We have visited 2 of the famous night markets in Hualien which are ZhiQiang night market (自强夜市) and NanBin night market (南濱夜市). ZhiQiang is smaller and more crowded comparing NanBin and NanBin is the largest night market in Hualien thus far. Each has its own unique characteristic. ZhiQiang emphasizes more on snacks food or called xiaochi (小吃）in Mandarin while NanBin emphasizes more on folklore games or carnival games and seafood.
Here is the entrance to ZhiQiang not specific and there are about 60 vendors stand out from the crowd selling different kinda things mainly foods though it is fairly small.
The food which attracted me most is Dongshan Duck’s Head (东山鸭头). It included the whole duck braised products ranging from duck’s carcass, duck’s tongue, duck’s feet, duck’s intestine and duck’s neck but I don't dare to taste them.
Variety of skewers.
The highly recommended food in ZhiQiang, i.e. coffin sandwich (棺材板). It has been famous all through the TV shows in Taiwan.
Made-up of coffin-like-thick-fried-toast with gravy ingredients containment. Both thumbs up once tasted and I can still remember the well-structured bite touched on my palate, slurps!!
Tako or called golden squid (黄金乌贼) is well known in TaiChung, FengJia night market but we couldn't find it during our visit as the market is too crowded and complicated. Very fortunately we managed to discover its branches over here in ZhiQiang. :)) It has been well introduced in TV shows hosted by Jacky Wu and 小S.
Big grilled squid is stuffed with golden sticky rice and the outer skin is further flavored with either Wasabi, honey, Japanese style curry sauce, Thai sauce, Thousand Island or mixed-up. I personally like squid so much and this is most creative squid snacks I ever tried.
Shanghai fried steamed bun or fried xiaolongbao (小笼包). They were beautified with black sesame but the taste is just so~so~.
Another legendary stall is this fruit juices stall called 妙不可言果汁店 literally means 'Too Wonderful for Words Juice Stall'. The vendor is selling more than hundred types of fruit juices and inventively mixing various fruits or even vegetables together.
The last but not least which I must strongly highlight is this springy rolls. The rolls are totally different from what u have tasted in Malaysia. It is a non-fried style with saturated-wrapped ingredients generally flavored with stir-fried and topped with a finely ground peanut powder. The bite is springy, bulky and luscious.
The more common snacks which can be found in most of the night market in Taiwan. Oyster is a local product of Taiwan and they have diversified its eating style. Not only oyster omelet is seen but many more like porridge and noodles too. The oyster is bigger, juicier and cheaper!!!
Now I will take u to walk around NanBin night market. Here is the entrance. The market is operated on big road and more chaotic in contrast with ZhiQiang.
First thing done was recalled back our childhood memory, i.e. playing fire crackers. Fire crackers are selling cheap and the game is legally available in Taiwan.
The next is shooting gallery. I was the marksman among them all to shoot down all the balloons and win a soft dice toy v(^.^)V.
The funniest and hardest game ever, marble jackpot. No one strike the game but was given a sweet as consolation.
This game is unknown to me but those cartoons look cute and cool. I love Spongy-Bob and Doraemon so much. Pikachu is also one of my favorite until today!
Baseball time - indoor.
End of our childhood memory.
Back to our hostel at Chihsingtan Beach in Hualien county. The hostel is named Chihsintan (七星潭) as well. The owner is our driver's friend. P/S: This building is the brand new one and surprisingly we are the 1st guest!
Nite view from our room. We can hear the echo of surf as the hostel is just few km from the beach. Will show u our hostel outlook in the morning. Good nite :))
