Discover the shopping district of Taiwan

Successful cases of governmental projects

The Shinyi Shopping District in Taipei has replaced Simending Shopping District. The Shinyi Shopping District was once a prosperous agricultural area. After the Taipei City Government redraws its administrative boundaries on March 12th, 1980, the original 16 administrative sections became 12. Part of Da-an administrative section and part of Song-shan administrative section were merged to be the current Shin-yi administrative section. Most important governmental institutions, business centers, and main offices of major industries and companies gather in the Shin-yi section. In recent years, after the completion of the 101 building and the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit, the Shin-yi Shopping District becomes even more prosperous.  

The rise of Sanduo Shopping District relies on the appearance of the second-hand goods market back in the 70s. Later, the SSD attracted department store groups to move in. No governmental policy or planning was involved in the early development of the SSD. The rise of the SSD demonstrates the fact that not all shopping districts in Taiwan share similar background.        

Successful cases of transportation projects

The Simending Shopping District used to be an important shopping district in Taipei City. However, as shopping districts in the east side of Taipei became more developed and the shopping styles changed, the Simending Shopping District became less popular. To bring prosperity back to the Simending Shopping District, Taipei City Government has been engaged in renovating this district in recent years. Now, the new Simending Walking Area offers consumers the longest shopping sidewalk (1153 m in length and 13 m in width) in Taiwan. This shopping sidewalk keeps scooters and cars away from pedestrians. As a result, consumers can enjoy a smoother shopping route. Moreover, rapid and convenient public transportation offer easy access to the Simending Shopping District. Visitors from outside of Taipei can access to the Simending Shopping District by the easy connection between the Taiwan Railway, Taiwan High Speed Rail and the Taipei MRT, apart from cars or scooters.

Compared to the Simending Shopping District, there is no shopping sidewalk in the SSD. Pedestrians sometimes have to fight their way against scooter riders or cars. This certainly threatens the life of pedestrians and may damp shopping enthusiasm. The successful case of the Simending Shopping District may offer the Kaohsiung City Government a learning model when it comes to planning safe and pleasant shopping routes. With careful planning and projects, increasing number of consumers will be seen in the SSD. As for visitors from outside of Kaohsiung City, they have more choices of easier transportation connections between their cities and the SSD, such as city bus, the MRT, the KLR, the Taiwan Railway, and the Taiwan High Speed Rail.

Successful cases of market planning

In Taichung (biggest city in central Taiwan), to draw more crowd to the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District, shop owners meticulously renovated the old buildings in the core area of the Fong-gia Night Market. The combination of the traditional night market with modern department stores creates an indoor theme night market. Unlike traditional night market, the indoor night market guarantees shoppers a weatherproof shopping environment. As a result of careful planning, the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District is now not only a night market, but also an all-around shopping district which provides all kinds of entertainments besides shopping. Considering its origin, the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District is a social type shopping district.    

Compared to the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District, the Sanduo Shopping District is more an urban type shopping district. The future of the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District heavily depends on the prosperity of the Fong-gia Night Market. To maintain the prosperity of the night market becomes the key in the development of the Fong-gia Night Market Shopping District. On the other hand, as an urban type shopping district, the SSD does not rely on any community. However, the SSD has to work harder to develop all around services and function to cater for all kinds of consumers. Even though the SSD has become the hub for shopping, leisure, and shopping, without proper planning, it can be easily replaced by other shopping districts in Kaohsiung.

Successful cases of peripheral planning

The Chuang-cheng Shopping District in Tainan is closely related to the historic sites. The location of the Chuang-cheng Shopping District is located in the area which hosts several well-preserved historic sites and buildings. As a result, tourists coming to visit these historic sites and buildings become the main source of shopping business in the Chuang-cheng Shopping District. The Chuang-cheng Shopping District has the first government planned shopping street which offers mostly local foods and traditional snacks.

Compared to the Chuang-cheng Shopping District, the modern Sanduo Shopping District does not have any historic sites or buildings. However, the modern recreation areas in the SSD also help bring in increasing number of tourists. As more constructions in the Kaohsiung urban planning are approaching completion, a new wave of tourism will boost the prosperity in the SSD. The 85-floor Tuntex Sky Tower, department stores, the Shin Kung Pier, the Star Boulevard, and so on work as well as historic sites to bring in consumers. Obviously, each shopping district can develop its own characteristics to make profits as long as they make good use of their own advantages.

The SSD promoting the image of Kaohsiung

The current success of the Sanduo Shopping District derives from several factors. By making good use of these deciding factors, the SSD can manipulate its own development for brighter future. Since these factors are different, there is more than one possible direction of the development of the SSD.

Several aspects about the SSD need improvement. Firstly, the SSD has not made full use of its potential and sources. Although the department stores and shops in the SSD can keep running in their self sufficient way, package tours pivoted in the SSD will help boost profits. Secondly, the SSD need a greater diversity of shops and services to appeal different types of consumers. Besides, the SSD needs to create a more distinctive character to be well-recognized. To be the leader of the shopping districts and represent Kaohsiung city, combining the oceanic character may be taken into consideration. Thirdly, providing different options of convenient public transportation systems will cater for needs of more consumers. Urban planning should take these deciding factors into consideration and the city government has to be determined to carry out their plans.   

In addition to expanding the shopping district and accomplishing the objectives, the SSD needs to learn from the success of other shopping districts. The ultimate goal of the SSD is to make itself a must-go place in Kaohsiung. Enhance the overall quality of the SSD and the image of Kaohsiung will be promoted.   

The New Development Index

The future of Taiwan relies on business development in every city. Having a tour to different shopping districts around Taiwan reminds us that each prosperous shopping district is special in its own way. Shopping districts are the essence of business development in every city. They offer business opportunities and entertainments. As the role of shopping districts becomes increasingly important, the SSD is certainly one of the major forces that push Kaohsiung to move forward. Therefore, the SSD is indeed the new development index of Kaohsiung City.