Xichang Street - Qingcao Alley Introduction
Walking along Xichang Street near Taipei's Longshan Temple, you'll catch a strong scent of herbal grass. The sweet fragrance wafts through the air, indicating that you are in Taipei's famous Herb Alley. In Alley 224, more than ten herbal shops gather, showcasing a variety of traditional Chinese medicine herbs. It is said that during the early days of the Monga settlement, there were many prevalent diseases, but licensed Chinese medicine practitioners were few. Therefore, herbal shops became the main institutions for folk medicine, where people used herbal concoctions to treat ailments, and many ancient folk remedies were hidden within. It was once referred to as "Saving Lives Street." Later, as Longshan Temple discontinued the use of herbal prescription notes and implemented health insurance, herbal products transformed into natural health foods. This area boasts over 100 kinds of herbs, all sourced from Taiwan, transported from the south and dried. The famous herbal tea is a perfect remedy to cool down in the scorching summer, and many people come here to buy a few bags to brew at home. Under the planning of the Taipei City Government, Herb Alley and the adjacent Guangzhou Street Alley 209 near Longshan Temple have planted living samples of herbal plants such as aloe vera, red river seven, saxifrage, and lavender, designated as a medicinal plant garden, making it a great location for outdoor education.
