Xinmin Old Street Introduction
Cats lazily napping on motorcycle seats, rich coffee aroma wafting through the streets, gentle exchanges between shopkeepers... The hustle and bustle of Zhongzheng Road fades away as time seems to slow down on Xinmin Old Street. Located less than 300 meters long, Xinmin Old Street is discreetly tucked away in the Damao business district, and the glorious past of being "the first street in Taoyuan" has gradually faded with the shift of the commercial center in the city. Divided into two by Zhongzheng Road, the west section of Xinmin Old Street, near Wenchang Park, still retains traditional shops such as rice stores and dowry shops. When Xinmin Market existed in the past, it gathered numerous stores and vendors of daily necessities, where everything from hardware, rice, to cloth could be found. Therefore, during festivals, Xinmin Street was always bustling with crowds. The old days of the old street are long gone, but tasting the old-fashioned rice noodle soup, the fragrant "Guokai Rice," and the sweet-savory "Tianmeli Rice" paired with side dishes in the past-style shops is a nostalgic experience in its own right. After a period of dormancy, Xinmin Old Street began to regain attention due to the emergence of creative cultural coffee shops in the east section where the century-old Yang Clan Temple is located. Currently, Xinmin Street has become an important hub for local creators to promote Taoyuan culture. "Not just a coffee shop!" is the business philosophy of the shops on Xinmin Street; their menu features "Just Xinmin Meal" including flavors of traditional shops like peanut glutinous rice cake, pudding cake, youtiao (fried dough), and maltose; integrating artistic spaces into old houses to host exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and book clubs, allowing the charm of the old street to continue. In 2015, the first "Back to Taoyuan Art Festival" was initiated by dozens of artists, installing 20 pieces of installation art throughout the shops on Xinmin Street, blending old spaces with new creativity, creating a unique ambiance.
