Boai Road_Hankou Street_Camera Street Introduction
The area around Bo'ai Road and Hankou Street, commonly known as the "Bo-Han District," is home to the most concentrated number of camera shops in Taiwan. This camera street has witnessed the development of photographic equipment in Taiwan, tracing back to the late Qing Dynasty and the early Japanese occupation when photography technology was introduced. Cameras were always expensive, and it was rare for the average person to afford one; a camera was considered a luxury that could only be exchanged for a house or more than a thousand kilograms of rice. At that time, there were many government offices and media outlets within "Taipei City," and the proximity to the convenient Taipei Railway Station contributed to the gradual flourishing of camera shops due to these clients. After the establishment of "Rollei," a large-format camera store specializing in German Rollei cameras across from the Taipei Post Office in 1958, shops like Hsing Fu and Yu Jou on Hankou Street, along with Rong Mei and Yong Sheng on Bo'ai Road, began to open. Over the years, nearly 50 camera stores have established roots in this area, offering a complete range of brands and accessories. As times have changed, cameras are no longer considered expensive luxuries; now, it is common for everyone to own a digital camera. To find good cameras, one must come here, as the long-standing shops' commitment to professionalism is naturally supported by discerning customers.
