Taiwan Food Atlas

Red House Theater (Ximen Honglou)

An octagonal brick market built in 1908, the oldest surviving public market building in Taiwan
📍 Taipei · Wanhua District · Chengdu Road⛩️ Historic Site🔖 Historic Architecture and Arts

Red House Theater is an octagonal brick market building completed in 1908, the oldest surviving public market building in Taiwan, designed by architect Kondo Juro of the Governor-General's Bureau of Construction and now a Taipei City designated historic site. The building has gone through several functional transitions — market, cinema, warehouse — before becoming an arts and performance venue, while the plaza behind it developed into the main hub of Taipei's LGBTQ+-friendly district.

Red House Theater was completed in 1908 and designed by architect Kondo Juro of the Governor-General's Bureau of Construction. It was Taiwan's first officially built public market and is the most intact surviving market building among Taiwan's protected historic sites; the octagonal entrance paired with a cross-shaped market hall opened for business on October 18, 1908. (Source: Museum Island, Ministry of Culture; Chinese Wikipedia entry for Red House Theater)

Highlights of the Red House Theater

The Red House Theater was designed by Japanese-era architect Kondo Juro. The main structure combines an octagonal floor plan with an attached rectangular market building; the red-brick walls and arched windows are well preserved. The building has gone through multiple functional transitions — from market to cinema to warehouse — before reopening as an arts and performance venue after 2007. The octagonal building now houses exhibitions and merchandise displays, while the cross-shaped building contains a café and arts event space.

The plaza behind the Red House holds a regular weekend creative market, with stalls featuring design goods, handicrafts, and food. It is one of the longest-running weekend markets in Taipei. Bars and restaurants around the plaza form an LGBTQ+-friendly commercial district that is especially lively around the time of Taiwan Pride each year. For event dates, please check announcements from the Taiwan Tongzhi Hotline and other organizers.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

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Examine the historic exterior detailsThe red-brick walls, arched window frames, and upper structure of the octagonal tower are the key photographic subjects. Visiting during the day in good natural light gives you the best opportunity to observe the architectural details.
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Weekend creative market at the rear plazaThe rear plaza hosts a regular weekend creative market, with stalls in full operation from the afternoon into the evening — a good place to browse design brands and handmade goods.
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Performances and events at the cross-shaped buildingThe cross-shaped building regularly hosts small exhibitions, music events, and talks. Check the official website's event calendar before you go and consider combining a show with your visit.
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Walk on to XimendingThe Red House Theater is about a 3-to-5-minute walk from the Ximending pedestrian zone. You can continue exploring Ximending along Zhonghua Road or Chengdu Road after visiting the historic site.

Practical Information

Getting There and Timing

  • Take the MRT Songshan-Xindian Line to Ximen Station and walk about 3 to 5 minutes to the Red House Theater on Chengdu Road.
  • Opening hours vary according to the programming schedule, and the octagonal and cross-shaped buildings have different time slots. Please check the Red House Theater's official website for the latest information.

Nearby Connections

  • The Ximending pedestrian zone and Wannian Commercial Building are within walking distance, with concentrations of shoes, video games, and streetwear brands — easy to work into a shopping itinerary.
  • Longshan Temple in Bangka (Manka) is one MRT stop from Ximen Station. You can plan a same-day Wanhua history and temple route.

Source: architectural history and commercial district information provided by context. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Red House Theater built?

It was completed in 1908, making it Taiwan's oldest surviving public market building.

Who designed Red House Theater?

It was designed by architect Kondo Juro of the Governor-General's Bureau of Construction.

What is Red House Theater used for today?

It now functions as an arts venue, with its rear plaza hosting a weekend creative market and LGBTQ+-friendly district.

Sources

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