Xitou Ice City Introduction
~Signature Shaved Ice~ Heritage ～Half a century of deliciousness~～～~Memories~ are not just a visual longing~ but also the emotional impact on the taste buds~ “Xitou Ice City” is the first ice shop established in Xinshi Street. Why is it called “Xitou”? It turns out that the busy and prosperous Zhongxing Road, which runs through Xinshi Street, was referred to as the "East Head" for the eastern part and "West Head" for the western part by the locals. The illiterate owner didn't understand shop sign aesthetics, so he simply named it “Xitou Ice City” since the shop was located in the western section. The founder, Pan Dajian (born in 1933), was tall and robust, earning the nickname “Big Man.” Coming from a poor family, he rode a bicycle to the mountains to sell bananas, sweet potatoes, and other grains, or sold ice pops and taro ice around to exchange for sweet potatoes to dry and eat. After marrying his wife, Pan Chen (also born in 1933), he 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 founded “Xitou Ice Fruit Room” at No. 142, Zhongxing Street, Xinshi District, Tainan City, selling “shaved ice,” ice pops, juices, and other frozen treats, making it the first ice fruit shop in Xinshi. The signature product of “Xitou Ice City” is “shaved ice.” The new affluent residents of Nankang and tourists lack concept and interest in “shaved ice,” which requires the owner to...
