Jin Cheng Lan Cake Shop Introduction
Bitan is a famous scenic spot in New Taipei City. With the opening of the Xin-Dian Line of the MRT, many people have walked directly onto the suspension bridge, overlooking the nearby Xin-Dian Road, which has existed since the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang period. Although it is no longer possible to see the old scenery, this old street has always been the administrative center of the Xin-Dian District. The old street has formed a trading center, and while its former prosperity is no longer, there are still some traditional shops continuing to work quietly. For instance, the nearly hundred-year-old Jin Cheng Lan Cake Store, located next to the public market, is closely tied to folk beliefs and continues to draw crowds to Bitan. Cakes, which were once closely integrated with daily life, have become less familiar to the younger generation due to social changes and shifts in beliefs and customs. Over the past few years, Chen Zhi-Xin, who has taken over the old store for over a decade, has begun to cooperate with schools, cultural organizations, and other groups to meet their visiting needs by explaining the relationship between cakes, history, culture, and customs in the store, thus continuing the cultural spirit of these pastries. This is also the original intention of Jin Cheng Lan's insistence on combining traditional culture and customs, avoiding the route of tourist souvenirs with good lighting and atmosphere, and hoping to offer cultural products that provide a glimpse into the spirit of folk traditions. The specialty store for "turtle" is the biggest feature of Jin Cheng Lan, with various products shaped like "turtle" among its diverse pastries.
