Jin Cheng Lan Cake Shop Introduction
Bitan is a famous scenic spot in New Taipei City. With the opening of the Taipei Metro's Xindian Line, some visitors head directly to the suspension bridge, overlooking the adjacent Xindian Road, which has existed since the Qing Dynasty. Although the old landscape is no longer visible, this old street has always served as the administrative center of the Xindian District. The old street developed into a trading hub; while it may no longer be as bustling as it once was, there are still some old shops that continue to thrive quietly, closely tied to local folk beliefs, such as the Jin Cheng Lan cake shop next to the public market, which has a history of nearly a hundred years. This has once again brought crowds to Bitan. Traditionally closely linked to daily life, pastries have become increasingly unfamiliar to the younger generation due to societal changes and shifts in belief systems, diminishing knowledge about traditional pastries and their cultural significance. In recent years, Chen Zhixin, who has taken over the old shop for more than a decade, has begun to collaborate with schools and cultural organizations, providing explanations in the shop about the relationship between pastries and history, culture, and folk customs, thus continuing the cultural spirit of pastries. This is the original intention of Jin Cheng Lan to maintain a connection with traditional culture and customs, avoiding the path of tourist souvenirs that emphasize a beautiful atmosphere. They want to offer cultural products that provide insight into folk traditions. Among the various pastries, the biggest feature of Jin Cheng Lan is the range of products shaped like "turtles."
