Uncover Hidden Gems and Timeless Traditions in Taiwan’s Most Enchanting Old Streets
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Taiwan mixes the past and present better than almost any other city. On one street, towering skyscrapers lean over the city and impose the glitz and glamour of the new age. Then, around the block, small shops that have operated for fifty years sell traditional food and offer glimpses into Taiwanese history and culture.
One of the most fun parts of traveling to Taiwan involves exploring the many old streets on the city outskirts. Each old street has unique shops containing specialty goods, incredible food from traditional restaurants lining each corner, and often a beautiful bridge crossing over a river or sprawling valley.
Daxi Old Street
Daxi Old Street in New Taipei has beautiful old Taiwanese colonial architecture that enchants the masses and adds more character to this bustling hub of life. They have a famous braised tofu shop that provides two large plates with many styles and textures of tofu for a cheap price.
Daxi also has a delicious shaved ice and tofu pudding shop. For only 55 NTD (just under $2 USD), customers can purchase a large bowl with either black or white tofu pudding and four different toppings, such as flavored mochi cubes, peanut butter, and black sesame.
Daxi is located on the Tamsui River and has a majestic suspension bridge for visitors to wander across. It also has a nice park for locals to relax and events, such as children’s play day, for people to join, hear live music, and eat tasty foods.
Reach Daxi Old Street by riding the 710 bus from Yongning or the 5098 bus from Zhongli.
Dihua Street
Datong district’s Dihua Street attracts visitors around the Lunar New Year. Of course, people love to go all year long, but Taiwanese people love to eat dried foods during this holiday, and Dihua has plentiful amounts of this treat.
In addition to dried foods, Dihua Street also sells traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and has a famous temple many young people like to visit to pray for a romantic relationship.
Anyone staying in Taipei can access Dihua Street via Taipei’s public transportation system.
Yingge Pottery
People come to Yingge to explore the many beautiful pottery shops, where Taiwanese locals hand-make gorgeous pieces. Many people purchase tea sets and Buddha figurines here at reasonable prices.
However, many people do not know they can also make pottery in Yingge. Guazao Kiln offers pottery classes priced between 100 NTD and 250 NTD ($3-$5 USD). Each participant can determine the kind of piece they want to make and what color they want the kiln to dye. This kiln is located in a historic kiln with brick walls, and visitors love taking pictures by the entrance.
Qingzai Kiln also offers make-your-own pottery located in a historic building. Many people love to participate in these classes, and they can make the perfect souvenir for a trip.
To reach Yingge, take a local train from Banqiaou in New Taipei to Yingge.
Jiufen
When people travel to Taipei, they often list Jiufen as their #1 day trip. People know it for inspiring the popular Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, and while that is not the case, the iconic Ah Mei Teahouse does resemble the bathhouse from the movie.
Ah Mei Teahouse offers an authentic Taiwanese tea ceremony. The servers boil water in front of the customers’ tea cups and then demonstrate how to prepare the drink. Each customer also gets to breathe in the fragrant fumes from a smelling cup.
In addition to this tea house, Jiufen has many authentic tea shops to explore and sample, and many traditional Taiwanese restaurants sell favorites like Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings and beef soup.
The old miner village looks gorgeous when it lights up at night with all the lanterns, but pay attention to the bus schedule! Most Jiufen shops and restaurants do not stay open past 8:30 pm when the lights go dark, and the buses back to Taipei stop running soon after.
Travel to Jiufen from Taiwan by bus. Take the 965 from Ximen to Jiufen or the 1062 from Songshan Station to get there in about an hour.
Shifen
Many people pair a day trip with Jiufen with a side quest to Shifen. Shifen focuses on lanterns, which many people decorate with wishes and then set off into the sky. It has a plethora of shops, many containing Taiwanese souvenirs and treats. It also has several stalls selling fun night market foods like the peanut ice cream roll.
Shifen also has a large suspension bridge that many people take pictures on and walk across for fun. Of course, no one should miss the golden waterfall, located about a twenty-minute walk from the old street. Its large width and multiple water streams cause many people to liken it to Niagara Falls in Canada.
Visit Shifen by taking the Tze-Chiang Limited Express out of Taipei.
