Tamsui Old Street Introduction
Chongjian Street is the first commercial street in Tamsui, where many well-known figures from politics, finance, and education have resided. Originally a historical street stretching about five to six hundred meters, it was developed as a stepped community following the terrain, serving as the top street during the Huwei period. From the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, it thrived and became the best street for visitors to experience the charm of the mountainous Tamsui. While the bustling Zhongzheng Road is widely recognized as the old street of Tamsui, it is Chongjian Street, located just behind the Fuyou Temple on Zhongzheng Road, that is the true "old" street of Tamsui. Originally known as Jiukanjie, it refers to the nine shops established by Fujian immigrants, and as the first developed commercial street in Tamsui, it has a history of over 200 years. Just a temple's distance from the lively Zhongzheng Road, it has an elegant and calm atmosphere. As visitors walk slowly up the stone-paved road, century-old houses rise along the slope. With the shift in commercial activities, Chongjian Street has transformed into a burgeoning cultural and creative attraction. The vintage charm of old houses meets vibrant murals, showcasing the stories of Tamsui's past. Visitors can experience a romantic outing in "Lover's Alley," created by physician and writer Wang Chang-hsiung and painter Lin Yu-chu, and raise their hands to their foreheads alongside the Qianliyan (Thousand-Mile Eye) atop Fuyou Temple, gazing at the picturesque views of Tamsui River and Guanyin Mountain, crafting their own “If I Open the Windows of My Heart.”
