Ximending (西門町) is Taipei at its youngest and loudest: a grid of car-free shopping streets packed with sneaker shops, street food, cinemas, tattoo parlors and teenagers, lit up late into the night. It is not where you come for history or quiet. It is where you come to people-watch, eat on the move and feel the city's energy, and it sits one MRT stop from the old temples of Wanhua, so the two pair perfectly.
- MRT Ximen Station (Blue Line, BL11 / Green Line, G12)
- Best time late afternoon into the evening, when the streets fill up
- How long two or three hours, longer if you shop
Getting there
Take the Blue Line or the Green Line to Ximen Station (BL11 / G12). Ximen is a transfer station, so it is easy from almost anywhere: one stop from Taipei Main Station on the Blue Line, and one stop from Longshan Temple Station (BL10) in the other direction. The pedestrian streets start right outside the station.
What to see
Ximending pedestrian area. The heart of the neighborhood is a few blocks of streets closed to cars, right outside Ximen Station. There is no single sight here: the point is to wander, snack and shop. Weekends and evenings are the busiest, with street performers and crowds shoulder to shoulder.
The Red House (西門紅樓). The red-brick octagon at the edge of Ximending opened on 20 December 1908 as a market for the Japanese residents of the area, and it is now a cultural venue run for the city, with a creative market, shops, a teahouse and a small theater.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 21:30, to 22:00 on Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays.
- Address: No. 10, Chengdu Road, Wanhua District.
- MRT: Ximen Station (Blue Line, BL11), a short walk.
Rainbow Six crossing. The rainbow-painted pedestrian crossing outside Exit 6 of Ximen Station was laid in 2019 to mark same-sex marriage becoming legal in Taiwan, and it was renewed in 2025. It is one of the most photographed spots in the city, so expect a small queue for pictures.
Longshan Temple and Bopiliao, one stop away. Ximending is the modern half of the old Wanhua district. For the historic half, ride one stop to Longshan Temple Station (BL10), or walk about 15 minutes, for Longshan Temple (龍山寺) and the old shophouses of Bopiliao. → Wanhua
Where to eat
Ximending is a grazing neighborhood: walk and snack. For a proper sit-down bowl, Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles (老山東牛肉家常麵店) is a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand pick. The guide describes a beef noodle shop with a loyal following since 1949, slow-cooked broth, hand-pulled noodles and fresh cold side dishes. It is in the basement food court of the Wannian Building at No. 70, Xining South Road (B1, shop 15), a few minutes from Ximen Station. Queues are normal at lunch. → Beef noodle soup
A short walking order
- Start at Ximen Station Exit 6 and the Rainbow Six crossing.
- Wander the pedestrian streets and snack as you go.
- Cross to the Red House for the market and a drink in the square.
- Duck into the Wannian Building for beef noodles.
- Finish by riding one stop to Longshan Temple, which is lovely lit up at night.
Good to know: the Red House is closed on Mondays, but the streets around it are busy every day. Ximending is a good base too: two MRT lines, lots of hotels, food at all hours. → Where to stay
→ All neighborhoods · Wanhua · Nightlife
Sources
Red House hours and address from The Red House. Its 1908 opening as a market from the Taipei Times, Taiwan in Time. The Rainbow Six crossing from a Focus Taiwan report (via OCAC News). Lao Shan Dong from the MICHELIN Guide: Lao Shan Dong Homemade Noodles (2026 Bib Gourmand list). Station codes from the Taipei Metro station list. Checked October 2026.