ESCAPE your usual weekend routine with the vibrant Story Store market, opening this Friday afternoon at Nantou Ancient Town (also called Nantou Ancient City). This much-anticipated event creates a dynamic space where creativity, culture, and sustainability come together.

Set against the historic backdrop of Nantou Ancient Town’s charming alleys, the third edition of the Story Store market features 23 carefully selected vendors, time-limited workshops, guided cultural walks, and numerous engaging activities.

Continuing the theme “Creativity has no boundaries,” this year’s market emphasizes sustainability through the revival of traditional crafts, zero-waste designs, recycled materials, and rich cultural storytelling. The event blends unique products, participatory experiences, and narratives to explore future lifestyle possibilities that connect people, brands, and the city.

About the market

Market Area A showcases established sustainable brands offering recycled apparel, eco-friendly home goods, and zero-waste daily products.

Market Area B highlights emerging designers who bring innovative sustainable ideas to life with experimental approaches.

The Multipurpose Hall serves as a creative laboratory, featuring artisans and lifestyle artists presenting ceramics, living-plant installations, and recycled bags. Visitors can join hands-on workshops like pottery making, old-item transformations, and miniature landscape creation.

The Design Shop gathers 11 creative teams presenting quirky, distinctive objects that embody Nantou Ancient Town’s vibrant creative spirit.

A key attraction this year is the immersive Sustainability Lab, offering interactive workshops that invite visitors to participate directly in sustainable practices, promoting eco-conscious living.

The market also offers special guided Nantou Walks, limited to 10 participants per day for a nominal fee of 9.9 yuan (about US$1.38). These tours reveal Nantou’s hidden gems and recent community projects, including a new shelter for stray cats under the ancient Deyuan tree.

How to join the fun

Pick a colorful woven string at the “Visitor Co-creation Board” and participate in the “冇” character weaving game to earn a stamp. (“冇” means “not have” or “without” in local dialect but also symbolizes infinite creative possibilities.) Snap and share photos at the “Vendor Co-creation Board” on Xiaohongshu using the hashtag #南头古城冇市集 for another stamp. Collect both stamps to enter an exciting prize draw.

Tips

● Wear comfortable shoes, bring sun protection and rain gear.

● Don’t miss the prize draw featuring over 180 gifts across 17 categories.

● For more updates, follow the official WeChat account of Nantou Ancient Town (“南头古城”).

Event Details

Time: 3:30-9 p.m., June 20-22

Venue: Zhongshan North Street, Nantou Ancient Town, Nanshan District (南山区南头古城中山北街)

Metro: Line 12 to Zhongshan Park Station (中山公园站), Exit D

(Claudia Wei)