Tamsui Old Street Introduction
Walking out of Tamsui MRT Station and turning right onto Zhongzheng Road, along with the extended Reconstruction Street and Qingshui Street, is the famous Tamsui Old Street. Tamsui Old Street is not only a well-known and popular attraction in Taiwan but also attracts many foreign visitors. The streets are lined with lively shops, featuring traditional snack shops and grocery stores, as well as trendy clothing and toy shops. A must-try food in Tamsui is A-gei, which is transliterated from the Japanese term for fried tofu. It is made by hollowing out fried tofu, filling it with stir-fried vermicelli, soaking it in braising sauce, then sealing it with fish paste and steaming it, finally drizzled with sweet chili sauce or the shop's secret sauce. Specialty snacks such as fish balls, A-po's iron eggs, and fish crisp are available, along with many historical sites to visit, ensuring that you won’t get bored. Tamsui Old Street is divided into two sides: the outer side, which is along the Tamsui River, features the Golden Riverside Path, while the inner side is the traditional old street, lined with lively shops, traditional snack shops, grocery stores, and trendy clothing and toy shops. In the evening, the Golden Riverside Path offers a beautiful view of the sunset over the sea. Reconstruction Street, located on the hillside, has developed earlier, so there are many wooden and brick old houses on both sides. At the end of the street, you can view the Tamsui River estuary from a high point. Later, due to commercial development, another street parallel to Reconstruction Street formed, primarily featuring rice shops and rice milling businesses, hence called "Rice Market" (now refers to 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 walk along Zhongzheng Road Old Street, you can see the statue park of Dr. Mackay, who had a significant impact on Tamsui, along with historical sites such as Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei Mackay Memorial Hospital, and Tamsui Church. In addition to exploring the scenic beauty, the unique shops on the old street are also great places for shopping and enjoying local delicacies. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism Network)
