Xinzhuang Temple Street Shopping District Introduction
Xinzhuang means "the newly rising street village," and it has a history of over three hundred years, dating back to the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Xinzhuang is the earliest township in the Taipei Basin, benefiting from the convenient shipping system of the Tamsui River, which earned it the reputation of being "the harbor with a thousand sails and the market with thousands of lights" during the Qing Dynasty, making it the third-largest prosperous city in Taiwan at one time. Immigrants from various regions brought their hometown beliefs to Xinzhuang, making it one of the densest areas of century-old temples among the many old streets in New Taipei City, hence it is referred to as Xinzhuang Temple Street. The business district of Xinzhuang Temple Street, protected by numerous deities, features ancient temples with thriving incense offerings, which have witnessed the rise and fall of Xinzhuang over the centuries, and it is an important cultural asset of New Taipei City. Among these, Guangfu Temple has been classified as a national historic site, while Ciyou Temple, Wusheng Temple, and Wenchang Temple have been designated as municipal historic sites, serving as significant centers of belief in the Xinzhuang area. When strolling around Xinzhuang, don’t miss the opportunity to enter the temples, light incense, and pray for family safety and national peace. The historical charm of Xinzhuang Temple Street is embedded in its essence, with century-old alleys and shops like Rice Market Street, Theater Lane, and Ironworks Street emanating unique scents and sounds of the old street. At night, Xinzhuang Temple Street transforms into a bustling night market, with tempting stalls offering dishes like spring rolls, Mongolian barbecue, melon meat rice, and meatballs in red yeast rice, where steam and aroma rise before the century-old temples, every booth presenting a well-crafted delicacy that withstands the test of time.
