Guang Hwa Computer Street -- Shopping

Address:

Just North of Chunghsiao Hsinsheng MRT station
Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan

Price:

(Not Specified)

Description:

Just a block north of the Chunghsiao Hsinsheng station, Guang Hwa is the place where shopping for high tech can still feel like a low class endeavor.

Anything computer related can be found somewhere in Guang Hwa. New desktops and laptops, DIY components for the true builder, second hand computers, digital equipment of all sorts, and of course, software of all make and description.

Unlike the major computer malls, stores in Guang Hwa aren't all laid out in neat rows. There's a main street (Pateh Road) with stores on both sides, up and down, and you can often find some pretty choice deals anywhere along the main drag. But the real bargain hunter will want to explore the stalls that lie in the warren-like tunnels that run under the streets. A good rule of thumb: the further away from fresh air and natural light, the less expensive the merchandise and the more hagglable the shop owner.

The undisputed heart of Guang Hua is the enclosed mall that runs beneath the Hsinsheng overpass. A gritty, funky place, the mall is packed to the rafters on the weekends. Once you've entered, you won't be able to leave until you're shoved out by the crowd on the other end.

Published on 10/2/03