representative tourist-oriented night markets in the city. Situated near Songshan Station, the area was historically known as Xikou. Thanks to the deep waters of the Keelung River, Xikou once served as an important water and land transport hub and was even called “Little Suzhou.” At that time, goods from Keelung and Yilan were delivered here and then redistributed to Taipei City, fueling commercial prosperity. Boats traveled back and forth, merchants gathered in large numbers, and the district flourished as a bustling commercial center.
Over time, however, siltation caused the Keelung River’s water level to drop, weakening its role as a port. The expansion of Bade Road further diminished Raohe Street’s transportation and commercial advantages, leading to a significant decline in vitality. In 1987, to improve the economic conditions of local vendors, the government relocated the licensed stalls originally operating beneath the Nan-Songshan Bridge and consolidated them into Raohe Street, officially planning a 500-meter-long tourist night market. This became Taipei’s second government-recognized tourist night market after the Shilin Night Market.
Today, Raohe Street Night Market is marked by ornate archways at both ends, with the main entrances located near Songshan Station and at Fuyuan Street. The market is brightly lit and full of energy. Stalls and shops line both sides of the street, selling a wide variety of goods. Visitors can enjoy local delicacies such as oyster vermicelli, beef offal noodles, pepper buns, shaved ice, and more. In addition, the market offers clothing, shoes, bags, daily necessities, souvenirs, and traditional handicrafts, making it a shopping paradise. Traditional folk performances are also held within the night market, allowing visitors not only to shop and dine but also to experience the vibrancy and charm of Taiwanese folk culture.
