Xinmin Old Street 新民老街

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Xinmin Old Street is a historical area in Taoyuan City near Jingfu Temple, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It is a great area to explore in Taoyuan where you can learn more about the history and culture of Taiwan. There are also many shops and restaurants on the old street.

Brief Historical Background:
The name Taoyuan literally means "peach garden" in Chinese because the area used to have many peach orchards. 
Since prehistoric times, Taoyuan was home to indigenous Taiwanese plains aborigines, who had a large settlement in modern-day Nankan. There was no large-scale Dutch or Chinese settlement in the area during the Dutch rule of Taiwan.
During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese settlers began to settle the area and begin farming, and many of them planted peach trees, which is how Taoyuan got its name.
During the Japanese Era, Taoyuan City was planned and developed. 
Under the ROC, Taoyuan County was established in 1950, and later Taoyuan City was made the county seat. In 2014, Taoyuan City and Taoyuan County were combined into the special municipality of Taoyuan City.
​Taoyuan International Airport was completed in 1979 and is Taiwan's largest airport. 
Toayuan has a population of over 2.2 million and is one of the fastest-growing populations in Taiwan due to the low cost of living and proximity to Taipei. 

​Taoyuan Jinfu Temple, commonly known as Taoyuan Grand Temple, is located in Zhonghe Village, Taoyuan District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, and is the religious center for local residents. During the Qing Dynasty, there were frequent epidemics in Taoyuan, and to combat these disasters, the construction of a temple was proposed. The site was selected for construction and named "Jingfu Temple 景福宮" in 1745. According to the earliest accounts passed down, the temple god, Kaitan Holy Emporer or Tan Goan-kong, was brought from Zhangpu by ancestors of the Chen family to Taiwan. The temple was then rebuilt in 1809 and numerous times since then.
In 1947, with the approval of the Taoyuan County Government, residents used the land in the large square in front of the temple to build houses for business purposes. This led to disputes over the demolition and return of the land involving forty-one households. 
​Usually the old street is not very busy and it is not well known as a tourist old street. 
​
Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Where to stay:
Looking for a hotel in Taoyuan? We recommend the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport which has great service and is conveniently located right next to Taoyuan Airport, the MRT, and HSR station (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).  
We also recommend the Fullon Hotel Taoyuan which also has great service and is located in downtown Taoyuan City (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).  
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Activities in Taoyuan:
Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Mountain Climbing, Cycling, High Ropes, Ziplining, Archery, Vietnamese BBQ, Batting Cages, Glamping, Van Camping, Photo Shoot, Turkish Mosaic DIY, Thai Massage, Painting, Baking, Go Karting, Imax Theater, Japanese Style Buffet, Tourist Factory Experience, peach and fruit picking, Ring-making DIY, handmade popsicle DIY, and more on on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

How to get there:
By Car: Xinmin Old Street is right in the middle of Taoyuan City. There is limited free parking near the harbor, and also paid parking nearby. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search  Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. 
By Scooter: Xinmin Old Street is right in the middle of Taoyuan City. 
Looking for scooter rental in Taoyuan? Search Klook here or KKday here to look for options.
By Bus: The old street is within walking distance of Taoyuan Station. You can book tickets to travel to Taoyuan via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
​
Map:
Check out the map below:

Our Journey:

I have been to Xinmin Street once. It is a quiet and not too popular old street. The area around the old street is covered with shops, food stalls, and restaurants. It is a nice place to explore and learn more about Taoyuan's history and culture. 

View of Jingfu Temple from the intersection of Xinmin Old Street.

On Xinmin Old Street there are quite a few food stalls and restaurants. 

Braised pork and noodle stand.

Old buildings now hid behind advertisements. 

More old brick buildings along the old street.

Xinmin Old Street's most outstanding feature is its brick road. 

Another view looking the other way down Xinmin Old Street.

Another noodle stand. 

Scooters racing down the old street.

Another view down the old street.

Last view from the old street.

There are many other activities available in Taoyuan such as Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Mountain Climbing, High Ropes, Ziplining, Archery, Batting Cages, Glamping, Go Karting, peach and fruit picking, and more on Klook here, or KKday here. 

Check out our full guide to Taoyuan here.

You can also check out our full guide to Taiwan here. ​

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