Zhonghe Myanmar Street, New Taipei City Introduction
Huaxin Street in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, also known as "Myanmar Street," is one of the areas in Taiwan where the Yunnan-Myanmar immigrants gather. This street not only serves as a place of living and residence for Myanmar immigrants but also witnesses their struggles to thrive and integrate into Taiwanese society. The cultural characteristics of Huaxin Street are reflected in the storefronts, signs, and daily lives of families, as well as temples hidden within the community. They represent how Myanmar immigrants, fleeing from the turbulent situation in Myanmar across different generations, have worked hard to build a life, foster community consciousness, and establish a new home in a foreign land. Migration is a gamble. My name is Yang Wanli. I was born in Shan State, Myanmar, and my ancestral home is in Yunnan. I am the seventh of eight children. My family experienced the anti-Chinese incidents initiated by the Myanmar government, leading to a chaotic social situation detrimental to long-term development. Therefore, my father started to plan our migration, beginning in 1984, gradually bringing us children across the ocean to Taiwan in search of a place to settle down. We moved many times, eventually landing on Huaxin Street in Zhonghe District. This migration process took ten years to complete, and we have lived here for over thirty years. My parents, like other residents of Huaxin Street, are Myanmar immigrants quietly making a living in Taiwan. They have worked a variety of jobs, from construction sites to factories, but one thing remains unchanged: they have never left Huaxin Street. Over time, the foreign land has become like a home. Like other immigrants, the elders in the community have long regarded this street of less than 500 meters as their home; Taiwan has become their homeland. Diversity: Daily Life of the Community If you have the chance to walk into Huaxin Street, the aroma of milk tea and rich spices will greet you, instantly immersing you in a strong exotic atmosphere. This is not only due to the Chinese and Myanmar signs visible throughout the street, but also the diverse culture that emerges from the fusion of different ethnicities, including food from Myanmar, Yunnan, Thailand, and even Indian flavors, gradually attracting Taiwanese food enthusiasts, leading to it being dubbed "Nanyang Gourmet Food Street." However, this street exists not just for tourists; more importantly, it is also a place where Yunnan-Myanmar immigrants conduct their daily lives. Here, multiculturalism is not just a slogan but a part of everyday life. Every morning, Theravada Buddhist monks in saffron robes walk barefoot along Huaxin Street, collecting alms. Residents respectfully offer various foods, creating a unique cultural landscape every morning. In my middle age, I decided to stand up for the community. I came to Taiwan with my parents at the age of ten and entered a primary school in Huaxin Street. I struggled to keep up with schoolwork, my speech and bento choices always differed from my classmates, making me feel out of place during my time in school. The adaptation process was exceptionally tough, and I was often teased by classmates as "the Myanmar person." My parents always told me to endure and swallow my grievances. As a child, I didn't understand, but after growing up, I realized that this group of Yunnan-Myanmar immigrant elders came to Taiwan seeking a "home" where they could settle down and provide their children with a complete education. I hope I can serve as a cultural bridge and stand up for the community, hoping that our life stories can also be told, recorded, and remembered.
The daily food "Xidoufen" (a type of savory rice flour dish) on Huaxin Street has a special way of eating.
There's nothing that a cup of milk tea can't solve. If it can't, then just have another cup.
