Jin Cheng Lan Bakery Introduction
Bitan is a famous scenic spot in New Taipei City. With the opening of the Taipei Metro Xindian Line, some people tend to directly walk onto the suspended bridge, overlooking the adjacent Xindian Road, which has existed since the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. Although the old scene can no longer be seen today, this old street has always been the administrative center of the Xindian District. The old street has formed a trading center, and although its former prosperity is no longer, some old shops continue to silently strive in the area. Closely tied to folk beliefs, there is the nearly hundred-year-old Jin Cheng Lan Cake Shop next to the public market, which brings people back to Bitan. Originally closely linked to daily life, traditional cakes have become increasingly unfamiliar to the younger generation due to social changes and shifts in beliefs and customs. Over the past few years, Chen Zhixin, who has taken over the old shop for over a decade, has started to cooperate with schools and cultural organizations to provide tours, explaining the relationship between cakes, history, culture, and folk customs in the shop, thereby continuing the cultural spirit of these pastries. This is also the original intention of Jin Cheng Lan to adhere to the integration with traditional culture and folk customs. They do not pursue the tourist souvenir route with beautiful lighting and atmosphere, but instead hope to offer cultural products that provide a glimpse into the spirit of folk traditions. The store specializes in various pastries, with products shaped like "turtles" being the largest feature of Jin Cheng Lan.
