Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen went canvassing for votes at the Linjiang Street Night Market in Da'an District, drawing strong crowds — good news for the DPP's electoral prospects.

• Shen canvassed the night market together with city councillors Wang Min-sheng and Chien Shu-pei, along with council candidates Chen Sheng-wen and Liu Pin-hsin.
• Before seven o'clock, more than 50 supporters were already queuing outside the night market waiting for photos, with passers-by asking where he was as they walked.
• Supporters handed out homemade "Yang Liu" (Ocean Current) posters and "My Mayor Puma Shen" keyrings, and chants of "dongsuan" (get elected) rang out at the scene.
• The crowd spanned teenagers to the elderly, with parents carrying children on their shoulders, pushing strollers, and bringing pets along to cheer him on.
• The night market, normally quiet at the end of the month, buzzed with the influx of visitors; vendors offered food and drinks, and members of the public asked one another which stalls were worth patronising.

Outlook: The Taipei mayoral race has formally entered the grassroots canvassing stage, and from here each camp will step up its push into night markets and traditional markets where foot traffic is heaviest.