Hsinchu's Flower market is a unique market that sells half food and half gardening products in Hsinchu City. It is only open on the weekends, but you can often find lots of people here buying plants and seeds to make their gardens. It is a worthwhile visit if you are in Hsinchu. 

Background:
Hsinchu's Weekend Flower Market was established in 1984 by Hsinchu's agricultural association.
The market was closed for three months during the summer of 2021 because of the Pandemic.
In addition to snacks, gardening tools, and local agricultural products, the market also sells many local art and craft items. 

Price:
Free
​
Hours:
8 AM - 7 PM Saturdays and Sundays

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From central Hsinchu, turn onto Shipin Road, and park near the south side of Hsinchu Park. There is an underground parking lot and paid parking on the side of the road. The temple is on the south side of the park. 
By TRA: Hsinchu Confucius temple is only a ten-minute walk from Hsinchu TRA station; it lies south of the station in Hsinchu Park.​

Map:

Hsinchu's Beimen Street is the oldest merchant street in Hsinchu, dating back to the Kindom of Tungming. Due to the completion of the railway and urban planning in the Japanese area, this street lost its importance, but many historical buildings here are still intact. It is one of the most impressive historical sites in Hsinchu and is worth a visit for anyone in the area.

Background:
After the settlement of the area by Han Chinese farmers in about 1711 during the Kingdom of Tungming, what was then known as Zhuqianshe became the most important economic area in northern Taiwan. By 1723, a walled city was built here out of bamboo, because brick walls were forbidden for fear of a revolt against the Qing authorities. The name Zhuqiancheng (竹塹城) literally means bamboo moat city. The bamboo-walled city had four gates and its perimeter was about 1.4 KM long. In 1806, the city was upgraded with earthen walls. 

Beimen Street literally means North Gate Street, because it used to lead out to the north gate of the city, toward Bangka (modern Taipei), along the main road linking northern Taiwan. It was the most important economic area in Hsinchu until the end of the Qing Dynasty. Goods were brought from the old harbor to this street, where they were then distributed to other places nearby.
Unfortunately, a fire took place here in 1901 which destroyed much of the original old wooden structures. After Japan took control of Taiwan, they created a new urban plan for the city. which moved the city center about 500 meters to the south around the East Gate. This along with the new Hsinchu TRA station meant that Beimen Street would gradually lose its economic importance. 
However many rich families still based their livelihood on this street, including the Beimen Gentry. There was also an incident during WWII when allied bombers attacked a mansion on the street, mistaking it for the Japanese governor's mansion. 
​
Hours:
24/7, but I recommend visiting at night when the night market it open. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
The old street is within walking distance of Hsinchu TRA station.

Map:
Please see below:

Beipu Old Street is a popular old street in Beipu Township of Hsinchu county. Once an economic center for tea production, as well as coal mining in the area, later it became well-known for its traditional Hakka cuisine. Currently, the old street is crowded with tourists on weekends who come for treats such as Persimmon cakes and Taro Mooncakes.

Background:
The area around Beipu was first inhabited by Saysiyat Aboriginal peoples and was first settled by Han Chinese farmers in 1835. A wall of bamboo was built around the city to ward off attacks from Aboriginals. Later during the Japanese era, Beipu housed an experimental tea farm. Later in the ROC era, coal mining became the main economic activity nearby. Also, provincial highway 3 was built to skirt around the town, which meant that many shops decided to move off the old street. However, due to the many delicious Hakka snacks sold and restaurants on the old street, Beipu still attracted many tourists.
Famous historical buildings along the old street include Jinguangfu Mansion, Shui A-Hsin Mansion, and Beipu Citian Temple.
A period TV drama series called "Gold Leaf 茶金" was filmed here, based on novel by Huanh Kuo-hua, filmed in 2021. It went on to receive 16 nominations at the Golden Bell Awards. Maybe you have heard of it. It's on Netflix. 
Now Beipu Old Street has become a popular tourist location and can be very crowded on weekends. 

Hours:
9 AM to 5:30 PM every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take highway 122 or expressway 68 to Zhudong, then turn south on Provincial Highway 3. The Old Street is hard to miss in the center of Beipu. There is free parking on the side of the road outside the old street. 
By bus: From Zhudong TRA station, you can take the 5700 shuttle bus to the old street, which takes about 20 minutes. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Four Four South Village (aka Forty-Four South Village) is a former military dependents village that has been converted into a cultural park in Xinyi District of Taipei City. Now it is home to cafes, arts and crafts stores, bookstores, and a community center. Also, it has great views of the Taipei 101. It is worth visiting if you are in the area. 

Background:
Four Four South Village was named and built for the 44th Arsenal of the Combined Logistics Command and their families in 1948, after the ROC military retreated to Taiwan following defeat in the Chinese Civil War. The houses were cheaply built out of wood, concrete, bamboo, and tiles. The houses were small, and everyone had to share a communal bathroom. There was also no running water when it was built. Part of the village was destroyed in a fire in 1999, and the whole village was planned to be demolished in 2001, but local residents and cultural experts persuaded the government to preserve part of the village as a cultural heritage site. Now it sits as an important historical site close to the Taipei 101.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free:

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the MRT red line to the Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. The village is just a short one minute walk south. 
By Car/Scooter: The village is just south of Xinyi Road, southwest of the Taipei 101. There is paid parking nearby.

Map:
Please see below:

Luodong Night Market is the largest night market in Yilan and is one of the area's top tourist destinations. The night market covers a large area and usually is packed with people. Delicacies here include mutton soup, shaved ice, duck noodles, and onion pancakes. It is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Yilan.

Background:
Luodong Night Market was created in 1990 as part of the local government's plan. The main part of the night market was built in front of a movie theater, so moviegoers could go get food after seeing a movie. Soon a few stalls became many, and the night market soon turned into the large sprawling area that we see today. The night market covers areas along Minsheng Road, Gongyuan Road, and Minquan Road, and also sprawls onto Tianjin Road, Zhentai Street, Xingdong Street, and Zhongshan Road Section 3. 

Hours:
3 PM to 12 AM every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
Bar Car/Scooter: From National Freeway 5, turn west on provincial highway 9 toward Luodong. There is paid parking near Zhongshan Park.
By TRA: The night market is about 200 meters away from Luodong TRA station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Donggang's Huaqiao Seafood Market is a popular place to shop and eat in Dongang Township of Pingtung. It is also right next to the ferry terminal to Xiaoliuqiu (Lamay Island) which is just a few kilometers offshore. Because of this, the seafood market is usually packed with people. Popular foods here include sashimi, fried fish balls, oyster omelets, and crab cakes. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Pingtung, or on the way to Xiaoliuqiu. 

Background:
Donggang (literally east harbor) gets its name from early settlers, who thought of the place as east of the Goaoping River. At the same time Qijin was known as Xigang (west harbor) and Linyuan was known as Zhonggang (middle harbor). Originally the area around Donggang was a wetland before it was settled by farmers and fishermen from mainland China. 
Like many oceanside cities in Taiwan, Donggang is famous for its seafood and is a popular place to buy freshly caught fish the same morning it is brought in by the fisherman. Another reason the area is so popular is that it is the main ferry terminal to Xiaoliuqiu (Lamay Island) which is just a few kilometers offshore. Because of this, the seafood market is usually packed with people.

Hours:
About noon to 7 PM.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 south to Donggang and turn into the city center. The harbor is in the western part of the city. There is free scooter parking and paid car parking at the fishing harbor (30 NT per car), but the fishing harbor does not allow overnight parking. 
By TRA/bus: From Nanzhou TRA station, you can take bus 519 about 20 minutes to the seafood market.
​Map:
Please see below:

Chiayi is a mostly rural county in south-central Taiwan. Despite its relatively small population compared to other counties in Taiwan, it has some of the most beautiful scenery, delicious local food, and interesting history. Come for Alishan, and stay for everything else you find along the way.

Below I will list out some of the best places in Chiayi that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places later. 

How to get around in Chiayi?
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Chiayi by taking the TRA train, Alishan Forest Railway, inter city bus, or local bus. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. 

Need a Tour Guide?
You can purchase many of the tickets to the following places through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.

Map:
You can see a map of all the places that we will visit in this blog below:

Bogart's Smokehouse is an authentic American barbeque restaurant in Nangang District of Taipei. Run by Americans, it is a taste of home for many foreigners in Taiwan. 

Background:
From their website: "Our story starts with an big idea and a little conversation. Having worked for Dalie’s Smokehouse in Valley Park Missouri, and gaining a true respect for their process of smoked meats and side dishes, an idea to bring that sweet flavor over to Taiwan began. Over a hearty conversation, and a few beers, planning stages were prepared to bring over a direct translation of what real Bar-B-Que is produced from the best of what local farms in Taiwan can provide. The result, is something truly special indeed. Influenced by the legend, Executive Chef Skip Steele of Pappy’s Smokehouse Saint Louis, with Mr. Peter Brickler of Tempus Saint Louis, and Chef Hunter we bring a style of BBQ unheard of in Taiwan. We hope you enjoy!"

Website:
http://bogartsbbq.com/
www.facebook.com/bogartssmokehousetaipei/

Price:
Ribs: 600 NT for half, 1100 NT for whole
Sandwiches: 260-350 NT including sides

Hours:
Tue. to Sat.
11:30 – 20:00ish or till they are sold out. 
Sun. 11:30 – 16:00 or till they are sold out.
So get there early. 
How to get there:
By car/scooter: The restaurant is right on Nangang Road in front of the train station. There is parking on the side of the road or at Nangang Station.
By MRT/TRA: The restaurant is within five minute walking distance of Nangang TRA/MRT station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Hongdao Night market is a small night market that opens twice a week at the border of Xizhi and Nangang in New Taipei. It is one of many small night markets around Taiwan that are only available a few nights a week because there are not enough people to keep it going every night of the week.

Hours:
Tuesday and Friday night from 5 PM to 11 PM. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Nangang station, go east and turn right onto Academia Sinica Road, then turn left on Hengke Road. The night market is on the left. 
By MRT: From Nangang Exhibition Center Station, the night market is within walking distance. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Taiwan is one of the best places for expats to live in the whole world. It can be easy to enjoy your life here. However, sometimes differences in the culture, food, people, and environment can get you down. Therefore we have listed some advice for expats so that they can live their best life in Taiwan and enjoy every moment here. 

Let's get started with the list.

Yongkang Street is home to some of the best food in Taipei. Neither a night market nor an old street, it is just a street with good food. The street is mostly geared to the tastes of tourists and foreign travelers. Besides food, there are also art shops, clothing shops, bookstores, tea shops, and many other specialty shops. 

Background:
Yongkang Street sits in front of Dongmen MRT station and ends at Lishui Street. It is surrounded by sites such as the CKS memorial, Da'an Forest Park, and NTU. The Street has become a popular place for foreigners, especially from Japan and Korea to try out Taiwan's local delicacies such as Mango Ice and Beef Noodle Soup. I think this can be attributed partly to foreign media and blogging, and partly to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7, but most shops are only open until about 9 PM.

How to get there:
By car/scooter: It is not hard to find from central Taipei, but parking is hard to find, so I do not recommend driving here if you can avoid it.
By MRT: Right in front of Dongmen MRT station.

Map:
Please see below:

Taiwan's Pizza Hut 歡樂吧 all you can eat buffet is every American pizza lover's dream, at a reasonable price.
Let me reiterate this clearly: Pizza Hut has buffets in Taiwan. For about 400 NT, you can have all you can eat pizza. This is cheaper then buying a small Pizza Hut pizza from their delivery locations. And you can sample all the new weird pizza hut flavors without having to buy an entire pizza.

Pizza Hut's Buffet is my favorite restaurant in Taiwan, and the world actually. I am a sad American who still loves his pizza more than anything. Pizza Hut has been my favorite since childhood. Sadly, there are no Pizza Hut Buffets in the USA, but there are some in Taiwan. Honestly it has been a major contributing factor in me deciding to move to Taiwan permanently, I visit at least four times a year. The local Pizza Hut Huanleba in Nangang has stood for over 10 years while all other restaurants around it have closed down, because it is the best, and people keep coming back.

Price: (as of August 2022): 319 NTD on weekdays, 369 NTD on weekends. 

Website: ppb.pizzahut.com.tw/ppbmeals.php#openhour

Locations: Currently there are only four locations in Taiwan. Taipei Dunhua, Taipei Guangfu, Taipei Nangang, and Kaohsiung Dram Mall: ppb.pizzahut.com.tw/ppbmeals.php#openhour​

Map: See the four Taiwan locations below:

One of the best parts of Taiwan is it's cuisine, and one of the greatest forms of cuisine in Taiwan is hot pot. Basically it involves boiling meat and vegetables in a broth to eat. In particular, all you can eat hot pot buffets in Taiwan are a great way to get full, which can be divided into small hot pots, low end hot pot buffets, and high end hot pot buffets. 

Background:
Hot pot first originated in China in the Zhou Dynasty, and the traditional food making process has continued to this day. Hot pot exists in many forms, such as Mala (spicy) hot pot, Lamb Hot Pot, Beef Hot Pot, Seafood Hot Pot, Seafood Hot Pot, Stinky Tofu Hot Pot, etc.
In Taiwan it is popular to add Shacha sauce and other hot sauces to mix with the cooked foods.
In addition, most hot pot places will offer unlimited drinks, rice, and ice cream, while full buffets will offer all you can eat meats and vegetables, along with other hot foods and desserts.
Hot pot is most popular during winter months when it is colder, but you will find a lot of people still eating hot pot in summer because it is so delicious.

Price:
Small hotpot (no buffet): 80-150 NT per pot
Semi-buffet hotpot (free drinks, rice, and maybe ice cream): 100-200 NT per person
Low-end full hotpot buffet (cheaper buffet items): 300-500 NT per person
High-end hotpot buffet (more expensive higher quality buffet items): 500-2000 NT per person

Popular Hot Pot Chains:

Semi-buffet hot pot (free drinks, rice, and maybe ice cream):
Sanma Stinky Hotpot 三媽臭臭鍋
Dahu Guoyin Hotpot 大呼過癮小火鍋

Low-end full hot pot buffet (cheaper buffet items):
Shabu Shabu 千葉 (Qianye)
Jixian Hotpot 極鮮火鍋 ​
Xianyou Hotpot 鮮友火鍋
12 Hotpot 石二鍋
​
High-end hot pot buffet (more expensive higher quality buffet items): 
HaiDiLao Hotpot 海底撈火鍋 
Xindian Hotpot 辛殿麻辣鍋
Leqi Hotpot 樂崎火鍋 

There are basically countless hot pot restaurants and restaurant chains, more than I could ever list in this blog. 

Some would say Ecuador is the banana capital of the world, and that is probably right, but I’m sure Taiwan bananas are just as good. One of the great things about living in Taiwan is you can buy fresh bananas on the street almost everywhere, so if you are a banana connoisseur like myself you will not have worry about bananas going bad (I eat bananas single every day).
有人會說厄瓜多爾是世界香蕉之基地，但我相信台灣的香蕉也一樣好。住在台灣的好處之一就是到處都可以在街上買到新鮮的香蕉，所以如果你像我一樣是個香蕉鑑賞家，你就不用擔心香蕉壞掉的沒香蕉吃（我每天吃香蕉）。

The Dragon Boat Festival (aka Double Fifth Festival) is a special time of year, during which Taiwan gets a major holiday vacation and there are Dragon Boat Races. During this time, people also must eat Zongzi. We have created this guide for you to see the official dragon boat races all around Taiwan and understand more about this special cultural festival.

Historical Background:
Originally Dragon Boat Festival may have started during the Qin Dynasty as a day to remove evil spirits and bad luck that were thought to appear on the fifth day of the fifth month.
The best known origin story for the Dragon Boast Festival is that it commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a famous poet and official  of the Chu Dynasty during the Warring States Period. He opposed the Chu Dynasty joining an alliance with the Qin, and therefore was banished. When the Qin Dynasty finally took over the Chu Dynasty, he committed suicide by entering the Miluo River (汨羅江 Mìluójiāng) and drowning himself.
It was said that the local people went looking for him by rowing dragon shaped canoes, and threw sticky rice balls into the water so that the fish would eat the rice and not Qu Yuan's body. Because of this, during Dragon Boat Festival everyone eats stick rice, or Zongzi, and holds dragon boat races to commemorate Qu Yuan's memory. 
Another tradition is for people to balance eggs, which is thought to bring good luck during the "unlucky" holiday. 
Dragon Boat races usually involve a team rowing together, while someone beats a drum to keep rhythm and someone else stands at the front of the boat to catch the flag. 
Dragon Boat Festival is an official holiday in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, and is celebrated by Chinese heritage communities throughout Asia and the world. 

When is Dragon Boat Festival?
The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. 

2022: June 3rd
2023: June 22nd
2024: June 10th 
2025: May 31st 
2025: June 19th
2026: June 9th 

When are Dragon Boat Races in Taiwan?
Training starts about a month before Dragon Boat Festival
The actual races begin a few days before or on Dragon Boat Festival, and can last a few days after as well. Races usually last the whole day. 

Where are Dragon Boat Races in Taiwan?

Taipei International Dragon Boat Championships: 國際龍舟錦標賽
Dates: (June 3-June 6 2022)
Location: Dajie Riverside Park 大佳河濱公園 (under Dazhi Bridge going to Neihu near the airport along the Keelung River. There is parking at the riverside park, but it can get very crowded late in the day).

Keelung Dragon Boat Festival 基隆龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 3 2022)
Held at Badouzi Harbor 八斗子

Hsinchu County Dragon Boat Festival 新竹縣縣長盃龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 3 2022)
Held at No. 156 Chifu Road Hsinfeng Township,  at the pond in front of Chihe Temple. 
新豐鄉新豐村十五鄰池府路一五六號池和宮前池和湖舉行

Miaoli Dragon Boat Races 苗栗龍舟賽
Dates: (June 3 2022)
Held at dragon boat ferry dock along the Zhonggang River in Zhunan.
竹南鎮港墘里中港溪畔的龍舟碼頭

Changhua Taiwan International  Dragon Boat Races 台灣國際競技龍舟錦標賽 
Dates: (June 1-June 3 2022)
Location: Lukang, along the FuLu River near Lukang Old Street (彰化福鹿溪水域)

Yunlin Dragon Boat Races  雲林龍舟賽
Dates: (June 3, 11-12 PM 2022)
Location: Kouhu Township, Yiwu Wet Pond at the north pond (本縣口湖鄉宜梧滯洪池北池)

Chiayi Dragon Boat Races 嘉義龍舟比賽
Dates: (closed in 2022 due to COVID)
Location: Dongshi Harbor 東石漁港

Tainan International Dragon Boat Championships: 台南市國際龍舟賽
Dates:  (closed in 2022 due to COVID)
Location: Yunhe River in Tainan Between Anyi Bridge and Chengtian Bridge, near Anping Old Street 臺南市運河（安億橋至承天橋河段）

Kaohsiung Love River Dragon Boat Festival: 高雄愛河端午龍舟嘉年華
Dates: (June 3-June 5 2022)
Location: The Love River between Kaohsiung Bridge and Zhongzheng Bridge (愛河， 高雄橋-中正橋).

Pingtung County Dragon Boat Race 屏東縣端午龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 2- June 3 2022)
Location: Underneath Donggang Great Bridge in Donggang (東港大橋).

Yilan County Dragon Boat Race 宜蘭縣端午龍舟競賽
Dates: (closed in 2022 due to COVID)
Location: Dongshi Harbor 東石漁港
Along the Yilan River near Qinghe Bridge 宜蘭河慶和橋

Hualien County Dragon Boat Race 花蓮縣端午龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 3 - June 4 2022)
Location: Liyu Lake 鯉魚潭

Penghu County Dragon Boat Festival 澎湖縣龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 3 2022)
Location: Makung No. 3 Harbor (澎湖縣馬公第3漁港).

Kinmen County Dragon Boat Festival 金門縣龍舟競賽
Dates: (June 3 2022)
Location: Guningtou Shuangli Lake (金門縣金寧鄉古寧頭雙鯉湖).


Map:
Please see below for a map of dragon boat racing locations.

Hualien's old railway pedestrian area in the middle of the city has taken a 1.8 km old railway line and transformed into a pedestrian shopping district, much like an old street or night market. It is a worth while stroll on your next visit to Hualien. 

Background:
The original Hualien Train station was built over the current Dongdamen Night Market, however the railway was diverted in 1979, leaving the old railway left to rust. The old railway left is 1.8 km long and 6 m wide. In 2003, a plan was put in place to renovate the old railway into a pedestrian shopping area. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: The night market lies on the central eastern part of the city along Chungshan Road and Chongching Road. There is free car parking inside and free scooter parking too. 
By Train: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 301, or walk about 30 minutes. 

Map:
Please see below:

Beidahuang in Nangang serves gigantic and delicious boiled dumplings, just east of Nangang  Train Station, with more meat per dumpling than a pork bun. They are the largest boiled dumplings I have ever seen. If you are in the area, this restaurant is worth a stop. 

Hours:
11AM–9:30PM

Price:
Big boiled dumplings 大顆水餃: 8.5 NT for one
​
How to get there:
Beidahuang is just east of Nangang Train Station on Nangang Road. 

Map:
See the map below:

Two weeks ago I asked all of my followers which products they missed from their home country, and these are the results. In the process, a lot of people gave great suggestions on where to buy these products in Taiwan. I am giving out this information for free to anyone that wants to use it as market research, or wants to know which products people are missing in Taiwan, so that someone will start importing these products to us!

Which products do you miss from your home country that you wish were sold in Taiwan? I'll go first: graham crackers, Pop Tarts, and Old Spice.

It turns out that these three products have been found in Taiwan. 

Liyu Lake is a scenic lake in Hualien. Here you can paddle across the lake, or take a scenic bike ride around the shore. There is also many food options here. It is like the Sun Moon Lake of eastern Taiwan.

Background:
Liyu literally means carp, so named because there are many carp fish in the lake. Therefore it is also known as Carp Lake.
Liyu is the largest lake in Hualien.
During Taiwan's logging days, an old logging railroad track (Halun Forest Railway 哈崙森林鐵路)
ran through this area, and parts of it can be seen nearby.
In 2002, the area around the lake was proposed as a scenic tourist area. In 2014, completion on the area was finished, which included a bike path, visitor's center, bus routes, and a pier.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Hualien city, take highway 台9丙線 southwest until you reach the lake, it will be hard to miss. There is free parking nearby.
By TRA/Bus: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 1139 about an hour to the lake. You can also take a bus to there from TRA Shoufeng Station.

Map:
Please see below:

Hualien‘s Dongdamen Night Market is the largest night market in Eastern Taiwan. It is actually four night markets in one. The night market lies on the spot of a former train station, and is also connected to the beach via pedestrian bridge. Popular delicacies here include fried chicken, shish kabab, coffin bread, and braised duck head. 

Background:
Dongdamen gets it's name because it lies on the east side of the city, literally meaning "east gate" however Hualien has never had walls or gates. 
Dongdamen Night Market was formed in 2015 over the site of the former Hualien TRA train station. The Night Market features four night markets in one: Fuding Night Market, Aborigine Street, Gesheng Street, and Ziqiang Night Market.  The night market has over 400 stalls and sees over 200,000 visitors per month. 

Hours:
5:30 PM to 11:30 PM open every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: The night market lies on the central eastern part of the city along Chungshan Road and Chongching Road. There is free car parking inside and free scooter parking too. 
By Train: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 301, or walk about 30 minutes. 

​Shenkeng Old Street is one of the largest and busiest old streets in New Taipei, known for its famous tofu delicacies, and old Taiwan feel. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and buy nostalgic Taiwan related souvenirs. The Tofu here is truly incredible; Shenkeng is known as the Tofu capital of Taiwan, so you should definitely stop by here on your next trip to Taipei. 

Background:
During the Qing Dynasty, the town of Shenkeng was an important stop along the Danlan Old Trail (淡蘭古道 which means the road between Tamsui and Yilan), which was split into three paths, and Shenkeng was on the Southern Path. The Southern Path winded from Mengjia Old Street to Liuzhangli, then to Shengkeng which was a major business center at the time. From Shenkeng the road then went to Shiding, Pinglin, and then Yilan. The Southern path was the quickest way to Yilan. 
In addition, there was a boat dock in Shenkeng that connected it to Mengjia Old Street in what is now central Taipei, making it an important shipping point for tea grown in the mountains nearby. 
During the Japanese Era in 1915, Shenkeng Old Street was made wider by knocking out the first floors on each side of the street for pedestrian traffic, which can still be seen today as a defining feature of Shenkeng Old Street. 
After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Shenkeng, and the town slowly fell out of importance. 
National Highway 3 and National highway 5 were constructed near Shenkeng in 1993 and2006 respectively, making Shenkeng again an important stop on the way to Yilan. 
In 2008 the New Taipei City government along with local residents created the Shenkeng Historical District  and paved the way for the restoration and tourism on the old street. Since then it has been a major tourist attraction for Taiwanese locals. 

Delicacies:
Local delicacies at Shengkeng Old Street include Stinky Tofu, Fried Tofu, Tofu Hot Pot, Tofu Ice Cream, Read Bean Soup, Zongzi, and various other tofu related products.
Tofu in Chinese cuisine is similar to cheese in the West. It requires fermentation creating various flavors. 
​
Hours:
Every Day from about 10 AM to 10 PM, with more shops opening later in the day.

Price:
Free

When to go:
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded but that is also the time when most all of the shops and stalls are open. If you want to avoid the crowds you can try going early in the afternoon when it is not as busy, 

How to get there:
By Scooter: Take local highway 106 east from Muzha (Wenshen District) or local highway 109 south from Nangang District. The old street is right in the middle of town. You can park for free at the park to the north of the old street.
By Car: You can take national Highway 5 and get off at the Shiding exit, or take National Highway 3 and get off at the Shenkeng Exit. There is parking near the southern entrance in the form of a mechanical parking garage, and there is also underground parking under the park to the north of the old street. 
By Bus: There are a number of buses that pass by the old street coming from Wenshan District or Nangang District of Taipei that leave from near the Blue Line Nangang Exhibition Center Station or Brown line MRT Taipei Zoo/Muzha Station. 
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Map:
​Please see below:

Jinshan Old Street (aka Jinbaoli Old Street 金包里老街 Jīnbāolǐ lǎojiē) is a popular historical street in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The most famous delicacy here is duck, but you can also find other traditional Taiwanese snacks among the numerous shops and restaurants here. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taiwan's Northern Coast. 

Background:
The first people to live in the Jinshan Area were plains indigenous peoples. The name "Jinabaoli" comes from the Chinese transliteration of the indigenous name of the place.
Chinese people began to settle here during the late Ming Dynasty, coming mainly from Fujian, and even more came to settle here during the Qing Dynasty. 
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, a road was built to connect Jinshan to Keelung and Tamsui, making it easier for people to visit. This road was improved in the ROC period to become provincial highway 2. 
Jinshan now has a population of about 22,000 people. 
Currently Jinshan Old Street is a popular place to visit for day-trippers from Taipei. 

Hours:
All day until about 7 PM.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 north along the coast until you reach Jinshan. The old street is right in the middle of town and there is free parking on the side of the road not far from the old street.
By Bus: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. 
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Map:
​Please see below:

Raohe Street Night Market is a bustling night market in Eastern Taipei, and one of the most popular in the city. One could argue that Roahe street is the best night market in Taipei, but this blog was not written to prove that debate. With a large assortment of great food and snacks, along with the usual night market cheap clothes and everyday items, along with a close proximity to public transport, Raohe street is a must see destination when you come to Taipei.

Price:
Free! But don't you dare come with an empty wallet. 

Hours:
4 PM to 12 AM

How to get there:
By MRT:
Take the MRT green line to Songshan station (the last station), and get out at exit 2, 3, or 4, and continue walking north for about 1 minute to Raohe street.
By Car or Scooter:
Don't take a car. But if you do, there is a parking garage on Bade street.
There is scooter parking next to Songshan elementary school and on Songhe street in front of Rainbow bridge. Do not park on areas with a red line; this place is a hot spot for parking tickets, so beware.

Map:

Historical Background:
The name Raohe comes from a county in Heilongjiang, China, meaning the place of many birds. Starting in the Qing Dynasty, the area around Raohe Street and Songshan station was called Xikou (tin port), an important transportation hub in Taiwan (for more information about this old industrial area in East Taipei, check out our blog here). From Songshan station, goods from Taipei, Keelung, and Yilan could be directly loaded to the Keelung River and transported to the sea. However due to silting, the Keelung River became less and less import in terms of transportation, and Raohe Street became obsolete, especially after the much wider Bade street was built right next to it.

In order to help business in the area, the Taipei city government established a tourist night market on Raohe Street on May 11th, 1987, which was the second tourist night market established in Taipei.

Toucheng Township in Yilan is known for its amazing beaches, but there is much more to do here, such as visit Lanyang Museum, visit Turtle Island, enjoy seafood, traditional fishing harbors, recreational farms, hiking, cycling, surfing lessons, and much more. Here is a short guide to Toucheng, to let you know the variety of activities that you can enjoy here. 

Background:
Before Chinese settlers came, the area around Toucheng was inhabited by the Ketagalan Aboriginal tribe, whose language is now extinct.
The name Toucheng literally means "first town" in Chinese, because it was the first settlement in Yilan, settled in the late 1700s. With the nearby Wushih and Touwei Harbors around the same time, it became the economic focal point of Yilan. However in the late 1800s and early 1900s Wushih Harbor and Touwei Harbor silted in, reducing their function.
With the advent of the Japanese built Yilan railway line in the mid-1900's, as well as constant floods and continually silting of the harbors, Toucheng quickly lost its importance economically and fell into decay. 
After residents of Turtle Island were relocated to Daxi in Toucheng, Daxi Harbor was expanded and has become one of the largest fishing harbors in the area. 
Due to its close proximity to Taipei, Toucheng has become a major tourist area and may be the most popular surfing location in Taiwan. 

How to get there:
By TRA: Take the TRA to any of the stations in Toucheng, 
By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 5 to Toucheng. Be careful to note that on Sundays there are highway controls for cars travelling from Yilan to Taipei from 3 PM to 8 PM, so avoid travelling back to Taipei at that time to beat the traffic. 

Map:
See below for a map of places that are covered in this blog:

Zhuwei Fishing Harbor is a recreational tourist harbor in Taoyuan, Taiwan. It includes a large seafood market and a long rainbow arch bridge across the harbor. If you love fresh seafood for a good price, you definitely need to come here.

Background:
Zhuwei Fishing Harbor had its beginnings in 1952 when a small boat dock was created in the area. Later a levee was built in 1959. The harbor was massively expanded in 1993, and was declared a tourist fish market in 2000. 
The harbor lies only 3 KM from Taoyuan International Airport. 
The main fish caught and sold here are Catfish, Sharks, Black pomfret, Squid, Bonito, and mullet. 

Hours:
8 AM to 6 PM 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car: Take expressway 61 to Taoyuan and take the exit near Zhuwei. The harbor is just west of the expressway. There is limited free parking near the harbor, and also paid parking nearby. 
By scooter: Take provincial highway 15 south from Taipei stop at Zhuwei Harbor.
By bus: From Taoyuan, take bus 5017 west to the harbor. 

Map:
​Please see below: