Tamsui Old Street Introduction
From Tamsui MRT Station, turn right onto Zhengzhong Road and the adjacent reconstructed streets and Qingshui Street, you will find the famous Tamsui Old Street. Tamsui Old Street is not only a well-known tourist destination in Taiwan but also attracts many foreigners who come here. The streets are lined with lively shops, featuring traditional snack shops, grocery stores, and trendy clothing and toy shops. A must-try dish in Tamsui is "A-gei," which comes from the Japanese pronunciation of fried tofu, and is made by hollowing out fried tofu, filling it with stir-fried vermicelli, soaking it in braising sauce, sealing it with fish paste, and steaming. You can also find specialty snacks such as fish balls, A-po's iron eggs, and fish crisps, along with many historic sites to explore, ensuring you won’t get bored here. Tamsui Old Street can be divided into two sides: the outer side features the golden waterfront path along the Tamsui River, while the inner side comprises the traditional old street. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea from the golden waterfront path. The reconstructed street, located on a hillside, has many wooden and brick old houses due to its earlier development. At the end of the street, you can enjoy a distant view of the Tamsui River estuary from above. Later, due to commercial development, another parallel street emerged, primarily featuring rice shops and milling industries, thus named "Rice Market Street" (now the northern section of Qingshui Street). It wasn't until the construction of the Qingshui Temple that Rice Market Street was renamed Qingshui Street. Continuing along Zhengzhong Road, you will see the statue park of Dr. Mackay, who had profound influence on Tamsui, along with historic sites such as Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei Mackay Memorial Hospital, and Tamsui Presbyterian Church. In addition to seeking scenic spots, the unique shops in the old street are also great places to shop and enjoy delicious food.
