Xinzhuang Temple Street Shopping District Introduction
Xinzhuang means "newly developed street village" and has a history of over 300 years since its establishment in the late Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. Xinzhuang is the earliest township in the Taipei Basin, benefiting from the convenient transportation system of the Tamsui River basin, which earned it the reputation as "a harbor of thousands of sails and a marketplace filled with lights" during the Qing Dynasty, making it once the third largest prosperous city in Taiwan. Immigrants from various regions brought their hometown beliefs to Xinzhuang to make a living, turning it into an area with the highest concentration of century-old temples among the many old streets in New Taipei City, hence known as Xinzhuang Temple Street. The old streets protected by various deities and the flourishing ancient temples have witnessed Xinzhuang's rise and fall over the centuries and are considered important cultural assets of New Taipei City. Among them, Guangfu Temple is listed as a national historic site; Ciyou Temple, Wusheng Temple, and Wen Chang Temple are designated as municipal historic sites, all of which are significant belief centers in the Xinzhuang area. While strolling through Xinzhuang, one can also visit the temples to light incense and pray for family safety and the prosperity of the country and its people. The historical charm hidden in Xinzhuang Temple Street is filled with nostalgic scents and sounds, with century-old alleys and shops like Rice Market Street, Theater Alley, and Blacksmith Lane. At night, Xinzhuang Temple Street transforms into a lively night market, filled with tempting vendors offering spring rolls, Mongolian barbecue, pork rice with melon, and red yeast meatballs, with steam and aromas rising in front of century-old temples, where each stall offers tested and perfected delicacies.
