Boai Road, Hankou Street, Camera Street Introduction
The camera street around Bo'ai Road and Hankou Street, commonly known as the "Bo-Han area," boasts the highest density of camera shops in Taiwan. This street has witnessed the development of photography equipment in Taiwan. Since the late Qing Dynasty and the early Japanese colonial period, when photography technology was introduced to Taiwan, cameras have always been expensive items that were rarely affordable for the average person. A camera used to be a luxury that could only be exchanged for a house or over a thousand jin of rice. At that time, many government agencies and media outlets were located "within Taipei City," and the proximity to the conveniently located Taipei Railway Station gradually led to the flourishing of camera shops due to these clients. After the establishment of a large format camera shop specializing in German Rollei cameras called "Rollei" across from the Taipei Post Office in 1958, several camera shops like Hsing Fu and Universe on Hankou Street, as well as Rong Mei and Yong Sheng on Bo'ai Road, opened one after another, leading to nearly 50 camera stores taking root in the area in recent years, offering various brands and accessories. With the changes of the times, cameras are no longer expensive, and it has become common for every individual to own a digital camera. To find good cameras, one must come here, where the longstanding stores' commitment to professionalism naturally attracts discerning customers.
