Zhongli Old Street Riverwalk, Xinjie Riverwalk Introduction
The construction period for the Old Street Bridge is expected to last until December 31, 2030. The dual harmony of urban greenery: the Old Street Creek and the New Street Creek, paving a quietly flowing path in daily life. As you stroll along the Old Street Creek and the New Street Creek, you'll discover that the city's scenery can also be as gentle as poetry. These two creeks are like a duet of greenery in Taoyuan, quietly performing the rhythm of nature and culture in everyday life. Old Street Creek: a trail that allows one to reconnect with nature, originates from Longtan’s Old Street Creek and flows north through Pingzhen, Zhongli, and Dayuan. It is named after passing through Zhongli Old Street, making it an important river in Zhongli City. The Old Street Creek Trail is approximately 5.2 kilometers long, starting from the Bazijian Waterfront Park in Pingzhen and extending to the Huannorth Road in Zhongli. Along the way, it connects to Xinshe Park, Riverside Park, the River Education Center, and the historic Xinguang Fude Temple. It is not just a green belt in the city, but also a serene passageway in life. Here, egrets and the duck-billed fratercula occasionally fly by, and the surrounding greenery quietly envelops the area. Every step allows you to briefly escape the busyness of reality, returning to a pure rhythm. No wonder the Old Street Creek Trail attracted over 10.53 million visitors in 2024, becoming the fifth most popular tourist and recreational destination in Taiwan. Besides the rich greenery along the riverbank, it also integrates environmental education and historical memory. From the local faith at Xinguang Fude Temple to the urban regeneration at the Old Street Creek Cover Memorial Square, every step feels like turning the pages of a gentle and tranquil urban walking journal. Along the way, you can catch glimpses of the tassel trees swaying in the wind, children playing on the slides, while the Xingnan Weir quietly maintains the rhythm of the creek's water, steadily irrigating 40 hectares of farmland in Zhongli and preserving the ecological balance of the basin. New Street Creek: within its flow lies the city's past and present. If the Old Street Creek is like an elder sharing stories, then the New Street Creek is the quiet pulse of the city. The New Street Creek flows through Longtan, Pingzhen, Zhongli, and finally reaches the sea in Dayuan District, with a total length of approximately 29 kilometers, while its downstream estuary is the famous Dapingding Bird Watching Area. The New Street Creek Trail is nearly 8 kilometers long, starting from the Shuiwei Bridge on Dazhong Road in Zhongli and ending at the Mantingfang Bridge on Longgang Road Section 3. Along the way, one passes sites of cultural significance such as the Renhai Temple, New Street Elementary School, and the Zhongli Art Park, making this path not just a hiking route, but also a riverside gallery traversing time and culture. In spring, a multitude of mountain cherry blossoms bloom on both sides, casting a gentle pink filter over the entire trail. A casual glance might let you encounter egrets or yellow wagtails. When you walk on these two trails, you will understand that healing can actually be quite simple. Just like the Old Street Creek and the New Street Creek, quietly and unassumingly, but in a moment, they allow you to rekindle your ability to connect with yourself.
