再探一中商圈 / Exploring Yizhong Shopping District Again

當人們提到台中夜市時，大部分的人的第一印象會是逢甲夜市，因為逢甲夜市商圈的攤販求新求變，更是許多創新小吃的發源地，例如知名品牌章魚小丸子，就是從逢甲夜市發跡起來的，到現在香港、馬來西亞且在全台各大夜市都可看到它的存在，此外，逢甲夜市商圈鄰近國道一號台中交流道與中彰快速道路，旁邊的朝馬轉運站是公路客運重要樞紐，南來北往交通便捷，加上周邊旅館多，住宿方便，更是吸引許多外地遊客到訪，而且各式流行服飾、小物等吃、喝、玩、樂都可在逢甲夜市一次滿足，因此，觀光客造訪台中景點的清單中，逢甲夜市都是必遊選項之一，連我來台灣出差的國外同事都會指名要到逢甲夜市看看。

不過，對於台中在地人而言，一中夜市商圈乘載著在地人學生時期的回憶，各式流行服飾、飾品、雜貨商店、髮廊、運動用品店、個性主題商店、特色餐館等商店種類包羅萬象，美食更是琳瑯滿目，是台中最大型的學生商圈，只要在一中街看到鋪設美輪美奐的人行專用路磚，就代表您已走入一中商圈，而我在地朋友也是都帶我去逛一中夜市，我覺得他們可能是年輕時都在一中夜市商圈附近走跳，所以，只要想到夜市的話，都會到一中夜市。

在一中夜市附近看到中友百貨，又勾起我年輕時的回憶，那時候也是到趁暑假期間，特地到台中拜訪住在中部的朋友，朋友臨時不知道要帶我們去那裏逛，就帶我們去中友百貨，因為當時它是全台最大的百貨公司，由A、B、C三棟建築組成，各館間於各樓層以空橋相互連通，商場有12,000坪，好像可以代表台中必逛景點，逛百貨公司的好處是有空調，逛起來較舒服，但是一中夜市更多元、更熱鬧、更好逛，指是當時我們都不知道。

在夜市附近的露天廣場，我們朋友吃飽喝足後，又買了冷飲，坐在公共空間的座位區，看著街頭藝人表演，很多過往路人也買著各式小吃，如鮮嫩酥脆的雞排、口味豐富的烙餅及滷汁獨特的滷味，迎著晚風，聽著藝人演唱各式歌曲，當演唱完畢時，眾人會鼓掌，給予支持，也有些聽眾會以金錢投擲到小費箱，給予表演者實質鼓勵，我們在這邊一坐，就是一個多小時，好個愜意的夜晚啊！

When people mention night markets in Taichung, most will think of Fengjia Night Market first. It’s known for its ever-changing stalls and is the birthplace of many innovative snacks. For example, the famous brand of takoyaki originated here and can now be found in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and night markets all across Taiwan. Fengjia Night Market is also conveniently located near the Taichung interchange on National Freeway 1 and the Zhongzhang Expressway. The nearby Chaoma Bus Station is a major transportation hub, making it easy for people to travel from all directions. With plenty of nearby hotels, it’s a popular spot for out-of-town visitors. You can find everything from trendy clothes to snacks, entertainment, and more at Fengjia, which is why it's always on tourists' must-visit lists when they come to Taichung. Even my colleagues from abroad who visit Taiwan for work always specifically ask to check out Fengjia Night Market.

However, for locals, Yizhong Night Market holds a special place, filled with memories from their student days. The Yizhong shopping area has everything from trendy clothes, accessories, and stores with quirky themes to salons, sports shops, and unique restaurants. It's also packed with delicious street food and is the biggest student-oriented shopping district in Taichung. You know you've entered Yizhong when you see the beautiful pedestrian-only brick road. My local friends always take me to Yizhong, and I think it's because they spent so much time there during their youth that it’s the first place they think of when it comes to night markets.

Seeing Chungyo Department Store near Yizhong brought back memories for me too. When I was younger, I visited Taichung during summer break to see friends from central Taiwan. They weren’t sure where to take us, so we ended up at Chungyo Department Store, which was the largest department store in Taiwan at the time. It was made up of three buildings, connected by sky bridges, with 12,000 ping of shopping space. Back then, it was seen as a must-see Taichung spot. The great thing about shopping malls is the air conditioning, which makes it much more comfortable, but little did we know at the time that Yizhong Night Market was way more diverse, lively, and fun to explore.

After eating and drinking at the night market, we bought some cold drinks and sat down at the outdoor plaza, watching street performers. Passersby were buying all kinds of snacks like crispy chicken fillets, flavorful pancakes, and uniquely seasoned braised food. As the cool evening breeze blew, we listened to the performer sing different songs. After each song, the crowd would clap in support, and some even tossed money into the tip box to show their appreciation. We ended up sitting there for over an hour—what a relaxing night!

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