West Market, Historic marketplace in Qiancao Village, Taiwan
West Market is an L-shaped concrete building with multiple floors housing fabric shops and food stalls throughout its layout. It retains its original architectural character from 1912 and sits at the intersection of Ximen Road, Zhongzheng Road, Zhengxing Street, and Guohua Street.
The building rose after a typhoon destroyed its wooden predecessor structure. It became southern Taiwan's largest public trading center during the period of Japanese rule.
Vendors and shoppers continue daily routines that have shaped the area for generations, buying fabrics, food, and local goods in spaces designed for community trade. The market remains a working place where buying and selling happen much as they did over a century ago.
The market operates around the clock every day and is easy to reach from multiple entrances. Arriving early gives you better access to goods and helps you navigate the crowded aisles during peak hours.
The second floor once held an upscale Western restaurant, and vintage signs displaying six-digit phone numbers still hang on the walls today. These remnants tell the story of when the market building served purposes beyond simple buying and selling.
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