XinNan Old Street Introduction
If Peace Old Street is like a mainstream song still being sung today, then Xin Nan Old Street is the indie music of Daxi, not overly lively or boisterous, yet exuding a unique artistic atmosphere that spreads a wonderful charm, unforgettable once heard. The beauty of old alleys exclusive to the artsy crowd, enchanting old times await your visit to listen. Xin Nan Old Street, also known as Zhongshan Old Street, is only 500 meters away from Peace Old Street. Unlike the bustling shops of Peace Old Street, Xin Nan Old Street has been the essence of luxurious residences combining politics, economics, and culture since the late Qing Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period. Government institutions such as the Qing Dynasty’s Land Development Office, the Japanese Governor-General's office, post office, elementary school, public hall, and Wude Hall gathered here, resembling today’s Taipei "Bo'ai Special District." Residents in this area were either wealthy or influential; notable figures like businessman Jian A-Niu, Kato Jinsaku, and scholar Lü Ying-Yang were prominent members of wealthy families at the time. The odd-numbered side of the old street housed mansions of the rich, while the even-numbered side contained workers' quarters, warehouses, and homes, showcasing the stark contrast of wealth. In contrast to Peace Old Street, the storefronts along Xin Nan Old Street display an even grander and more luxurious appearance, characterized by a mix of Baroque architectural styles. Each structure's archway seems to compete with one another in ostentation. The most eye-catching establishment, "Jian Cheng Commercial House," is the mansion of the wealthy Jian A-Niu, featuring a Romanized foreign shop sign, a brass-covered central dome, symmetrical gables, Western-style dual columns, and a facade three times wider than an average shop, all highlighting the wealth of the Jian family. The neighboring archways of "Yong Chun" and "Xian Ji" belong to the prominent Lü family, with the peacock opening its tail portrayed majestically on the gables, intricate Chinese auspicious decorations like dragons, qilins, and elements of chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as clever designs using cut and pasted flowers, all reportedly covered with canvas during construction to prevent imitation. Xin Nan Old Street also showcases the names of prestigious families like "Wu Yi Jiu Zu" and "Long Tang Shi Di," who relocated to Daxi, expressing their nostalgia for their hometown. Today, as the affluent families have declined and their descendants have moved away from Daxi, the luxurious storefronts continue to stand as testimonies to the bygone prosperous days. Next time you visit Daxi, consider taking a turn into Zhongshan Road, reading the stories of each building, and encountering the splendor of Daxi’s past.
