Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple, MOCA Taipei and Shilin Night Market

Breakfast and Setting Off for Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple

We got up in the morning and went downstairs for breakfast. There were several breakfast shops below the hotel.

Everyone could choose whatever breakfast they liked.

After eating, we set off for Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple.

Here is the temple’s address:

First, here is a map of the Taipei Metro.

We needed to get off at Beimen.

Starting from Taipei Main Station, we first took the Bannan Line.

We travelled one stop to Ximen Station, then changed to the green Songshan Line.

Beimen was just one more stop away.

Follow the signs towards Exit Y27.

After walking through Taipei City Mall, Y27 is directly opposite.

There were many stalls, all selling figures.

Once you see Exit Y27, take the escalator up.

After going down, turn right and continue straight.

Walk through Tacheng Park.

Cross the road ahead and enter this street.

Continue straight and you will see Yongle Market.

Keep walking and Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple will be on your right.

The walk only takes ten minutes.

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Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple

Many people come here to pray to the Matchmaker God.

Here is the temple’s official guide explaining how to pray.

Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple

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Yongle Market and the Beimen Station Exhibition

After praying, we stopped by Yongle Market while walking back.

Inside were market stalls and tailor shops.

Most of the stalls, however, sold food.

When we returned to Beimen Station, there happened to be an exhibition about the station’s history.

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Taipei Main Station and K Underground Mall

After returning to Taipei Main Station, we met up with a friend living in Taiwan before picking up another friend.

We walked around K Underground Mall.

Back upstairs at Taipei Main Station, we happened to find more stalls.

Once our friend had joined us,

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Xiaolongbao Lunch

we all went for xiaolongbao together.

Restaurant location

We got off at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station.

We headed towards Nanmen Market.

Here is what we ate.

Their siu mai and shrimp dumplings were different from those in Hong Kong. They used xiaolongbao as the base, with extra ingredients added on top.

Whether they tasted good is a matter of personal preference.

I would still choose the Hong Kong versions, though—haha.

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Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei

After eating, we needed somewhere to go while waiting for dinner.

So we visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei.

We got off at Zhongshan Station.

We walked through Section R of the underground mall.

Take the lift at R5.

Walk straight ahead rather than turning back.

Admission costs TWD 100.

Here are some photos.

After viewing the entire exhibition, there was a video explaining the theme the artist wanted to express.

Luckily, we finally understood what the artist was trying to convey.

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Trying Bitter Herbal Tea

With some time to spare, we tried Taiwan’s version of twenty-four-flavour herbal tea: bitter tea.

We went to Nanjing Fuxing Station.

Take Exit 2.

We were almost there.

Here is the address for anyone who wants to take on the challenge.

Personally, I found twenty-four-flavour tea harder to drink. As you drink it, the bitterness of different herbs keeps emerging in layers.

Bitter tea, on the other hand, has only one bitter, astringent taste.

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Shilin Stir-Fry Dinner

In the evening, we went to Shilin District for a Taiwanese stir-fry dinner.

I had eaten at this restaurant with friends on my last visit. It had a wait this time, so we went to another one.

We ate at this restaurant instead.

We brought our own alcohol, and the corkage fee was only TWD 100.

The menu:

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Shilin Night Market

After dinner, we went to the famous Shilin Night Market.

I had originally assumed that Shilin Night Market was at Shilin Station.

Our friend living in Taiwan told us that we should get off at Jiantan Station, not Shilin Station, for Shilin Night Market.

Cross the road as soon as you leave Exit 1 and you will be at Shilin Night Market.

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Afterword

Then it was time to rest for tomorrow’s main event.