Luzhou Temple Night Market (Image Business District) Introduction
Luzhou, formerly known as "He Shang Zhou" or "Hé Shàng Zhōu," is a sandbar along the Tamsui River, characterized by lush reeds and a thriving ecosystem of small fish and shrimp. It is also crowded with egrets, which is why it is sometimes called "Lu Zhou" (Egrets Island). During the blooming season of the reeds, the fluffy flowers dance in the wind, while white egrets soar gracefully against the soft hues of dusk, creating a natural scenery that has been praised since ancient times as "Reed Moonlight." Due to its competition with water for land and unfavorable farming conditions, Luzhou became one of the later developed areas in the Taipei Basin. A family with the surname Li from Tong'an County, Quanzhou, Fujian, was one of the first to cultivate this sandbar, but their efforts were not fruitful. It was not until the Tamsui River gradually silted that farming conditions improved. After many years of hard work, the Li family built a large residence covering over a thousand square meters in 1903, known today as the Luzhou Li Residence located on Zhongzheng Road, Luzhou. Forty years before the completion of the residence in 1861, two monks from Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang brought a statue of Guanyin to sea for almsgiving but encountered a typhoon and docked in the Tamsui area, leading them to establish Yonglian Temple in Luzhou. Yonglian Temple flourished and its surroundings gradually developed into Luzhou’s earliest commercial street, extending to Desheng Street and Chenggong Road, forming a business district primarily focused on traditional retail, commonly referred to as the Temple Corner Business District. With the completion of the MRT, Luzhou has now become a hub connecting it with Taipei City, enhancing transportation convenience. Various markets operating in the morning, noon, and evening provide easy access for shopping for daily needs or enjoying meals at any time. The bustling Luzhou Temple Street, with Yonglian Temple at its center, has evolved its surrounding streets into marketplaces: a morning vegetable market, an afternoon life goods market, and an evening night market featuring street food. Many renowned traditional snack shops even operate all day long. The lively atmosphere of three bustling markets a day draws crowds continuously. Don’t forget to try the famous "Qiezi Noodles," which are served with a thick, rich bone broth, paired with perfectly textured noodles. Its refreshing taste is unforgettable, complemented by a variety of flavorful side dishes, making it suitable as either a main meal or a snack.
