Xizhi Old Street 汐止老街

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Xizhi Old Street was once an important trading location along the Keelung River. After the advent of railroads, the street was no longer useful, and now it is used mainly as a morning vegetable market. However many of the old red brick buildings here are still intact, and it is worth a stroll down the street if you are in the area.

Background:
Xizhi Old Street is only about 1 Km long, and it's official name is Zhongzheng Road. In the past it was known as Shuifanjiao Street, and was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. It is also known as Xizhi's first 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. Many of the shops here have been running for over three generations. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7, vegetable market only open before noon. 

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Zhengzheng Road and you are on the old street. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. 
By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Old street is about a two minute walk to the northwest. 

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

I have been to Xizhi Old Street a few times. It is one of the best places to buy fruit and vegetables in the area. One might not recognize this place as an old street, because it is not touristy at all. I may be one of the few actual tourists to visit. 

This is where the street starts on the north side. Notice how narrow it is, changed little since the late 1800's.

Along much of the road, you can see old brick archways characteristic of late Qing dynasty architecture.

Most of the buildings here have been renovated at some point and look more like the 1960s than the 1860s. 

A bookstore on the street, probably has been going for generations. 

There are also some stalls here selling snacks on the side of the road. So I guess you could say this place is a little touristy, but probably they are only trying to attract locals. 

Drapery and blanket store, probably also run for generations. 

Food stalls and restaraunts along the old street. 

A modern apartment building on the street, with Vietnamese restaurant. 

More stalls and restaurants. 

A bank and illegally parked cars.

An indoor market along the street, and parking spaces. 

In the morning, this place is full of fruit and vegetable stands. 

Another view of the fruit and vegetable alley. 

View of Jide Temple 濟德宮 on a rainy day. This temple was the first Mazu Temple in Xizhi, dating back to 1847, and was the center of worship in the area. 

Fruit stalls open on another trip.

Fruit and vegetable stalls on an older section of the street. 

An elderly lady in front of an original wooden doorway.

More fruit and vegetable stalls. 

Jide Temple on a sunny day.

Vegetables for sale.

Busy with middle aged women buying vegetables in the morning. 

Covered part of the vegetable market.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more blogs of Taiwan's old streets to come!

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