Xinzhuang Temple Street Business District Introduction
Xinzhuang means "the new emerging town," with a history of over 300 years dating back to the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Xinzhuang is the earliest town in the Taipei Basin, benefiting from the convenient shipping system of the Tamsui River basin, earning it the reputation during the Qing Dynasty of having “a thousand sails in Xinzhuang Port, with shops gathering like thousands of lights,” and once became the third largest prosperous city in Taiwan. Immigrants from various places brought their hometown beliefs to Xinzhuang for a living, making it the area with the densest concentration of century-old temples among the old streets of New Taipei City, hence it is known as Xinzhuang Temple Street. The old street blessed by the guardians of various deities, with its ancient temples flourishing with incense offerings, has witnessed the rise and fall of Xinzhuang over hundreds of years and is an important cultural asset of New Taipei City. Among them, Guangfu Temple is designated as a national historic site; Ciyou Temple, Wusheng Temple, and Wen Cheng Temple are designated as municipal historic sites, all being significant centers of faith in the Xinzhuang area. While visiting Xinzhuang, one might as well enter a temple to light incense and pray for family safety and national stability. The rich aroma in front of the temples reveals the historical charm of Xinzhuang Temple Street. The century-old alleys and old shops such as Rice Market Street, Theater Alley, and Ironworks Alley exude a unique ambiance and sound of the old street. At night, Xinzhuang Temple Street transforms into a lively night market, with enticing food stalls offering spring rolls, Mongolian barbecue, pork rice with melon, and red yeast pork balls, rising steam, and fragrant aromas in front of the ancient temples, each stall serving delicious food that has been honed through time.
