Dihua Street: A Vintage Cultural Walk
Auto-TranslationLocated south of the Taipei Bridge, Dihua Street in Dadaocheng is one of the most historically rich old streets in Taipei and serves as the cultural heart of the Datong District. Since the Qing Dynasty, this area has been a hub for the distribution of northern and southern goods, Chinese medicinal herbs, tea leaves, and fabrics. Among these, Yongle Market, known for over a century as a fabric market, is particularly famous. Every year before the Lunar New Year, Dihua Street transforms into a bustling street for New Year’s goods, with red lanterns hanging high and stalls scattered throughout. The aromas of dried mushrooms, peanuts, preserved fruits, and handmade New Year decorations linger in the air, making the whole street feel like a flowing timeline, quietly telling the stories of Taipei's century-long commercial history and living memories.
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
Historical Development
The history of Dihua Street can be traced back to 1851, when the first shops began to appear. Two years later, Quanzhou Tong'an people from Mengjia started to open businesses here, forming what is known as "Zhongjie." During the Japanese colonial period, the trade of northern and southern groceries and tea shops gradually flourished, with rice, fabrics, and Chinese medicinal herbs also taking their place in the market. After World War II, Dihua Street continued to be a core commercial district for wholesale and retail, and it still maintains its prosperity and historical character today.
As you wander through the area, you'll notice the elongated row of shops that are wide in front and deep at the back, with the front section serving as retail space and the rear as warehouses or factories, embodying the typical layout of Qing Dynasty commercial streets. In the past, the Tamsui River had no embankments, and trading vessels would deliver goods directly to the street for sale. Many merchants became wealthy through trade, and the building façades often mimic Western-style decorations. Combined with the design of covered walkways to cope with the rainy season, this creates a unique blend of Chinese and Western styles.
As you wander through the area, you'll notice the elongated row of shops that are wide in front and deep at the back, with the front section serving as retail space and the rear as warehouses or factories, embodying the typical layout of Qing Dynasty commercial streets. In the past, the Tamsui River had no embankments, and trading vessels would deliver goods directly to the street for sale. Many merchants became wealthy through trade, and the building façades often mimic Western-style decorations. Combined with the design of covered walkways to cope with the rainy season, this creates a unique blend of Chinese and Western styles.
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
Dihua Street Ten-Row Shop
Built during the Japanese colonial period, the Ten-Row Shop on Dihua Street is the most well-preserved group of red brick row buildings in the old street, and it represents architecture from that era, carrying a century's worth of commercial and residential memories. The gray-red brick walls and wooden window frames are neatly arranged, allowing dappled light to filter through the window grilles, while the slightly upturned eaves hide the craftsmanship's attention to detail. As you walk through, the alleys are tranquil, occasionally filled with the sounds of fabric merchants conversing or the soft music from nearby cafes, as if time has turned back to the prosperous days of old Taipei.
The Ten-Row Shop is not just a building; it's like a hefty book that records the rise and fall of commerce and urban changes. Approaching it, every window and every brick quietly tells a story of history, allowing one to feel the profound and gentle cultural atmosphere of the old street.
The Ten-Row Shop is not just a building; it's like a hefty book that records the rise and fall of commerce and urban changes. Approaching it, every window and every brick quietly tells a story of history, allowing one to feel the profound and gentle cultural atmosphere of the old street.
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
New Year Goods Street
As the year draws to a close, Dihua Street transforms into a lively New Year Goods Street, with the old street's red brick walls and wooden doors radiating warm light and shadows, adorned by lanterns and spring couplets. Vendors line the street, displaying a vibrant array of dried goods, spices, candies, and handmade New Year decorations, while the air is mixed with the scents of dried mushrooms, peanuts, and preserved fruits, creating a feast of memories through time.
Pedestrians carry paper bags, weaving between ancient buildings, listening to the calls of the vendors, and feeling the festive atmosphere of the season. Even a simple stroll allows one to touch on the commercial threads and everyday details of Taipei's century-long history. The New Year Goods Street is not just a place for shopping; it is a ritual of dialogue with the city and its history, where each red envelope and every string of dried fruit carries wishes and emotional offerings for the New Year.
Pedestrians carry paper bags, weaving between ancient buildings, listening to the calls of the vendors, and feeling the festive atmosphere of the season. Even a simple stroll allows one to touch on the commercial threads and everyday details of Taipei's century-long history. The New Year Goods Street is not just a place for shopping; it is a ritual of dialogue with the city and its history, where each red envelope and every string of dried fruit carries wishes and emotional offerings for the New Year.
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
Yongle Market
Located in the heart of Dadaocheng, Yongle Market features red brick walls and old iron windows that reveal the traces of time, as if time flows slowly here. Inside the market, century-old fabric merchants abound, with various fabrics exuding unique scents, delicate textures, and vibrant colors. As you walk through the narrow alleys, you can see tailors focused on selecting fabrics and taking measurements, with the commercial atmosphere of the past still vividly present.
In addition to fabrics, the market also hides traditional snacks and handmade goods that evoke the taste of old Taipei. Morning light filters through the window grilles, casting shadows on the red bricks and wooden structures, imparting a subtle warmth that makes one unable to resist slowing down and savoring the charm and cultural warmth of this historical market.
In addition to fabrics, the market also hides traditional snacks and handmade goods that evoke the taste of old Taipei. Morning light filters through the window grilles, casting shadows on the red bricks and wooden structures, imparting a subtle warmth that makes one unable to resist slowing down and savoring the charm and cultural warmth of this historical market.
(Image source: Photo by Wu Qiaoyun)
Xiahai City God Temple
Nestled in Dadaocheng's Dihua Street, Xiahai City God Temple was established in 1859 and has continuously drawn worshippers ever since. The temple is primarily dedicated to the City God, who protects the balance between the realms of yin and yang and ensures local peace; it is also famous for the deity Yuexia Laoren, attracting countless devotees who come to pray for love and marriage.
Though small in size, the temple is intricately designed, with the interplay of light and shadow reflecting off its red walls and golden tiles. Inside, the fragrant incense wafts through the air, and the low sounds of bells and drums create a serene atmosphere, making it feel as if time flows slowly. This place is not just a center of faith; it is a microcosm of Dadaocheng's history and human connections, holding the city’s memories and spiritual offerings.
Though small in size, the temple is intricately designed, with the interplay of light and shadow reflecting off its red walls and golden tiles. Inside, the fragrant incense wafts through the air, and the low sounds of bells and drums create a serene atmosphere, making it feel as if time flows slowly. This place is not just a center of faith; it is a microcosm of Dadaocheng's history and human connections, holding the city’s memories and spiritual offerings.
Costume Experience (Dadaocheng Tourist Center)
Located on Dihua Street, across from Yongle Market, the Dadaocheng Tourist Center not only provides travel information but also offers a free vintage costume experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the grandeur of old Taipei!
Stepping inside, the wooden window frames, vintage furniture, and soft lighting intertwine, transporting you back to the charm of the old street in the Republic of China era. The center offers a selection of exquisite qipaos, allowing visitors to roam and take photos against the backdrop of the historic streetscape, experiencing the delicate texture of the fabrics and the elegant curves of the tailoring.
Whether standing quietly in the alleyways of the old street or strolling in front of the red brick buildings on Dihua Street, every angle resembles a picture of old Taipei. This space is not just a clothing experience; it is a cultural journey, inviting you to don a qipao, engage in dialogue with history, and savor the warmth and temporal richness of Dadaocheng.
Whether standing quietly in the alleyways of the old street or strolling in front of the red brick buildings on Dihua Street, every angle resembles a picture of old Taipei. This space is not just a clothing experience; it is a cultural journey, inviting you to don a qipao, engage in dialogue with history, and savor the warmth and temporal richness of Dadaocheng.
Online Reservation: https://travel.taipei/vintage-clothing/
Guo Yimei Bookstore
Gradually becoming a famous landmark on Dihua Street, Guo Yimei Bookstore is located in a century-old house, featuring five spaces with three stories in the front and two in the back, housing over 30,000 titles, making it one of the most richly stocked independent bookstores in Taiwan. The old house was built by the founder's grandfather, Guo Wulang. After undergoing changes through the years, it was rented back and reopened in 2022 by the third generation, Guo Chongxing, continuing the spirit of the original business.
The bookstore is rooted in the love of books, emphasizing the purity of reading. It hosts nearly 150 events, including exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and night tours, connecting the community, schools, publishers, and artists. It not only carries forward a century-old history but also serves as a cultural hub in Dadaocheng, attracting book lovers and cultural explorers. Through its books and activities, it weaves connections between people and history, art and reading, creating a cultural base for the future century.
The bookstore is rooted in the love of books, emphasizing the purity of reading. It hosts nearly 150 events, including exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and night tours, connecting the community, schools, publishers, and artists. It not only carries forward a century-old history but also serves as a cultural hub in Dadaocheng, attracting book lovers and cultural explorers. Through its books and activities, it weaves connections between people and history, art and reading, creating a cultural base for the future century.
Conclusion:
In addition, Dadaocheng's Dihua Street is home to several designated historical sites, such as Ci Sheng Temple, the Gu Family Residence, and Xin Fang Chun Tea House. These buildings preserve traces of history, quietly narrating the prosperity and daily life of old Taipei. As you stroll through the streets, the coexistence of the old and the new creates a vibrant urban tapestry, where traditional businesses, creative shops, and cafes intertwine, allowing one to appreciate the depth of history and the aesthetic of modern cultural living.
Dihua Street is a container of time, a stage where history and modernity intersect. From the Ten-Row red brick buildings to the lively New Year Goods Street, from the fragrant fabrics of Yongle Market to the spiritual prayers at Xiahai City God Temple, from the qipao costume experience to the literary ambiance of Guo Yimei Bookstore, every step allows you to touch the memories of Taipei. The old street is not just a space for shopping; it is a living cultural museum that guides visitors through a century-long commercial narrative, enabling them to feel the warmth of urban life and the depth of culture.
Transportation:
MRT (Metro):
Songshan-Xindian Line (Green Line) - Beimen Station: From exit 3, walk along Tacheng Street for about 5-10 minutes to reach the southern section of Dihua Street.
Zhonghe-Xinlu Line (Orange Line) - Daqiaotou Station: From exit 1, walk along Section 2 of Yanping North Road for about 10-12 minutes to reach the northern section of Dihua Street.
Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Red Line) - Shuanglian Station: From exit 2, walk for about 15 minutes to the end of Minsheng West Road.
Nearby Attractions:
Ci Sheng Temple
Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market
Ningxia Night Market
