Zhongshan | taipei timeout
What’sthedealwithZhongshan?TheswirloflanescaughtinthecrosshatchofmainstreetsringingZhongshanMRTisTaipei[1]’smostfascinatingdistrict.It’sawonderfulmish-mashofhandsomebrickbuildings,mammothshoppingmallsandsecretalleywaysstuffedwithcafés,vintageclothingstores,cornertemplesandfunkyrestaurants.Ononesideoftheroad,youhaveluxurybrandedshopsandfivestarhotels,whileontheotherstreethawkerspeddleeggcakesandcheapsummerdresses.Youcanswitchtempojustbyturningacorner:thebacklanesarealwaysgreenandmellow,flushw...
What’s the deal with Zhongshan?
The swirl of lanes caught in the crosshatch of main streets ringing Zhongshan MRT is Taipei[1]’s most fascinating district. It’s a wonderful mish-mash of handsome brick buildings, mammoth shopping malls and secret alleyways stuffed with cafés, vintage clothing stores, corner temples and funky restaurants. On one side of the road, you have luxury branded shops and five star hotels, while on the other street hawkers peddle egg cakes and cheap summer dresses. You can switch tempo just by turning a corner: the back lanes are always green and mellow, flush with flowers in window boxes, while the high streets throng with shoppers.
Zhongshan is also half-Japanese, for this is where you’ll find the highest concentration and the absolute tastiest Japanese food, whisky and cocktail bars in Taipei, and cutting-edge fashion in a string of shopping complexes. There’s history too in a smattering of heritage structures preserved and reworked into a dan...