Yuanlin Shopping Street_Shoe Street Introduction
Walking near the entrance of Yuanling Street by Taipei Main Station, you can see a giant black shoe installation; this street is known as Shoe Street. The area surrounded by Zhonghua Road, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongshan South Road, and Aiguo West Road was once the Taipei City during the Qing Dynasty and has consistently been the center of Taiwan's politics, economy, and culture. Even though the city walls no longer exist, people still refer to this area as the "City Center." Yuanling Shopping Street, located "within the city," has been rich in literary and cultural resources throughout history. Many stores here are long-established businesses that adhere to the principles of honesty. With Taiwan's economic development, the City Center Market and Yuanling Shopping Street have become hubs for clothing and shoe stores, with Yuanling Shopping Street being particularly famous for shoe shops. Most of the shoes sold on Yuanling Shopping Street are masterpieces personally stitched by skilled craftsmen, and many older generations bring their shoes here for repairs whenever they get damaged. With societal advancements and the rise of department stores, Yuanling Shopping Street has lost many customers; however, its emphasis on uniqueness and high quality has kept the shopping area lively and bustling.
