History of Ximending

Before the 20th century this was a quiet area, the only major structure being the temple to Tin Hau built during the Qing period in the mid-18th century. A road went from the West Gate of the walled city of Taipei through fields to the town of Bangka, which is now the Wanhua District.

Ximending has been a major entertainment center for Taipei since the beginning of the 20th century. Originally it was "outside" the walls of the city of Taipei, and was barren ground. But the Japanese Colonial government decided to establish an entertainment center here to mirror what had been done outside the city of Tokyo at Asakusa.

With the construction of Taihokuza in 1897, followed by the New Wanguo Market in 1902, then called Eiza, the area became more and more popular. The conversion of the market building into The Red House in 1947 established this as a popular area to visit for entertainment.

In 1905 the West Gate which gave the name to the district was demolished, but by that time the name Xi Men was so well established that it would not be changed. Combined with the "Ding" being a Japanese district designator.

The heyday of the theater business in Ximending lasted until the 1990s when Taipei started to expand towards the East, and Ximending was less fashionable for movies and shows. However at this time the government agreed to make major streets in the area pedestrian-only, and this attracted many shoppers.

Since that time the district has built up a reputation for being the premier shopping location of the city, evolving into Taiwan's cultural heart where traditional values meet modern pop culture and LGBTQ+ acceptance.