The Second Market will celebrate its hundred-year anniversary this year. After the completion of the internal and external renovation construction conducted by Economic Development Bureau, Taichung City Government, it will reproduce the “Taiwanese dishes” that were made by “Zuiyuelou”, the largest restaurant in central Taiwan during the Japanese Colonial Era, in May 2017 according to the recipes in Taiwan Nichinichi Shinpo. Director Lu Yao-chih of the Economic Development Bureau stated that they are doing literature research right now and will select 13 classic dishes and cook them with traditional methods. By then, he welcomes the citizens to enjoy these time-traveling dishes.

During project reporting at the city government meeting on February 20th, Director Lu pointed out that the Second Market was known as the “Ladies’ Market” in its early days. This market attracted many businessmen and vendors to gather around Luchuan during the Japanese Colonial Era, thus flourishing the area. Many restaurants were founded around this place and “Zuiyuelou”, the largest restaurant in central Taiwan, was also located here.

During the Japanese Colonial Era, “Taiwanese dishes” was a term that separated itself from “Japanese cuisine” and was the banquet culture representative of Taiwanese upper-class gentries. The city government will reproduce the flavor of these “Taiwanese dishes” according to the recipe in Taiwan Nichinichi Shinpo and provide citizens with time-traveling delicious dishes

Director Lu stated, according to the coverage of Taiwan Nichinichi Shinpo between 1907 and 1934, “Taiwanese dishes” by the time included red braised fish, fish cakes, Bafencai, silk shrimps and others. Currently, the Economic Development Bureau is conducting literature research and will select 13 classic dishes and reproduce them with traditional methods.

Mayor Lin Chia-lung also stated that there are many market gourmets at the Central District, thus having the saying of “Eat in the Central District”. Currently, the old name of Zuiyuelou is now being inherited by “Miyahara Eye Hospital” and is providing dishes that blend the new with the old. Due to its booming business, it shows that there exists such demand in the market.

Besides those hundred-year dishes, 16 other classic dishes from the Second Market such as braised pork rice, hemp soups, meat buns and others will be translated into English, Japanese, Korean and other languages for domestic and foreign tourists to further know about these classic market gourmets in the hundred-year anniversary of the Second Market. Director Lu Yao-chih of the Economic Development Bureau even made up the rhyme of “Yanglin laowang azoulan. Yanwen fumaoshan licong” to represent the 16 market gourmets that were recommended online.

To improve the old hardware and facilities of the Second Market, the city government has completed constructions such as rain & sewage water diversion, floor repairing, toilet repairs, leakage improvement, changing market signboards and others. It also renovated the ceilings and vendors at the food center, so that the ceiling will remain clean in order to provide more hygienic, brighter and more ventilating dining environment.

In order to celebrate the hundred-year anniversary of the Second Market, the Economic Development Bureau also decorated the market with red lanterns to create a joyous and celebrating atmosphere. Retro advertisement boards along with photography works of Lin Chuan-chu will be displayed at the entrances and exits Liujiao Building to present the hundred-year image of Taichung.