Traditional Groceries Market - SanFengJhong Street

Situated on JianGuo 3rd Road, between ZhiLi and JhongHua Roads.
Take bus number 88, 93, 245, 205 or 218 and disembark at JianGuo 3rd Road, SanFengJhong Street.

Whether on weekends or during special festivals, especially Chinese New Year, this place is always packed full of people shopping for traditional groceries. If you are looking for some real Chinese New Year atmosphere, this is the place to be. The history of SanFengJhong Street can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty. It became an important marketplace because of its proximity to SanFeng Shrine and the harbour. It was revived in 1959, with more and more people gathering to sell their wares from all over the country, mostly because land was cheap.

SanFengJhong Street sells mainly traditional Chinese groceries from all over Taiwan; including agricultural and fisheries products, fruits and vegetables, dried goods, grains, Chinese herbal medicines, nuts and sweets, as well as gift packages and much more. There are imported goods from Japan, Korea and China. You can have taste tests and then bargain to your heart's content (if you buy enough, that is). A lot of vegetarian foods and imported herbal and floral teas can also be found here. The newly refurbished market has a rain canopy and granite walkways to enhance your shopping experience. Alternatively, take a walk to the nearby SanMin Street market for some traditional snacks or a cup of herbal tea at the herbal street next to SanFeng Shrine.

DaLian Shoe Street

How to get there:
Take bus no. 92 or 73 and disembark at the corner of JiouRu 2nd Road and DaLian Street.

For many Kaohsiung residents, shoe shopping at DaLian Street is an enjoyable occasion. Especially during childhood, when parents bring their kids to buy shoes for the New Year. In the early days, DaLian Street only had a few odd shoe factories and home businesses. The shoemakers insisted on quality and gained popularity amongst the neighbors, gradually opening more and more factories and retail outlets. With the railway station nearby, this area enjoys a lot of foot traffic and is very convenient. There were up to 60 shoe stores in the area at its peak. This famous shoe street has a choice of men and women's shoes, imported brands, children's shoes, casual shoes, extra-large sizes, as well as professional dance shoes and much more. If you can't find anything you like, try the custom-made shoe stores. With over 40 years of history, DaLian Street may not be what it used to be, but under careful redirection, this shoe street is rebuilding its reputation as a comfortable shopping area with great bargains. So next time you are looking for new shoes, don't forget to have a look here. You can also stroll down to ReHe Street for a snack attack; just check out the queues outside the stores if you want to know which one has the best food to offer.

AnNing Clothing Street

Take bus no. 33, disembark at JiouRu 2nd Road behind the Railway Station.
Take bus no. 73 or 92 and disembark at the corner of DaLian Street and JiouRu 2nd Road.

Situated behind the railway station, AnNing Street is over 1000meters long. It starts from ChongQing Street in the east and ends at HanKou Street in the west - with over 300 retail and wholesale clothing stores along the way. The shops sell mainly young fashionable women's clothing, accessories, children's clothing, trendy T-shirts, in-season bags, as well as all the latest fashion goods from Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. This area is also known as the WuFenPu of the south. As most shops specialize in wholesale, very few items are on display. Most goods are placed in big plastic bags. When you are making your selection, be sure to pick from the clothes that are displayed. Don't rummage through the bags or piles of clothing unless you want to be at the receiving end of the wrath of busy, grumpy sales ladies (as per this writer's personal experience). Although this is a wholesale district, the prices are not always guaranteed to be wholesale prices. Make sure to compare and try to bargain when appropriate. That way you won't feel ripped off if you find something you bought cheaper elsewhere. Many moms shop here for their kids. If you want to know whether the trend is bohemian, Korean, Victorian or ethnic, challenge your feet and take a walk down AnNing Street.

SingJhong Road - Flower Street

Take bus no. 12, 36, 71, 202, Airport Express and disembark at the corner of SingJhong 2nd Road.

Walk past SingJhong Road and you will be greeted by floral fragrances, followed by a wonderful explosion of colours. What used to be a simple flower farm has gradually become an important flower market in the Kaohsiung/Pingtung area. With the help of the government and floral businesses, the area has been packaged and promoted as the premium flower market in Kaohsiung. During special occasions, SingJhong Road is always packed full of shoppers. Apart from fresh-cut flowers from all over the country, there are synthetic flowers, landscape designs, pot plants and even orchid specialists. Whether you are looking for a gift or just something to decorate your home and office, there is always someone here who can give you professional service and advice. Those who are interested in cultivating their green thumb will find the floral arrangement classes very attractive.

ShihChuan Road Jade Market

Take bus no. 24 and disembark at the corner of ShihChuan Road.
Take bus no. 28 and disembark at the North Station.

With more than 15 years of history, ShihChuan Road Jade Market is over 1000-pings large, making it the biggest of its kind in the country. Situated near ShihChuan and ZihLi Roads, this market is open every Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. The Thursday market is usually the biggest (with the largest number of jade vendors) as most big wholesalers come here from all over Taiwan to supply jewelry stores and retailers of the south. Most retail shoppers and visitors tend to come on Thursdays and Sundays. There are loads of antiques, silver jewelry, crystals and much more. It really is a great place for treasure hunting. If you enjoy DIY projects, there are also lots of materials here to choose from. If that's not your cup of tea, try the ready-made hand-crafted jewelry and trinkets. The jade market is situated near the evening market, so you can do your shopping after browsing through the jade.