MichAdel | Taipei Shin Lin Night Market

The night market encompasses two distinct sections sharing a symbiotic relationship: a section formerly housed in the old Shilin Market building, containing mostly food vendors and small eateries; and the surrounding businesses and shops selling other nonfood items. The food court holds 539 stalls, and the second floor serves as a parking lot for 400 cars.[1]

In addition to the food court, side streets and alleys are lined with storefronts and roadside stands. Movie theaters, video arcades, and karaoke stores are also prevalent in the area. Like most night markets in Taiwan, the local businesses and vendors begin opening around 4 PM. As students begin returning home from school, crowds reach their peak between 8 and 11 PM. Businesses continue operating well past midnight and close around 1 or 2 AM.

Tourist traffic has increased in recent years due to the opening of the Taipei Metro system. The night market is closest to Jiantan Station on the Tamsui Line (Red Line) as it's known by locals. From the platform of Jiantan Station, riders can see the enclosed food court located across the street from the MRT station.(via wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shilin_Night_Market)