The Chengchung Market is located near Taipei Main Station, centered around Lane 22 of Wuchang Street Section 1. The commercial section extends outward on all sides, with Lane 22 the clothing center. Diagonally opposite is Lane 21, with its food selections. Many of the shops in this market have been in business for three or four decades. For example, the Tungtai Embroidered Shoe shop established in 1949, and Minghsing Pastries and the original famous "Hsin Tungyang" can point to roots here as well. Back in 1967, there was just one Hsin Tungyang here, much unlike the widespread chain store of today.

At midday, the market area is bustling, with the cries of shop owners ringing through the streets. Throngs of shoppers fill the narrow alleyways. From time to time, you might see a slogan advertising a "Container Clearance Sale," offering clothing at NT$60 per piece, NT$100 shawls, or NT$250 embroidered shoes. Old Taipei hands know that to get a real bargain, the Chengchung Market is the place to go.

The Payama Clothing store is another favorite, and a market standout. The owner is a Tibetan woman named Nuobulamo, and the interior of the shop is filled with goods from Nepal, India and Tibet. She says that the decorations in the store are all made using genuine imported materials and handcrafted, and each is one of a kind. These unique items sell for NT$100 and up.

The market is home to a traditional embroidered shoe shop, "Tungtai Cloth Shoes." The business cards for the shop boast that it is "the first embroidered shoe shop in the ROC." Established in 1949, the shop has been operating ever since on Lane 19 of Wuchang Street Section 1 in a tiny storefront packed full of lovely embroidered footwear. Pair after pair are lined up with sparkling threads and handcrafted uppers featuring lively designs. The shoes are soft and comfortable to wear, and favorites not only with the elderly, but also with fashion-conscious youngsters who wear them with jeans.

A pair of traditional embroidered shoes sells from NT$250 to NT$300, with childrens shoes available for NT$60 and slippers from NT$150. Thick cotton cloth shoes and shoes for practicing Chinese martial arts run about NT$350. The owner also tries hard to bring in new ideas, and many trendy designs are in evidence as well as traditional looks, for example, beaded faux tiger skin shoes are available for NT$300. If you want a one-of-a-kind pair of footwear, the shop will also make shoes to order, and needs just 10 days to do so.

The fame of this shops owner has spread far and wide, and many customers in Hong Kong and Japan travel here with magazines in hand wanting to shop the stores splendid offerings.

In the movie "In the Mood for Love," Chang Man-yu stirred up public enthusiasm for the chi-pao, the traditional tightly-fitted, high-necked Chinese dress. The movie featured chi-paos and padded cotton jackets called mianao, which can cost NT$10,000 to NT$20,000 in department stores. But taking a few more steps to reach the Chengchung Market offers much better alternatives, and no one will go home empty-handed.

The Chengchung Market boasts five or six shops specializing in traditional Chinese clothing, of which the "Kaihuang" once played host to the Japanese news media. The shop sells Chinese traditional clothing including chi-pao dresses, and mianao or padded cotton jackets. The thinner mianao are on sale at the moment given the change in season, and can be had for just NT$489.

Dont worry that a chi-pao is old fashioned; they are actually quite trendy these days. Today, chi-paos are seen with boots, and knee-length models are even worn with blue jeans. The chi-pao has become the new choice of fashion-conscious youth, and improved Chinese jackets have had new design elements incorporated. These styles are all available at Kaihuang.

If youre looking for a bargain, go to the places where the most people are crowded in. If the store is stuffed with grandmothers and mothers, its probably full of good deals. These days, scarves and shawls are on offer, with huge bins set up at the front of the store, crowded with an amazing assortment of choices.

Shawls are romantic and practical at the same time, and go well in a wide variety of places. These garments range from basic NT$100 shawls to more expensive cashmere models to those selling for tens of thousands of NT dollars. Of particular note is the 90 x 200-centimeter version that costs just NT$100 and serves as either a shawl or a scarf. Quite a few ladies are taking advantage of opportunity to pick up a few different kinds to round out their wardrobes.