Shihding Old Street Introduction
Shiding Old Street is the earliest developed area in Shiding District, divided into East and West Streets by the Wanshou Bridge made of stone piers. West Street developed earlier and was primarily focused on the manufacture and trade of camphor and tea, with houses built mainly from local stones. East Street, on the other hand, was said to be a gathering place for beggars, earning the nickname "Beggar's Lane." However, the population in East Street has gradually surpassed that of West Street, becoming a more prosperous area in Shiding. Key attractions here include century-old tofu shops, unique stilt houses, and the "No Sky Street," all must-visit spots for tourists. The century-old iron workshop in the old street adds a rustic charm with the sound of clanging metal. Shiding East Street is currently one of the few remaining "No Sky Streets" in Taiwan, with houses suspended above the riverbed supported only by columns, and a closer look reveals that homes in Shiding are built using local river stones. East and West Streets best showcase the former prosperity of Shiding, with West Street extending westward from Wanshou Bridge over Shiding Creek and East Street built near Wutu Kuxi to the east. West Street, the earliest developed road, served as a convenient transportation route for tea, lined with mostly earthen buildings rising two to three stories, symbolizing the bustling wealth of the time. Currently, the Jishun Temple Square located in front of Shiding Elementary School was once a distribution hub for wholesale tea, and the area boasts over a hundred temples, making it the town with the most temples in all of Taiwan.
