Xinmin Old Street Introduction
Cats lazily nap on motorcycle seats, the rich aroma of coffee wafts through the streets, and shopkeepers greet each other softly... As the noise of Zhongzheng Road fades away, time seems to slow down on Xinxin Old Street. Nestled less than three hundred meters away, Xinxin Old Street discreetly lies within the Dami business district. The once-bustling glory of "the first street in Taoyuan" has long faded with the shift of the commercial center in the city. Xinxin Old Street, which diverges from Zhongzheng Road, still retains traditional shops like rice stores and bridal shops in its western section near Wenchang Park. When the Xinxin Market was in operation, this area was home to numerous daily essentials shops and vendors offering everything from hardware to rice and fabric. Therefore, during holidays, Xinxin Street would always be bustling with crowds. The old days of the old street are gone, but tasting the classic rice noodle soup from long-established shops, the fragrant "Guokai Rice," and the sweet and savory "Sweet Millet Rice" with side dishes offers a unique way to reminisce. After a period of dormancy, Xinxin Old Street has garnered attention again due to the emergence of creative cafes in the eastern section, home to the century-old Yang Family Temple. Xinxin Street has now become an important hub for local creators to promote Taoyuan's culture. “Not just a café!” is the operating philosophy of the Xinxin Street shops; the menu features "Just Xinxin Meals" which include traditional delicacies like peanut butter, pudding cake, oil sticks, and malt sugar. By integrating artistic spaces into old houses, they host exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and book clubs, extending the charm of the old street. In 2015, several artistic creators initiated the first "Return to Taoyuan Art Festival," spreading 20 pieces of installation art throughout the shops on Xinxin Street, blending old spaces with new creativity in a delightful manner.
