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Dadaocheng: History, Culture and Food – A Local’s Guide of Dihua Street

by taiwanderjessica
Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-

Follow my guide of Dadaocheng, the oldest district in Taipei full of beautiful buildings! From now to January 27, enjoy the vibe of Lunar New Year Festival in Dadaocheng, the nearest MRT is Beiman station! In my article, you’ll know the historical buildings you shouldn’t miss when visiting!

Dadaocheng, a place known for dried seafood, Chinese medicinal herbs, fabric market and God of love. Recently, it’s known for fireworks, expensive cafes and a container market. 

Dadaicheng local guide

As a local from Taichung, Dadaocheng has been under the radar, even though I’ve been living in Taipei for over 15 years.The closest metro station, Beimen Station, was opened in 2014, only 10 years ago, and the northern one, Daqiaotou Station, was opened in 2010. As it represents the old part of Taipei with nothing I felt I needed and was a bit remote, it was not until 2020 that I first came here for leisure. 

lunar-new-year-taiwan-
photo taken in 2025.1

Festival on South Street, Dadaocheng in 1930

Kuo Hsueh-Hu : Festival on South Street :
Kuo Hsueh-Hu : Festival on South Street
Dadaocheng-Taipei

Before knowing Dadaocheng, you must know this importance piece by Dadaocheng born artist Kuo Hsueh-hu (Kueh Suat-ôo in Taiwanese) The beautiful Festival on South Street depicts Dihua street in 1930s. It is currently on display in Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Too Loud a Solitude: A Century of Pathfinding for Eastern Gouache Painting in Taiwan until Feb 2, 2025 with admission fee only 30 NTD. I went to the museum just for the piece.

See the Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple?

If you can’t make it to the museum, I’ll tell you where to see a replica in Dadaocheng (free), which I personally discovered after wandering in the area for almost a year.

Dadaocheng’

Dadaocheng first caught my attention in 2018, at The Future 100 forum by J. Walter Thompson, where a foreign speaker said that Dadaocheng was a hip place, very dynamic and fascinating. It was surprising to hear foreigners view Dadaocheng in such a positive light.

Dadaocheng-Taipei

Then, I visited again in 2022, 2023, and to my surprise, I started working in Dadaocheng District in 2024. After almost knowing this place for a year, I genuinely like this place for its mix of old and new, its historic buildings, and obviously cheaper but delicious food and hospitable street vendors that’s hard to find elsewhere in Taipei.

Kyu-hyun in Dadaocheng-Taipei-
Kyuhyun from Super Junior in 2024

I see tourists from all over the world every day, with a majority of Japanese, and I even saw Kyuhyun from Super Junior when he was filming the promotional video on the street as tourism ambassador of Taiwan.

Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-

I started my Chinese (Mandarin) blog in late 2023 and I decided to start an English one at the end of 2024. The blog entries about Dadaocheng I found online are a bit outdated and none of them is from a local’s perspective. Even the Michelin guide was flawed. They misrepresented the area of Dadaocheng and recommended food that’s not even located within the district.

Taiwan SIM Card|Pickup at Taoyuan Airport or Airport MRT

Dadaocheng-Taipei

Some of the spots no longer exist – I loved the ama museum and 207 museum and was fortunate to have visited them before they closed or moved. However, other fascinating places have opened, such as Kuos’ Astral Bookshop and the Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum.

Dadaocheng-Taipei

We all know things change, especially after the pandemic. However, looking at photos from this article in Taiwan Panorama published in 1980, you can still get a glimpse of what Dadaocheng was like in the past.

If you come to Dadaocheng, follow my guide with all photos taken by me in 2024. 

Where is Dadaocheng?

Dadaocheng-lunar-new-year-

Today, the area is roughly bounded by the North Gate in the south, Taipei Bridge in the north, the Tamsui River in the West and the Circle Restaurants in the east. Dihua Street is the oldest street in Taipei. As early as 1851, people started doing business there. 

quote from Taiwan Panorama

How to go to Dadaocheng?

North gate
North gate, or Beimen

I would recommend you to walk from Beimen Station or walk all the way from Ximen, if you enjoy walking, where you can look at the beautiful North Gate at the other exit.

You can also take a ride to Daqiaotou station and walk for about 10 minutes to get to the northern part of Dadaocheng.

When is the best time to visit Dadaocheng

Dadaocheng-
photo taken in 2024

Dihua Street is most lively in the morning. Part of it because there’s a Yongle Market that opens from 8 to 16, so people, especially elders come early. Taipei Xia Hai City God temple. closes at 19. One of the things I noticed when I started working in the area is that there are so many elders (and smokers) around. There are beer pubs (Mikkeller from Danmark, for example) so there must be some night life going on. But if you want to feel the nostalgic, ancient neighborhood, come before it gets dark.

 

2025 Lunar New Year Festival at Dihua Street

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photo taken in 2025.1

If you’re visiting during lunar new year, you’ll see lots of lantern and New Year market and experience Dihua Street at it busiest moments. Now, the lanterns are on but the annual lunar new year market of 2025 starts from January 11 to January 27. This year, marks its 30th anniversary, is a smoke-free market.

Lunar New Year market

From January 6 to 27, Dihua street is will be a pedestrian only area.

Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-
2025

The food market, the museum and some eateries are closed on Monday, so if you want to visit the market, avoid Mondays.

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photo taken in 2025.1
Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-

The fun part is to taste all the savory dried seafood or pork jerky along the way.

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Hand written(not printed) calligraphy.

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Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-

Beautiful red envelopes. Some aren’t red though. I used to work at ELLE and we got red envelopes from luxury brands like GUCCI, VCA, as gifts ( I have so many which is nearly a collection) so I’ve never bought them before.

Dadaocheng-Lunar-New-Year-

Very busy even during the weekdays.

By the way, Dihua in Mandarin is the old name of the city Ürümqi, the capital of the Xinjiang. After years of living in Taipei, I finally realized the street and names of Taipei’s street is a printed map of mainland China, with names like Nanjing West road or Jilin Road.

Taken on 2025.1.13

What to see in Dadaocheng?

Since almost all buildings in Dadaocheng are historical ones, I’ll add the year of its construction and sometimes add links to detailed English introduction from Panorama, an official publication by the government, or other websites.

Yongle Market 1908

Dadaocheng-Taipei

Yongle Market or Yongle Fabric Market (永樂商場) is a modernized indoor market ideal for a quick stop by for tourists, because it is air conditioned! A true life saver.

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Even if you come on Monday, you can still come inside the building and use the free public toilets, walking through the quiet market.

Dadaocheng-Taipei

There are three floors, the first is filled with tailors, tiny cafes, vendors that sell traditional food like oily rice, rice cake and customers that wait for a spot for sashimi. The first photo of this article is also taken from the 3rd floor here.

yongle fabric market

It’s clear, energetic, filled with local people and even has toilets. Toilets in Taiwan are free by the way. 

Dadaocheng Theater 2010

Dadaocheng-Taipei

I have to admit this Dadaocheng Theater (大稻埕戲苑) is one of my least visited spots, because I am not fond of those traditional dramas. But I would recommend visitors to come and take a look because it’s free and you may find it interesting. Just take the elevator in the market and voila! This nice little place that preserves traditional operas is in front of you.

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Huang Chun Hsiung is the glove puppeteer, narrator, and producer, regarded as National treasure.

Dadaocheng-Taipei

The introduction is in both Mandarin and English. I shared this on my facebook page and received a whopping 543 likes and 41 shares.

Dadaocheng-Taipei

link to official English introduction of the Dadaocheng Theater

Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple(1856)

Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple


As a christian, I don’t go to temples at all and all temples look the same to me. It was not until I grew older that I learned some traditional beliefs through dramas like Netflix drama The Teenage Psychic.

Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple

Also, Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple (台北霞海城隍廟) became widely known because one editor turned Youtuber lioumonn filmed detailed instructions about how to tell the love god to find your right one and won overnight fame in 2020. See the video here if you do want to pray to the god and if you understand Mandarin. I know that the temple has been famous and has little to do with the Youtuber but this is how I learned more about it. 

Top Rate Private Scenic Tour to Jiufen, Yehliu & Pingxi from Taipei on GetYourGuide

A.S. Watson & Co. Building. 1917

watsons building dadaocheng

The Watson’s building (屈臣氏大藥房) is the iconic building in the area. There’s a National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan, and I actually saw the replica in the Park first in 2017 before I ever visited Dadaocheng. Now the building is a heritage and has a bookbar, a restaurant and some stores in it. 

Dadaocheng Visitor Center 1924

 Dadaocheng Visitor Center

Dadaocheng Visitor Center (遊客中心) is quite nice, with free qipao rental and some photo spots. 

map of Dadaocheng

Please note that there’s no specific, widely recognized traditional Taiwanese outfit. The qipao is somewhat acceptable, but if you walk around wearing a qipao or even hanfu (said to be worn by Han Chinese), people may think you’re a cosplay enthusiast.

 Dadaocheng Visitor Center
2nd floor of  Dadaocheng Visitor Center

For example, when I was on the Peace Boat in 2023 and they asked us to bring our own traditional costume, we simply didn’t bring any because we didn’t want to be mistaken as Chinese wearing a qipao. No one that I know of would wear a qipao as formal attire for important events like weddings or graduation ceremonies.

Klook Dadaocheng Qipao Experience in Taipei

KKday Taipei Dadaocheng|In-depth Cultural Walking Tour

You can find a replica of Festival on South Street just at the entrance of the accessible toilet of the tourist center.

Dadaocheng Visitor center

Open Hours of the Dadaocheng Visitor Center is 9-18, everyday.

Dihua Street Post Office 1915

 Dadaocheng post office

I like Dihua Street Post Office (臺北迪化街郵局) a lot. It’s such a humble working heritage, the same post office activist/Doctor Chiang Wei-shui sent his letters from. Very humble post office that people often neglect.

Yao de Herb 1946

Dadaocheng-herb-tea

Yao de Herb(姚德和青草號) sells herbal tea in dried packages and in small portions. Give it a try if you pass by.

Long Yue Tang Bakery 1932

Long Yue Tang Bakery (龍月堂糕餅鋪) is the bakery that sells freshly baked pineapple buns. Those buns got the name because of its shape, without any pineapple ingredient in it and is often found in traditional bakeries. This bakery was founded in 1932 and has attended The 1935 Taiwan Exposition: In Commemoration of the First Forty Years of Colonial Rule, the mark on the wall is a proof.

Ten Cake Bakery 1930

Ten Cake Bakery(十字軒糕餅舖) is located only 300m from Long Yue Tang Bakery, Ten Cake Bakery is another century old bakery in the district. Their store is bigger and sells offerings to taoist deities. Those special pastry is hard to find. 

I Mei food, former site of Daan Hospital, 1916

i mei food

I MEI is a reputable food company. I would say almost every Taiwanese loves something from I MEI, be it the chocolate puff, soda crackers, red bean milk ice bars and their scallion pancake and boba ice cream bar can be found in the US markets.

I MEI PUFF

I was surprised to know that this exact store is the first store of the brand. Before, we often bought I Mei products in supermarkets. Recently, more and more I Mei shops opened up, giving us direct and a whole variety of choices. Their soft serve is also my favorite. What people don’t know is in some of these stores, you can buy a single ice bar(you don’t need to buy a whole box).

i mei food

Wei-Shui Station

Right next to I mei food, Wei Shui Station(渭水驛站) is a memorial space for Chiang Wei Shui, a doctor and nationalist pioneer. 

wei shui station

It’s a free exhibition and there’s a building miniature on the second floor.

former site of Daan Hospital

Read this article to know more about Dr. Chiang: A Light in the Political Darkness:Nationalist Pioneer Chiang Wei-shui

Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum 1932

New-Cultural-Movement-museum
photo taken in 2025.1

The Social Order and Police Incident occurred on Dec 16, 1923 and I attended an event about it on Dec 16, 2023 at the museum and heard an introduction given by Chiang’s descendant in Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum (新文化運動紀念館) followed by a walking tour around the area.

New Cultural Movement meseum
New-Cultural-Movement-museum

It somehow reminds me of Dalí’s Theatre-Museum in Figueres.

Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum
Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Museum

Da-Chien Department Store 1970

Dadaocheng-Taipei-

Da-Chien Department Store (大千百貨) was one of the grand department stores in the 1970s. Before that, it was a hotel named Asia Hotel, opened in 1928. 

Ren’an Hospital 1927

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Ren’an hospital (仁安醫院) is owned by Dr. Ko and was the first fully intact hospital heritage building. Now it’s open for free visits.

Cisheng Temple 1864

Cisheng Temple

Cisheng temple (大稻埕慈聖宮) worships Matzu, the sea goddess, that’s all I know. It’s famous for it’s food street in front of the temple, under the banyan tree.

Cisheng Temple

KKday Taipei Dadaocheng|Morganhope In-depth Taiwanese Tea Tasting & Tea Making Experience

Kuos’ Astral Bookshop 1922

Kuos' Astral Bookshop
Kuos' Astral Bookshop

The bookshop (郭怡美書店)soon became my favorite spot when I came. I love the book selection and its interior. You can see the space between the first building and the second building, which is found in traditional Min

See English introduction of the bookshop.

Kuos' Astral Bookshop

Sin Hong Choon Tea Museum 1934

Sin Hong Choon Tea Museum

I visited the新芳春茶行 museum with my friends from Japan in 2023, before I knew anything about Dadaocheng. It was a good place to learn the tea business in the area and take some photos!

See the English introduction of it

Lin-fu-zhen Store 1853

Lin-fu-zhen Store (林復振商行) is the store that has been running since 1853, pretty amazing.

Found some historical record here

Lin Wu-Hu House 1851

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The Lin’s (林五湖本館)is one of Dadaocheng’s first settlers and this combined shop and home is known as the oldest building in the area. 

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It’s open during Lunar New Year Festival!

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Selling spring couplets and tea.

Lee Chun-sheng Memorial Christ Presbyterian Church

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It is said that Li Chunsheng is the founding father of Taiwan’s tea industry. He’s also a philosopher that also contributes to the funding of Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. This church 臺灣基督長老教會 李春生紀念教會 is established by his family in his name. So surprised to know there’s also a Czech wiki of him in detail.

Dadaocheng Presbyterian Church 1875

Dadaocheng-Taipei

Dadaocheng Presbyterian Church (臺灣基督長老教會 大稻埕教會) is a church funded by Li. There’s a pipe organ in the church. There’s only 30-ish organs in Taiwan, mostly in churches. 

Former Residence of Lee Lim-chhiu 1887

Former Residence of Lee Lim-chhiu
Former Residence of Lee Lim-chhiu

He’s a lyricist that writes in Taiwanese. His most famous piece is Bāng Chhun-hong, meaning “Longing for the Spring Breeze”. 李臨秋故居 is renovated and reopened in July 2024 as space to exhibit showcases Lee’s manuscripts. 

See the English introduction of Former Residence of Lee Lim-chhiu

Koo’s Dadaocheng Residence 1910

Koos-DaDaoCheng-Residence.j

The Koo’s family is one of the top wealthiest, powerful families in Taiwan. This residence (大稻埕辜宅) was once used as a kindergarten and now is an idle place.

Thier original home in Lukang is now the Lukang Folk Arts Museum. It’s a magnificent western mansion in a Baroque style designed by Moriyama Matsunosuke, the Japanese architect behind what is now the Presidential Office. It’s worth visiting. 

See the English introduction of this The Koo’s DaDaoCheng Residence

Lung Yingtai Cultural Foundation (No. 207, Sec. 1, Dihua St)

photo taken in 2022.8
Dadaocheng-Taipei
photo taken in 2024.12

The location of the foundation 迪化街一段207號店屋(原廣和堂藥舖) 1962 was formerly 207 museum, the first private museum in Taipei, which was closed in August 2022. I was fortunate enough to join the last tours given and took some beautiful photos from the top. It’s not open to the public now but if you walk past the building, you can look at the window that holds the medicine container.

The image on the floor, honey (read from left to right, not the other way round, meaning bee) and ginseng also represent where it used to be, a medicine shop opened in 1962. 

Dadaocheng-Taipei
photo taken in 2022.8

At the rooftop, you can overlook at the red brick roof surrounding the area.

Chen Tian-lai Residence 1920

He’s the most successful tea merchant after Lee Chun-sheng See introduction in English in the official website. The building is now under construction so there’s nothing to see if you visit it onsite(I visited it and checked, it will be renovated by 2026.4)

Starbucks Reserve Bao An Store 1926

Dadaocheng- starbucks

The branch 星巴克保安門市was opened in 2014. I also visited it with friends in 2023. The building is owned by a pineapple merchant and was used as a hospital, hotel and restaurant. I also like the interior, great place to take a rest. 

Bolero Restaurant 1934

bolero

The name of Bolero restaurant波麗路西餐廳 derives from the song Bolero, and was one of the most iconic western restaurants in Taiwan, famous for its duck, prawn en croquette. During the early time when arranged marriage was a thing, many couples met here for the first time.(with their mothers and the matchmaker) A book about Belero was published in August 2024. I’ve never been there. 

link to menu  

7-11, family mart in Dadocheng 1947

Dadaocheng 7-11
7-11

The convenient stores in Dadaocheng are also worth visiting! The 7-11 and family mart, both located on Dihua Street, are just a few minutes away. Free seats are available on the 2nd floor, offering a view to the street from above.

Dadaocheng

The building where 7-11 is located was built in 1947 with a tiny atrium, a common design found in traditional buildings. 

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Dadaocheng
Family mart
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This is hi-life, the third biggest convenience store, decorated by Jimmy Liao’s work. There’s a Kuang Chuan milk’s logo, indicating that this is the starting point of the local milk brand. It’s one of the most consumed milk, great for making milk tea.

Klook Dadaocheng Qipao Experience in Taipei

KKday Taipei Dadaocheng|In-depth Cultural Walking Tour

Lins Wagashi 1953

Lins Wagashi (滋養製菓) is one of the most famous shops in Dadaocheng. Lins Wagashi is famous for its Japanese style sweets with a Taiwanese touch. Their red bean mochi are considered decent gifts during the holiday season. 

Lins Wagashi

Dadaocheng’s winter only strawberry mochi

Dadaocheng-Taipei

If you read this, the vendor sells the best winter strawberry daifuku (mochi) in the area, long queues everyday. Trust me, I walk pass this everyday. When I waited patiently in line for my mochi(I waited for 40 minutes by the way), a lady behind me said she comes every year and once hand carry it to Tokyo for her friend.

Other vendors sell strawberry mochi, too but they are there all year round. The different is that this one uses Taiwan strawberry. And it truly tastes the best. Normally I hate waiting in lines but it’s worth it! It’s NT 50 each by the way.

Conclusion: What a history in Dadaocheng!

Dadaocheng-Taipei-

Congratulations for the read! I am glad you found this article. Now you have a better understanding of this fascinating district. I plan to write more about Dadaocheng when I have time!

Taiwan Panorama: The Golden Age of Festival on South Street

My mandarin version of this article can be found here.

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1 comment

Vanessa 2024 年 12 月 31 日 - 20:52

This was really helpful to learn more about Taiwan from your perspective! Thanks for sharing!

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