Liuhe Night Market (aka Liuhe Tourist Night Market) is the oldest and perhaps most popular night market in Kaohsiung. It is located right next to the Formosa Boulevard MRT station, making it a convenient place for tourists to visit. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for, especially fried chicken, squid, shrimp, and crab, as well as dried pork. Also Liuhe is very pedestrian friendly and you do not have to fight crowds here.
Background: Liuhe Night Market has about 200 set stalls, and stretches along both ends (and center) of Liuhe Road. It dates back to 1940, where there was an empty lot in front of the Gaoyi Hospital on Liuhe Road. At that time it was known as Dagangpu Night Market. In 1987, the area was made into the earliest pedestrian night market area in southern Taiwan by the Kaohsiung City government. In 2010, according to an online poll, the night market was voted the most eco-friendly, pedestrian friendly, and best overall night market in Taiwan. From 2010 to 2016, the night market serviced many Mainland tourists, so many of the old stalls moved out and were replaced in more tourist oriented stalls with higher prices. However after Mainland tourists were barred from coming to Taiwan in 2016, the night market began to cater more to locals and prices have gone down. The night market is one of the largest in Kaohsiung, and certainly could be the winner of most pedestrian friendly night market in Taiwan. Hours: 5 PM to 2 AM every day. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. There is paid car parking nearby and free scooter parking near the night market. Looking for scooter rental in Kaohsiung? You can check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can check also out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can search Qeeq here, KKday here, or Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung Red or Orange Line MRT to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. The night market is about a three minute walk from the station. You can book tickets to travel to Kaohsiung via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Kaohsiung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can also book a Kaohsiung Travel pass here. Accommodation We have stayed at and recommend Chao She Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here) IHI Sanduo Travel Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), and Mingli Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Klook here, or Hotels.com here) which are three inexpensive and high quality choices in downtown Kaohsiung. I also have stayed at and recommend Kaohsiung Meinong Rabbit Paul Homestay B&B (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here), a quiet B&B in rural Meinong, and Chengching Lakeside Resort (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com or Trip.com here)and the Grand Hotel Kaohsiung (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here) which both offer breakfast buffet and free entrance into Chenqing Lake Park. I have also stayed at the 85 sky tower which offers great views of the city; you can search for rooms in the 85 sky tower on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here). Find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Kaohsiung such as Pier 2, Meinong Hakka Museum, Hamasen Railway Museum, Suzuka Circuit Park, i-Ride Kaohsiung Visual 5D Flying Theater, National Science and Technology Museum , Senya Village Restaruant, Austin Land, Ski School Indoor Ski Slope, and many more on Klook here or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: I have been to Liuhe Night Market Twice. I never went there during the three years I lived in Kaohsiung because I heard that it was a Mainland Chinese tourist night market and the vendors will rip you off. However after moving to Taipei and coming back, many times I have stayed at hotels near the night market (some of the cheapest hotels in the city are here), and I have found that the night market now with no Mainland Chinese tourists is pretty nice, prices are okay, and there are mostly locals here. There are also a lot of South East Asian foreigners that come here and also have stalls in the night market.
If you are coming via public transportation, be sure to take the MRT Formosa Boulevard Station and take a photo of the amazing dome of light. See our full blog about it here.
On the other hand, you can come to the night market from the opposite side from Zhongshan Road or Zili Road.
This is the view from Zhongshan Road. The night market takes an entire city road for two whole blocks. The road is blocked off every day for foot traffic at about 5 PM.
There are usually lots of people here but it is not too crowded because there is such a wide road here, making this night market one of the most pedestrian friendly night markets in Taiwan.
A major delicacy here is dried pork, or pork jerky. There are a few stores that sell them in packages here which are considered a decent gift in Taiwan.
I also noticed quite a few southeast Asian stalls here, such as Thai Banana Pancake. My original trip to Thailand had been cancelled last year due to COVID-19, so of course I had to get one.
And it was amazing.
Also, roasted Thai shrimp for sale.
And of course Dongshan Duck Head, a Taiwanese staple.
Little sausage wrapped in a big sausage.
Some decent pepper buns.
In the middle of the night market there are two crossings at intersections. But it is pretty safe here.
Beef Noodles, another Taiwanese staple.
Tables being stacked in the middle of the night market for sit down eating.
Red Bean soup.
Souvenirs.
Fried crap meat and other snacks.
Taiwan themed T-shirts.
Top view of the night market.
Bottom view of the night market.
View of the night market on a more empty week day.
Soup and noodle stand.
Mocha and fried vegetables.
Claw machine store.
People sitting in the middle of the market.
Another view in the middle of the market.
Lanterns in front of braised goods stall.
Thai shrimp and fried chicken stalls.
Milk tea and onion beef rolls.
Sweet potato balls and fried chicken steak.
Dumpling and sweet sour soup.
Friend chicken stand.
Braised meat stand.
Another view of the night market.
Jisutong, a chain electronics store that can be found at many night markets in Taiwan.
Fried squid, shrimp, and crab.
Spanish Mackerel balls.
Overall Liuhe is a worthwhile visit, and it is one of the nicest night markets to stroll through. You do not have to fight crowds here and it is more laid back.
You can find more tours and activities in Kaohsiung such as wake boarding, water skiing, SUP paddle boarding, Pier 2, i-Ride Kaohsiung Visual 5D Flying Theater, Ski School Indoor Ski Slope, and more on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full travel guide to Kaohsiung here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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