West Chang Street - Qingcao Alley Introduction
Walking along Xichang Street near Longshan Temple in Taipei, you will smell a strong fragrance of herbal grass. The sweet and fresh aroma indicates that you are in Taipei's famous Herb Alley. In Lane 224, there are more than ten herbal shops gathered together, showcasing a variety of Chinese medicinal herbal materials. It is said that during the early development of Wanhua, there were many prevalent diseases, but licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioners were few, so herbal shops became the main institutions for folk treatment. People relied on herbal soups to cure illnesses, and many ancient remedies were hidden within, making it known as "Lifeline Street." Later, due to the cancellation of medical prescriptions and the implementation of health insurance by Longshan Temple, herbal products transformed into natural health foods. There are over 100 types of herbs here, all native to Taiwan, transported from the south and dried. The famous herbal tea is a remedy for the heat during the scorching summer, and many come here to buy a few bags to brew at home. Following the planning of Taipei City Government, herb samples such as aloe vera, red river grass, saxifrage, and lavender are planted in Guangzhou Street Lane 209, adjacent to Herb Alley and Longshan Temple, establishing a medicinal plant garden and making this a great place for outdoor teaching.
