Snake Alley, Night market in Wanhua District, Taiwan
Snake Alley, also called Huaxi Street Night Market, is a night market in an older district of Taipei with crowded food stalls and small shops. It stretches across multiple blocks and offers not only meals but also traditional medicine shops and goods from local vendors.
The area started in the 1950s from a red-light district before transforming into a market known for special foods and traditions. It later became famous for serving dishes made from snakes, a signature feature that lasted for many decades.
The name refers to the snakes that were once sold here, though that trade has faded into memory. Today the alley draws locals and visitors who gather at crowded food stalls to share meals and watch cooks work over steaming pots and grills.
The market comes alive in the evening and stays open late into the night when most visitors arrive. It is located near the metro system and is easily walkable, especially if you follow the pedestrian areas and narrow passages.
The last snake restaurant closed in 2018, marking the end of a long tradition that defined the place for generations. Yet visitors can still hear stories about this earlier period from older vendors and see faded photographs displayed in the market.
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