Yingge Old Street Introduction
Yingge, known as the Jingdezhen of Taiwan, is a major hub for ceramic craftsmanship in the country. The Yingge Ceramics Old Street was officially named in 2000 and has been transformed into shops and DIY spaces with the assistance of the New Taipei City Government. The phrase "Turning clay into gold" perfectly describes the area, where a variety of ceramic boutiques are clustered along Ceramics Street, Jianshanpu Road, Chongqing Street, and Yuying Street. Entering Yingge Old Street, you will find that the street scenes, intersection imagery, and traffic sign designs are all infused with rich ceramic aesthetics. As early as 200 years ago, residents in the Jianshanpu area began utilizing the sticky soil, easily obtainable firewood and weeds, coal resources, and convenient waterway transportation to develop a flourishing ceramic industry. During the Japanese colonial period, Yingge ceramics evolved into a more scaled and corporate industry, further solidifying its industrial position and laying the foundation for ceramic culture. Strolling along the Old Street while following the railway, you will find specialty ceramic dinnerware shops, artists' studios, DIY classrooms, and factory-direct stores. Various "ceramic" themed shops showcase both practical and artistic ceramic products, such as antique-style porcelain, crystalline glaze, stoneware, tea sets, dinnerware, and ocarinas. The railway bridge at the entrance of the old street is a must-visit spot for train enthusiasts, where visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of the old street and watch the various trains of Taiwan Railways racing along the western trunk line.
