Xitou Ice City Introduction
~Signature Shaved Ice~ A Legacy of Nearly Half a Century~ ~Memories~ are not just a nostalgic image~ but also a flavor sensation~ "Xitou Ice City" is the first ice shop established in the Xinshi District. Why is it called "Xitou"? It turns out that the Zhongxing Road, which runs through Xinshi, was the most bustling and prosperous street in Xinshi. The locals habitually referred to the eastern section as "Dongtou" and the western section as "Xitou". The illiterate owner did not understand the aesthetics of shop signage, and since the ice shop was located in the western section, it was simply named "Xitou Ice City". The founder, Pan Dajian (born in 1933), was tall and sturdy, earning him the nickname "Big Man." Coming from a poor family, he would ride his bicycle to the mountains to transport bananas, sweet potatoes, and other grains for sale or peddle ice treats like "zhizai bing" (a type of popsicle) and taro ice around town, trading them for sweet potatoes to dry and eat. After marrying his wife, Pan Chen (also born in 1933), they raised four children. As the children grew, the burden of living expenses and tuition became heavier, prompting him to start his own business. In 1966, he established "Xitou Fruit Shop" at No. 142, Zhongxing Street, Xinshi District, Tainan City, selling shaved ice, popsicles, juices, and other frozen treats, making it the first ice fruit shop in Xinshi. The signature item of "Xitou Ice City" is their "shaved ice." Those from the nearby NanKang Science Park and visitors are often unaware of what "shaved ice" is and lack interest, hence the owner has to...
