Tamsui Old Street Introduction
From Tamsui MRT Station, turn right onto Zhongzheng Road and the adjoining Jhongjian Street and Chengshui Street, where you will find the famous Tamsui Old Street. Tamsui Old Street is not only a well-known popular attraction in Taiwan, but it also draws many foreign visitors. The streets are lined with bustling shops offering a wide variety of goods, including traditional snack shops, grocery stores, and trendy fashion and toy stores. A must-try food in Tamsui is "A-gei," which is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of fried tofu. It is made by hollowing out the fried tofu, filling it with stir-fried glass noodles, soaking it in a marinade, sealing it with fish paste, and then steaming it. Finally, it is topped with sweet and spicy sauce or the shop's unique secret sauce. Other local snacks include fish balls, "A-po's iron eggs," and fish snacks, along with many historical sites to visit, ensuring that there is always something to do. Tamsui Old Street is divided into two sides: the outer side features the golden waterfront path by the Tamsui River, while the inner side is the traditional old street. Here, there are many vibrant shops that sell traditional snacks, groceries, trendy clothing, and toys. In the evening, visitors can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the sea from the golden waterfront path. Jhongjian Street, located on the hillside, developed earlier and still has many wooden and brick old houses along its sides. Walking to the end of the street offers a panoramic view of the Tamsui River estuary. Later, due to commercial development, another street was formed parallel to Jhongjian Street, mainly focused on rice stores and rice milling, hence it was called "Rice Market" (now the northern section of Chengshui Street). It was only after the construction of the Qingshui Temple that Rice Market Street was renamed Chengshui Street. As you walk along Zhongzheng Road Old Street, you will encounter the statue of Dr. Mackay that has greatly influenced Tamsui and along the way, there are also Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei Mackay Clinic, and Tamsui Church, among other historical sites. Besides exploring historical attractions, the unique shops within the old street are also great places for shopping and enjoying delicious food. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Website)
