Tamsui Old Street Introduction
Walking out of Tamsui MRT Station and turning right onto Zhongzheng Road, along the extended Reconstruction Street and Qingshui Street, you will find the famous Tamsui Old Street. Not only has Tamsui Old Street become a well-known attraction in Taiwan, but it also attracts many foreign visitors. The streets are lined with bustling shops, ranging from traditional pastry shops and grocery stores filled with nostalgia to trendy clothing and toy shops. One must-try food in Tamsui is "A-gei," a dish whose name is a direct translation 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 then steaming it. It is usually drizzled with sweet and spicy sauce or the shop's secret sauce. Other popular snacks include fish balls, Ah Po's iron eggs, and fish crackers, along with numerous historical sites to visit, making it an endless source of fun. Tamsui Old Street is divided into two sides: the outer side is along the picturesque Golden Waterfront Path by the Tamsui River, while the inner side is the traditional old street, also featuring vibrant shops filled with nostalgic pastry shops, grocery stores, trendy clothing, and toys. In the evening, visitors can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea from the Golden Waterfront Path. Reconstruction Street, located on a hillside, developed earlier, thus retains many wooden and brick houses along its sides. At the end of the street, visitors can admire the view of the Tamsui River estuary from a higher vantage point. Later, due to commercial development, another street parallel to Reconstruction Street, mainly focused on rice shops and rice milling, was formed, known as "Rice Market" (now the northern section of Qingshui Street). It was only after the construction of Qingshui Temple that Rice Market Street was renamed Qingshui Street. As you continue along Zhongzheng Road towards the old street, you will see the statue park of Dr. George MacKay, who greatly influenced Tamsui, along with historical sites like Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei MacKay Clinic, and Tamsui Church. In the old street, not only can visitors seek unique experiences and attractions, but the distinctive shops along the way are also great places to shop and enjoy delicious food. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism Website)
