Tamsui Old Street Introduction
Walking out of Tamsui MRT Station and turning right onto Zhongzheng Road, along with the extended Ch重建 Street and Qingshui Street, you will find the famous Tamsui Old Street. Tamsui Old Street is not only a well-known popular attraction in Taiwan, but it also attracts many foreign tourists. The streets are lined with lively shops, featuring traditional snack shops and general stores, as well as trendy clothing and toy stores. A must-try delicacy in Tamsui is "A-gei," whose name is derived from the Japanese pronunciation of fried tofu. It’s made by hollowing out fried tofu, stuffing it with stir-fried vermicelli, soaking it in a braising sauce, then sealing it with fish paste and steaming it, finally drenching it with sweet and spicy sauce or the shop's secret sauce. Notable snacks include fish balls, Grandma’s iron eggs, and fish crisps, along with many historical sites to visit, ensuring that you won't get bored no matter how you explore. Tamsui Old Street is divided into two sides; the outer side is the golden waterfront path by the Tamsui River, while the inner side is the traditional old street with bustling shops, offering traditional snack shops and general stores, as well as trendy clothing and toys. In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea from the golden waterfront path. The reconstructed street on the hillside developed earlier, hence it still has many wooden and brick old houses. At the end of the street, you can gaze at the Tamsui River estuary from a high vantage point. Due to commercial development, another street was formed parallel to the reconstructed street, mainly consisting of rice shops and rice milling businesses, thus nicknamed "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. Continuing along Zhongzheng Road Old Street, you will see the statue of Dr. Mackay, who had a deep influence on Tamsui, at Mackay Memorial Park, with historical sites such as Qingshui Temple, Fuyou Temple, Huwei Mackay Memorial Clinic, and Tamsui Church along the way. Besides seeking beautiful scenery in the old street, the unique shops within are great places for shopping and enjoying food. (Source: New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Website)
