Tamsui Old Street Introduction
Walking out of Tamsui MRT Station and turning right, you will find yourself on Zhongzheng Road, which extends to Chongjian Street and Qingshui Street, home to the famous Tamsui Old Street. Not only is Tamsui Old Street a well-known hotspot in Taiwan, but it also attracts many foreign visitors. The streets are lined with lively shops, featuring traditional pastry shops, grocery stores, and places selling trendy clothing and toys. A must-try local delicacy here is "A-gei," derived from the Japanese word for fried tofu; it is made by hollowing out fried tofu, filling it with stir-fried vermicelli, soaking it in braising sauce, sealing it with fish paste, and steaming it, then drizzling it with sweet chili sauce or the shop's secret sauce. Other special snacks include fish balls, A-po iron eggs, and fish crisp, along with many historical sites to explore, ensuring you’ll never get bored. Tamsui Old Street is divided into two sides: the outer side, which is along the riverside with the Golden Waterfront Promenade, and the inner side, which features the traditional old street lined with shops selling traditional goods, trendy clothing, and toys. In the evening, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset view over the sea from the Golden Waterfront Promenade. Chongjian Street, located on the hillside, developed earlier, and thus features many wooden and brick houses. At the end of the street, you can overlook the Tamsui River estuary from a high point. Later, due to commercial development, another parallel street emerged, primarily focused on rice shops and the rice milling industry, hence it's called "Rice Market" (now the northern section of Qingshui Street). It wasn't until the construction of Qingshui Temple that Rice Market Street was renamed Qingshui Street. Walking further along Zhongzheng Road, you'll see the statue park of Dr. Mackay, who greatly influenced Tamsui, as well as Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei Mackay Hospital, and Tamsui Chapel, among other historical sites. Besides seeking out scenic spots, the unique shops in the old street are also great places for shopping and enjoying delicious food. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism Network)
