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Night Markets in Taiwan =lead sentence= Taiwan Night Markets changed from small local gatherings to noisy streets lined up with vendors. These vendors have to cohere to some laws set by the Taiwanese Government. There are vendors selling food in some of the most famous Night Markets all around Taiwan.

History of Night Markets in Taiwan
The Tang Dynasty government put strict sanctions on Night Markets and their operations in A.D. 836. Towards the end of the Tang Dynasty, economic expansion led to less state regulation and restrictions being lifted on Night Markets. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Night Markets played a central role in Chinese nightlife. These markets were found in corners of large cities. Some stayed open for twenty- four hours. Song period Night Markets are also known to have included restaurants and brothels due to being frequently located near business districts and red light districts.

Taiwanese Night Markets started as local markets that operated in urban sites. Most Night Markets started as small gatherings in street corners or in temple plazas. These markets were joined by retailers who sold handicrafts and traditional medicine. One example of a Night Market Network is Taibei. Small gatherings of night vendors lined up the streets of Taibei, but still the city was not classified as a Night Market. Taibei was not known to be prosperous until after World War II. Starting in the 1950s, Night Markets formed in Taibei's old urban areas and later settlements were set up across the city's edges. In the 1970s, Night Markets spread into new suburbs and manufacturing areas. There were also traveling periodic Night Markets that could even be found in rural towns. By the 1980s, anyone could buy a full range of goods even in a remote area.

In the 1950s and 1960s, migrant urban workers made up a large base of the Night Market's customers. The vendors created simplified versions of banquet dishes and served xiaochi foods. The names of the towns came from the dishes they served. The serving of xiaochi foods attracted Taiwan's local elite. Stories were formed of how well-known politicians and intellectuals visited Night Market stalls.

Night Markets started to embody the local and the global modern popular culture because of commercial industries. Because of the global recession in the 1970s, canceled imports created more opportunities for vendors selling light industry and family made goods. This was due to more products becoming available to local markets. Night Marketing Networks were formed and sold Taiwan's light industry goods.

Because of the prosperity of the Night Markets, some traditional businesses were replaced by higher quality garment and shoe stores in the 1980s. The energetic Night Markets were known during this period where neon signs, loud music and light displays were used to attract customers. The new replaced the old, cafeterias instead of restaurants, gift shops instead of sundry shops, sportswear outlets instead of low quality garment stores. At Taiwan's stock market surge, chains started opening franchises that were located in or near the Night Markets. These included fast food outlets such as McDonalds and convenience stores such as 7-Elevens, which were then followed by garment stores. This transformation continued in the 1990s, when chains who sold higher grade merchandise replaced individually owned businesses.

Night Markets changed from places that sold traditional snack food and handicrafts to modern centers of popular culture. Markets rapidly responded to new trends by producing their own versions of popular goods, especially in the 1990s, when copyright and intellectual property laws were only loosely enforced. These counterfeit items that now flooded the market attracted young customers. In recent years, these laws are now more strictly enforced so counterfeit items are usually found in traveling Night Markets. The Night Markets are now known for not personifying Taiwan as it once did. The Night Market transformed to accommodate to the modern capitalist economy.

Vendors
Vendors practice a type of small scale entrepreneurship run, for the most part, by family. The Vendors are recognized and protected by law. They are required to pay taxes and have licenses. Merchants are managed through their Night Market committee. The consent of the committee is required to acquire a license. Tourist Night Markets are classified as between formal and informal businesses. It provides a way for local people to take part in the Taiwanese tourist industry.

Northern Taiwan
Raohe Street Night Market

Running six hundred meters from Fuyuan Street to Ciyou temple, Raohe Street Night Market is located in the Taipei's Songshan District on Raohe Street. In Taipei, it was the second Night Market to be considered a tourist destination.

Shihlin Night Market

Shihlin Night Market is known as one of the most famous and most popular Night Markets. The Night Market consists of two different sections. One section is the durable goods section, which is surrounded by the Yang Ming Cinema on Anping Street. The other section is the food section, and it consists of food vendors on the opposite side of the Jiantan Metro Station.

Linjiang Night Market

The name, “Linjiang Night Market,” is unfamiliar to some Taipei residents who better know the Night Market as "Tonghua Street Night Market." This Night Market has been known for some time as a popular shopping area.

Central Taiwan
Feng Chia Night Market

Feng Chia Night Market is located in Taichung's Situn District along Fuhsing Road and Wen Hua Road by Feng Chia University. It extends along those two roads and even touches Chijian Night Market. This Night Market is also known as the Wenhua Night Market.

Tunghai Night Market

This Night Market has been known as one of the most prosperous areas. Many would not guess this due to the fact that it is located on the edge of Taichung and about twenty minutes from the city center. The Night Market has grown from just a few shops to a whole commercial district that extends from the Tunghai University.

Fengyuan Myaudung Night Market

People used to gather around the local Tzu-Chi Temple where merchants served the crowds of people that encircled the courtyard and the temple. Room was left on the side of the temple during an expansion project and was leased out to vendors. The Fengyuan Myaudung Night Market was formed and continues to serve the residents and tourists of Taiwan.

Southern Taiwan
Liouho Night Market

This night Markets grew in the 1940s to 1950s to be known as one of Kaohsiung's most popular night market. It used to be known as Ta Kang Pu Night Market. The venue is only open to pedestrians.

Kwang Night Market

The market specializes in food that is located all around Taiwan. Vendors began to congregate around Kwang Hwa Theatre in 1960, which led to the formation of the recent Night Market.

Eastern Taiwan
Nanbin Night Market

During the day the area is crowded with beach goers, but at night it turns into an active Night Market. It is located in Nanbin Park. There are carnival games that go on every night.

Luodong Night Market

It is known as one of the busiest and most popular for food. Vendors gather around Chong Shan Park and sell goods to the masses.

Dongmen Night Market

Once a small area, it has grown around the surrounding area to form a key tourist destination. It is located under the Yilan Donggang Bridge along Hemu and Shenghou Road.