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Chinese Food Chinese New Year Food Fun Food Kaohsiung Markets Pets Seafood Sweet Food Taiwan Taiwanese Food Travel Zuoying

A Chinese New Year Celebration on Lotus Pond

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - A New Friend
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – A New Friend

Well, Chinese New Year has come to an end, but we had a great time at the Chinese New Year Celebration on Lotus Pond, located in the Zuoying District of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - SpongeBob!
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – SpongeBob!

For 5 days, starting on Thursday, February 19th, the people of Zuoying celebrated with a carnival like atmosphere of shopping, food, games and play on Liantan Road along the banks of Lotus Pond.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - The Crowd
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – The Crowd

With the exception of the ever persistent occasional scooter (moped or motorcycle), that manage to swarm just about everywhere here with impunity, and delivery vehicles the street was closed to traffic for the duration of the event.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Riding on Daddy's Shoulders
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Riding on Daddy’s Shoulders

Whole families and friends poured into Lotus Pond to enjoy the event.  It was a festive atmosphere of family oriented fun that packed in the crowds for all 5 days of the Chinese New Year.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Daddy's Little Girl
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Daddy’s Little Girl

Even their dogs weren’t left out of this celebration.  As I’ve reported before the Taiwanese love their dogs.  They take them everywhere they go and the New Year Celebration is definitely no exception.  Everywhere we looked we saw dogs celebrating right alongside their human counterparts.  In the coming days and weeks I will be posting many more photos of the dogs we saw celebrating the New Year as part of my ongoing series, The Dogs of Taiwan.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Are You My Mommy?
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Are You My Mommy?

Katrina and I visited everyday enjoying more than our fill of Chinese Comfort Food.  We ate:

  • fried and charcoaled meats
  • charcoaled chicken, lamb and other meats on a stick
  • beef noodle soup
  • scallion pancakes
  • charcoaled squid
  • crabs
  • tea
  • fresh coconut water (straight from a freshly cut coconut)
  • mango with milk smoothies
  • honey glazed popcorn (similar to caramel corn but with honey)
  • ice cream cones
  • and many more things that we forget
Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Delicious Grilled Wrapped Chicken
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Delicious Grilled Wrapped Chicken

Katrina, who is Chinese, has maintain for years that Chinese celebrate with food and I finally got to see firsthand that she wasn’t kidding.  Just look at how much that adorable little girl below is enjoy her corn on the cob.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Corn on the Cob
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Corn on the Cob

Luckily we did plenty of walking to help burn off those extra calories.  The vendors and stands lined over 1 kilometer of Liantan Road and we walked the full length and back plus another 2 kilometers to from the event every day.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - A Pleasant Smile
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – A Pleasant Smile

1 kilometer…trust me that’s a lot of vendors and stands, and they were packed from end to end every day.  Even with the crowds everybody’s friendly and festive spirit made these 5 fun filled days a wonderful experience.  Well from Lotus Pond, Xīn Nián Kuài Lè  (Happy New Year) and Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái (May you have a prosperous New Year)!

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Lotus Pond - New Year Celebration - Handmade Cricket Whistles
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Lotus Pond – New Year Celebration – Handmade Cricket Whistles
Categories
Chinese Food Food Fun Food Kaohsiung Markets Seafood Taiwan Taiwanese Food Travel Xinxing

Strolling Thru the Liuhe Night Market

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - Liuhe Night Market - Do You Want a Barbecue Skewer?
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – Liuhe Night Market – Do You Want a Barbecue Skewer?

Being a night person myself, I really enjoy the night markets that are so prevalent in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.  One of my favorites is the Liuhe Night Market in the XinXing District near the Formosa MRT Station.  It is a very popular and well known place for locals and tourists visiting Kaohsiung, whether from Taipei or overseas.  During the day, Liuhe 2nd Road looks like any other road with thru traffic and storefronts, but after 6:00 PM the barriers go up and it becomes a pedestrian market.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - The Liuhe Night Market
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – The Liuhe Night Market

As I indicated it is popular with tourists and there are definitely more traditional markets (like the Ruifeng Night Market in Zuoying) around the area that I’ve visited.  While I’m usually the one to forsake tourist traps in favor of more local flavor, this is one case where I break from tradition and actually recommend the tourist oriented option.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - Liuhe Night Market - Fresh Shellfish
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – Liuhe Night Market – Fresh Shellfish

The Liuhe Night Market is a brighter, more colorful, spacious and vibrant market atmosphere that just propels you into the spirit.  The vendors here enjoy presenting you with one colorful display of food after another.  Some of the stands are actually restaurants, allowing you to pick your fresh seafood and then walk to the back to enjoy it at a comfortable table.  While seafood definitely dominates the market, you can still partake of many other Chinese culinary delights and shop for clothing and accessories, too.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - Liuhe Night Market - Noodles
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – Liuhe Night Market – Noodles

Since tourists are their bread & butter, the vendors are friendlier, more jovial, patient and understanding of questions.  You can sense that many of them literally enjoy the spectacle and the crowds, and this goes on nearly every night of the year.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - Liuhe Night Market - Beautiful Shrimp
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – Liuhe Night Market – Beautiful Shrimp

You find yourself happily wandering from stand to stand, repeatedly stuffing yourself with food you just can’t resist trying.  It is a great way to quickly sample many Taiwanese dishes all in one place.  Granted it may be a little more expensive than the other night markets that locals frequent, but it is only slightly more expensive and still very cheap by western standards.

To see more pictures of this colorful market checkout my Liuhe Night Market Photo Gallery.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Xinxing - Liuhe Night Market - How Much for This Belt?
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Xinxing – Liuhe Night Market – How Much for This Belt?

 

Categories
Food Fun Food Healthy Food Kaohsiung Sweet Food Taiwan Travel Wellness Zuoying

Roasted Sweet Potato

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - The Mobile Sweet Potato Roasting Stand
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – The Mobile Sweet Potato Roasting Stand

 

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Sweet Potatoes
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Sweet Potatoes

One of my favorite treats that I’ve grown to love in Taiwan is the roasted sweet potato.  Vendors sell them everywhere, in the park, on the sidewalks, in small storefronts, night markets…  Not only do they taste great, they’re good for you.  The locals believe it is one of their secrets to longevity, health and a youthful appearance.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - The Sweet Soft Creamy Center
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – The Sweet Soft Creamy Center

 

Now I’m not talking about eating them at your favorite restaurant smothered in butter and sugar.  I’m talking about eating them plain right from a brown bag while walking along enjoying the day.  Don’t get me wrong, I used to enjoy loading on the butter and sugar myself, but adding butter and sugar just diminishes the health benefit.  Besides, I’ve come to realize that the natural flavor is sweet enough to enjoy on its own.  After all, why do you think they call them sweet potatoes?

 

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Dig In!
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Dig In!

There are two ways to eat them.  You can peel away the skin and just eat the sweet soft creamy center, or if you enjoy the skin like me, you can just bite right in and eat the whole thing.  I personally believe the skin holds even more nutrients and I just like the roasted flavor of the skin.  Don’t worry about germs, the heat from roasting will kill most every germ.

Taiwan - Kaohsiung - Zuoying - Delicious!
Taiwan – Kaohsiung – Zuoying – Delicious!

So come on, dig in.  How often do find something that tastes this good and is actually good for you!  This is truly like having your cake and eating it too.