Hsinchu Chenghuang Temple Night Market is adjacent to the Hsinchu City God Temple. Its known foods include vermicelli, pork rice, and fish balls. Dig deeper to learn more about this market.
I’ve wandered around this night market and want to help you decide whether it’s worth going to. If you decide to try it, I’ll provide some food recommendations.
Table of Contents
Important Information for Travelers
| Is It Worth Going to? | Not really (unless you’re in the area) |
| Hours (As of 2024) | 10 AM – 10 PM daily |
| Number of Stalls | NA |
| Cost to Enter | Free |
| Opening Date | Between 1895 and 1945 |
| City Located | Hsinchu City |
| Address | No. 75, Zhongshan Rd., North District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan |
| Chinese Name | 城隍廟夜市 (Chén Huáng Miào yèshì) |
| Wheelchair-Accessible? | No |
| Free Wi-Fi | iTaiwan |
Traveler Tips & Considerations
- Allergies: Let vendors know about any food allergies. Translation cards with common allergens can be helpful.
- When to Go: The ideal time to visit a specific food stall depends on its individual hours, not just the night market’s.
- Food Stall Hours: Each food stall has its own hours, which might be different from the overall night market hours.
- Payments: Most food stalls only accept cash. A few may accept LINE Pay, but don’t count on other payment options.
Important information regarding food allergies.
Most Taiwanese people cannot read Simplified Chinese, DO NOT create chef cards with Simplified Chinese characters.
I recommend hiring a Taiwanese person to help you create an allergy card with Traditional Chinese characters. However, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) has interactive chef card templates. And even if you have this card, ensure you carry an Anapen or EpiPen (or something similar).
If you need such a pen in Taiwan, ask for a “艾筆腎上腺素注射筆” at a pharmacy. However, they will likely tell you that you need a prescription from a doctor. Find a doctor who will prescribe it to you. From there, you’ll need to pay NT$4,200 – 4,500 (2021 price).
Best Foods to Try
While you’re visiting Chenghuang Temple, I recommend visiting these places in the City God Night Market and trying dishes like:
| Food | Restaurant/Stand | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Fish Meatball Soup | Zheng’s Fishball (鄭家魚丸燕圓) | No. 75號, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City, 300 |
| Spring Rolls | Kuo’s Spring Roll (郭家潤餅) | No. 75號, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City, 300 |
| Cuttlefish Soup | Lian’s Cuttlefish Thick Soup (連家魷魚羹) | No. 75, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City, 300 |
| Oyster Omelet | Wang’s Oyster Omelet (王記蚵仔煎) | No. 75號, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City, 300 |
| Rice Vermicelli Noodles | Acheng Rice Vermicelli (阿城號米粉) | No. 75號, Zhongshan Rd, North District, Hsinchu City, 300 |
| Pork Belly On Top Of Rice | Liu’s Braised Pork Rice (劉家肉燥飯) | No. 92號, Yucheng Rd, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, 807 |
Most of the food here isn’t exceptional, but none of it’s bad. If you’re in Hsinchu and want to try street food, this place is the best area to visit.
I also highly recommend trying this bread. Although I can’t remember its name, it seems like pita bread.
Either way, I could eat an entire bag in an hour. I honestly can’t remember the address to save my life, either. If you see a stand with these bags or cooking these beauties, buy them.
While you’re browsing the market, try other foods that look good. Or buy souvenirs.
How To Get There
Hsinchu isn’t as convenient as Taipei, New Taipei, and other cities with metro systems. Thus, your primary ways of getting around are by bus, bike, or taxi.
If it’s raining, you’re limited to buses and taxis.
1. Bus: I recommend downloading the Bus+ app to make tracking buses easier.
Take one of the following bus numbers to the City God Temple stop:
- 11A
- 11
- 21
2. YouBike: There’s a YouBike station 4 minutes away (walking distance) from the night market.
3. Uber / taxi: The price for taking a taxi will vary by where you order it from.
- I honestly recommend downloading one of these apps to book a taxi:
- Find Taxi (English): Book a taxi ahead of time and know the driver’s ratings (like Uber…)
- 55688 (English): Same as Find Taxi, but with a reward point system.
What’s There to Do Nearby?
Here’s a list of things to do nearby the Hsinchu City God market:
| Attraction | Walking Time | To-Do |
|---|---|---|
| City God Temple | 3 Min. | Observe Beautiful Architecture & Pray |
| Hsinchu Central Market | 4 Min. | Traditional Market (Buy Stuff) |
| Hsinchu Dongmen Market | 5 Min. | Peruse The Old Street |
| Zhongzhengtai Night Market | 5 Min. | Try Different Foods |
| Hsinchu Guandi Temple | 4 Min. | More Architecture |
| Hsinchu Zoo | 9 Min. (Drive) | It’s A Zoo |
| Hsinchu Weekend Flower Market | 7 Min. (Drive) | Try New Foods, Play Games, And Observe Orchids |
Things to do nearby the Hsinchu City God Temple Market.
Most of these activities involve visiting temples or other markets, but they’re all within a reasonable distance of Hsinchu Station.
And you’ll never find a food shortage.
Before finishing this guide, let’s check out the market’s history.
Hotels Nearby
Hsinchu City God Temple’s History
Within Hsinchu’s North District, you’ll find the Chenghuang Temple, or City God, Night Market ( 城隍廟夜市), which sits before the temple.
The night market has existed since Japan’s occupation (between 1895 and 1945).
While you’re there, visit Chenghuang Temple. It was built during the Qing Dynasty and is regarded as one of the highest-ranking City God temples throughout Taiwan. That’s because the god Chenghuang has superior spiritual powers [1].
A City God is a deity or a group of deities meant to protect a specific town or city. You’ll find these types of temples everywhere throughout Taiwan.
Sources
- Britannica, Cheng Huang
