Merchant houses
Carved fronts.
This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่ — CC BY 4.0 · This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and may send me a message. (สามารถใช้ภาพได้อิสระ แต่กรุณาใส่เครดิตผู้ถ่ายและอาจส่ — CC BY 4.0 · Kiyoteru Awaji — CC BY 4.0 · Kiyoteru Awaji — CC BY 4.0
Taipei's oldest trading street, laid out in the 1850s when merchants moved to the riverside district of Dadaocheng. For a century and a half it has been the centre of trade in Taiwanese goods: Chinese medicinal herbs, dried mushrooms, nuts, tea and fabrics. The street is lined with old merchant houses with carved fronts, some in traditional Chinese style and many with ornate Western baroque façades from the Japanese era, with balconies, arches and reliefs. Behind them, long narrow courtyards link shop, storeroom and home. Many restored houses now hold cafés, craft and design shops and small galleries beside the old herb and dried-goods stores. The street has a small City God temple famous for visitors seeking marriage, and before the Lunar New Year it becomes a crowded festive market. The street is free and open, best explored by day when the shops are open. Taipei's metro reaches it easily, and an EasyCard works on the metro, buses and in shops.
Carved fronts.
Old shops.
Before Lunar New Year.
Dadaocheng, western Taipei near the river
Taiwanese tea, nuts and dried fruit, herbs, and local crafts and design goods in the restored shophouses.