10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Taitung

Dulan Sugar Factory Cultural Park was formerly a local private sugar factory called "Xindong Sugar Factory", which was established during the Japanese occupation period and was obsolete for many years. With the support of the local government of Taitung, a group of artists transformed the factory into a new cultural landmark in Taitung. The park is now a vibrant artistic and cultural space, with shops selling a variety of locally made crafts as well as wood carving studios run by wood carving artists. You'll find many unique contemporary and high-quality artworks here. The hugely popular school bag used by Dulan Elementary School came from here. Your visit here will also help support the work of local artists.

Located in downtown Taitung, the Music Village and Slow Market in Tiehua Village are a magnet for local musicians and artists. Spend a while listening to the talented singer-songwriters, or shop for Taitung handicrafts in the market. This leisurely shopping destination is very popular with young people. The stalls of the ever-popular Slow Market are run by Taitung producers, artists and farmers. The Slow Market gets its name from the slow-paced atmosphere. Put on a pair of comfortable shoes and head here for a leisurely stroll. Take the time to chat with the stall owners and get to know the local people. You can also buy exquisite handmade soaps, clothing and painted artworks here, all of which reflect the local culture of Taitung.

Taitung's rapid development as a tourism destination brought a large influx of visitors to the city. The desire for a permanent night market, where tourists could enjoy a browse and a stroll after dinner, led to the establishment of Taitung Tourist Night Market. Taitung Tourist Night Market is located on Zhengqi Road, Taitung City. During the day, Zhengqi Road becomes "fruit street", where you can buy all kinds of fresh fruit and local farm produce. In the evenings from Thursday to Saturday, stalls adorned with colourful signs and banners pop up everywhere, attracting big crowds and creating a bustling atmosphere. You can buy groceries, local specialties and tasty snacks here. This market is leisurely and relaxed, very much like the people of Taitung.

Every Sunday morning, the open space around Taitung University is host to Taitung University Organic Farmers' Market, where you can buy quality organic produce from local farmers. Organic farming is an eco-friendly farming technique for the 21st century. Taitung County now has about 921.7 acres (373 hectares) of organic farming land that can produce organic fruits and vegetables of the highest quality. Taitung University Organic Farmers' Market provides an outlet where Taitung's organic farmers can sell their produce as well as promote organic farming. You can buy kinds of certified organic produce, such as vegetables, rice, coffee, fruit and tea here. The market offers a home delivery service, so you can travel light and receive your organic farm produce when you return home.

On the second and fourth Saturday afternoon of every month, colourful stalls line Wuling Green Tunnel in Luye Township, Taitung. This is the 2626 Market, an initiative by a group of locals who wanted to showcase what Taitung has to offer. The name "2626" refers to the time at which the market is held ‒ 2pm to 6pm every other Saturday. The 2626 Market is a lively rural market. On both sides of the beautiful green tunnel you'll find various stalls selling farm produce, snacks and crafts, all of which are produced locally in Taitung. You can buy local farm produce as well as beautiful handicrafts, including handbags, hats, soaps, accessories and clothing, all with their own distinctive character because they are not mass-produced. The breathtaking scenery of the green tunnel makes 2626 Market an ideal place for a leisurely afternoon's shopping.

Located in Taitung City, Siwei Night Market is a Taitung-style market that's held every Sunday evening. Vendors here deliberately don't cater to tourists, so the market retains a strong local feel. Locals love to stroll around here, shop for everyday essentials or enjoy some snacks. At this market, you can try local delicacies and buy clothing, everyday essentials, speciality products or fresh fruit. You never know what you might find here! You'll find the prices here very affordable. If you find something you really like, why not test your haggling skills? Apart from saving money, it's also a great way to get to know the vendors and hear the latest news and stories from Taitung.

TTStyle, opened in 2017, is a four-storey shopping space built from shipping containers. Its unique wave-shaped roof makes it a tourist hotspot in Taitung. When the weather's fine, the brightly coloured blue roof glistens in the sunlight, transporting you to the shores of the ocean. Under the roof you'll find many container buildings selling artisanal products with a distinctive Taitung flair. As a popular shopping destination in Taitung, TTStyle is an indigenous cultural and creative space offering local farm produce, crafts and traditional costumes, as well as cafes, restaurants and bars.

Zhengqi Road in downtown Taitung is nicknamed "fruit street" by Taitung locals, who like to come here to buy fresh fruit. Competition between the fruit shops along this road is fierce, making the prices really favourable. Shop around to get the best bargain. Taitung is known for its abundant farm produce, in particular its juicy fruit. Come to Zhengqi Road to get the freshest, delicious-tasting custard apples, oranges, ponkans, bananas, loquats, and much more. The custard apple is a speciality of Taitung and has a distinctive appearance and rich aroma. You'll get the best custard apples in town on Zhengqi Road. You'll also find juice shops selling freshly squeezed juice here.