In Taiwan, night markets are an important part of local life that can be found on most days of the week along busy side streets and in empty parking lots around temples and near other convenient gathering spaces. They attract large crowds of local residents, leisure tourists, and other pleasure seekers, who are drawn to the wide spectrum of everyday sensory delights.
Vendors set up stalls in the late afternoons and early evenings displaying an endless variety of garments, appliances, accessories, games, and other merchandise. Although the products are inexpensive and the work is unpredictable, the business still provides a viable means of earning a livelihood for people, who may be struggling at the margins of society.
Nested within the market are also numerous stands selling different light meals and snacks, many of which are cooked – and often consumed – on the spot. These regional dishes and local specialties include oyster omelets, fried chicken, and guabao (steamed buns stuffed with pork belly and pickles). Such beloved foods are hailed as distinctively Taiwanese, and yet there are infinite variations of flavor and taste for the visitor always looking to try something new.