At the heart of Hsinchu’s shopping scene are its many charming night markets. Stalls sell almost anything you can possibly want, be it a steaming bowl of meatball soup and noodles, silver bracelets or plants and flowers. Vendors readily engage tourists in loud banter in their bid to attract more customers, and most are friendly enough to offer discounts without being too pushy.
Although they can’t be compared to Taipei’s sprawling megaplexes, shopping malls in Hsinchu can hold their own very well. Brand name items are sold here and are as authentic as they come.
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Far Eastern SOGO Hsinchu Station Store
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The SOGO Department Store chain is from Japan, but is thriving in Hsinchu. There are 2 branches in the city. Besides the brand name stores here, visitors flock to the mall for the large cineplexes, where their movie-going experience is enhanced by plush seats and all-encompassing snack stands.
Location: No. 2, Minzu Road, East District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan 300
Open: Daily from 11 am to 9.30 pm (Fridays and Saturdays until 10 pm)
Phone: +886 (0)3 522 7000
Mapphoto by Shxpeng (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified
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FE21 Mega Far Eastern Department Store
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One of the biggest department stores in Hsinchu is the FE21 Mega Far East Department Store. All sorts of brand-name fashion goods are available here, so you’ll see familiar names like Nike and Coach. Foodies will also love trawling the food court for a cornucopia of delicious Taiwanese and western fare, while kids will love the indoor playground as well as the toy store.
Location: No. 323, Xida Road, East District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan 300
Open: Daily from 11 am to 10 pm
Phone: +886 (0)3 523 3121
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Hsinchu Weekend Flower Market
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The Hsinchu Weekend Flower Market is a vibrant place, full of colours and buzzing activity as loud vendors peddle their wares. They’re known to gamely engage tourists in price negotiations but are not too forceful as to scare them away. Fruits, flowers, snacks and even pet kittens are some of the things you will find here. Tip: It’s best to come earlier in the morning.
Location: Bo'ai Street, East District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan 300
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm
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