Hengchun Old Street Introduction
Hengchun Old Street, formed by the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Fude Road, has a history of over a hundred years since the establishment of Hengchun. Most of the buildings and shops in the old street have existed for more than half a century. With a long history and many old stores, if you merely take a cursory glance, you may return empty-handed from this treasure street. Starting from the entrance of the old street, not only should you explore each old shop in detail, but also remember to look up and admire the old buildings here. Although many first-floor storefronts have been remodeled to create a modern commercial atmosphere, making it hard to sense the nostalgic charm at first glance, once you shift your gaze to the second floor and above, the architectural scenery changes. The classical window designs, traditional washed stone tiles, old Minnan-style buildings, and Baroque-style architecture create a truly stunning blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles. The charm of old shops lies in their long-standing history and rich flavors. For instance, a century-old Chinese medicine shop has a 300-year-old medicine cabinet designed with ancient copper coins as its clasps, which is quite rare today. After years of wear, the cabinet has a patina that can't be replicated. The department store from the 1960s doesn't display products as clearly as modern department stores, making shopping feel like a treasure hunt—it’s a flavor that's hard to find elsewhere. The old-fashioned charm is the secret to the longevity of these shops. Seeking food is the main purpose of strolling around. If you're tired of Japanese, Italian, and American cuisine, you should try the traditional snacks here: salty rice cakes, red round dumplings, mung bean soup, large noodles, and duck meat with vermicelli. Once you taste them, you'll be singing their praises. Whether hot, cold, sweet, or salty, you can easily find them without searching hard. Enumerating the delicious snacks in Hengchun Old Street is no simple task; you must visit in person to truly experience this place as a paradise of traditional cuisine. To transform Hengchun Ancient City into a town with more cultural characteristics, starting from Hengchun Old Street, the resources of historical streetscapes are being integrated. In addition to enhancing pedestrian pavements, lighting, and guiding facilities on important roads, green plantings are being widely introduced to provide a friendly space for visitors to stroll comfortably.
