Daxi Ancient Town

Daxi Ancient Town

Daxi Ancient Town is a cultural tourism attraction.

Daxi is not just about Cihu, the Old Street, and dried tofu. With its profound cultural history, rich natural landscapes, and exquisite agricultural and aquatic specialties, the ancient town of Daxi is waiting for you to explore in depth. Located at the starting point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway and near Shimen Reservoir, Daxi became a transportation hub. In recent years, the development of tourism and the revitalization of Daxi Old Street have brought the charm of its bygone days back to life. The main area of Daxi Old Street covers three historic streets—Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and Zhongyang Road—forming a commercial street made up of storefronts. The architectural style is no different from that of traditional early Taiwanese merchant shops: narrow-fronted, deep, and long row-house-style shops. By around 1919, during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General’s Office implemented an urban planning scheme akin to modern city planning. Parts of buildings along Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and other streets were demolished according to planned construction lines. At that time, ordinary residential buildings on Daxi Old Street mainly featured red-brick archway facades paired with red-brick structures, while shops were adorned with exquisitely carved European-style stone arches, columns, and elaborate, ornate relief patterns, showcasing a Baroque-inspired façade. However, although the streetfronts of Daxi Old Street adopted the Baroque style, their designs utilized many curved lines. The highest central point of the archways—the “gable”—varied in shape, including pointed gables, semi-circles, and circular arcs, while the decorative “finials” at their tops came in various animal, plant, and geometric designs, making them quite unique. Remarkably, despite the decline of river transport and the shift of prosperity, these three old streets have preserved their original appearance. Combined with Daxi’s other cultural and historical charms, they have helped restore the town’s former splendor.

During the Japanese colonial period, Taoyuan County’s Daxi Town was called “Dakeng,” meaning “large plateau.” Located on a plateau by the Dahan River, it was once an important inland port in Taiwan. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, cargo ships from Tamsui, Dadaocheng, and Bangka could reach Daxi, and the view of “sails returning to the riverbank” became one of Daxi’s iconic sights. During the Xianfeng era, Daxi enjoyed great prosperity. However, in the 14th year of the Taisho era (1925), the completion of the Taoyuan Irrigation Canal led to the discontinuation of river transport on the Dahan River, marking the end of Daxi’s golden age. Although we can no longer see the bustling scenes of the past, a stroll through the beautifully preserved architecture of Daxi Old Street offers a glimpse into those bygone times.

Located at the starting point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway and near Shimen Reservoir, Daxi became a transportation hub. In recent years, the development of tourism and the revitalization of Daxi Old Street have brought the charm of its bygone days back to life. The main area of Daxi Old Street covers three historic streets—Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and Zhongyang Road—forming a commercial street made up of storefronts. The architectural style is no different from that of traditional early Taiwanese merchant shops: narrow-fronted, deep, and long row-house-style shops. By around 1919, during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General’s Office implemented an urban planning scheme akin to modern city planning. Parts of buildings along Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and other streets were demolished according to planned construction lines. At that time, ordinary residential buildings on Daxi Old Street mainly featured red-brick archway facades paired with red-brick structures, while shops were adorned with exquisitely carved European-style stone arches, columns, and elaborate, ornate relief patterns, showcasing a Baroque-inspired façade. However, although the streetfronts of Daxi Old Street adopted the Baroque style, their designs utilized many curved lines. The highest central point of the archways—the “gable”—varied in shape, including pointed gables, semi-circles, and circular arcs, while the decorative “finials” at their tops came in various animal, plant, and geometric designs, making them quite unique. Remarkably, despite the decline of river transport and the shift of prosperity, these three old streets have preserved their original appearance. Combined with Daxi’s other cultural and historical charms, they have helped restore the town’s former splendor.

At the Zhongshan Old Street Square in Daxi Old Street, interpreters are available to share the historical background of the area. The square also features specialists who teach visitors how to play with spinning tops. Meanwhile, the toy stores on Daxi Old Street offer a wide range of nostalgic playthings. In addition, Daxi boasts beautiful scenery, such as Cihu—where the late President Chiang Kai-shek’s mausoleum is located—and the “Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall,” which was converted from the Daxi Guesthouse in Zhongzheng Park. These rich tourist attractions have fueled a surge in Daxi tourism. The services offered by Daxi hotels, guesthouses, homestays, and motels have also become increasingly high-quality, all aiming to attract more visitors to Daxi. Many hotel, guesthouse, and homestay operators use online real-time booking systems, allowing travelers to securely reserve Daxi hotels, guesthouses, or even motels in advance through online transactions, making it easy to explore the old-world charm of Daxi.