Daxi Ancient Town

　　Daxi is not just about Cihu, the Old Street, and dried tofu. With its profound cultural history, rich natural landscapes, and exquisite agricultural and fishery specialties, the ancient town of Daxi is waiting for you to explore in depth. Thanks to its location at the starting point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway and its proximity to the Shimen Reservoir, Daxi has become a transportation hub. In recent years, the development of tourism and the revitalization of Daxi Old Street have brought back the charm of its historical beauty. The main area of Daxi Old Street covers three historic streets: Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and Zhongyang Road. These are commercial streets formed by storefronts, and their architectural style is no different from that of traditional early Taiwanese merchant shops—narrow-fronted and deep, long, continuous row-house-style shops. By around 1919, during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General's Office implemented what was essentially a modern urban planning scheme. They demolished parts of buildings along Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and other streets according to planned building lines. At that time, ordinary residences on Daxi Old Street mainly featured red-brick archway facades paired with red-brick houses, while shops were adorned with stone-carved European-style arched gates, pillars, and elaborate, ornate relief patterns, showcasing a Baroque-style façade. However, although the street-facing facades of Daxi Old Street’s archways are in the Baroque style, their designs incorporate many curved lines. The highest central point of the archway—the “gable”—comes in various forms such as pointed mountain shapes, semi-circles, and circular arcs. The “finials” at the top feature a variety of designs including animals, plants, and geometric patterns, making them quite unique. Remarkably, despite the decline of river transport and the changes of prosperity, these three old streets have preserved their original appearance and have integrated with Daxi’s other cultural and historical attractions, bringing back the former glory of Daxi Town.

　　During the Japanese colonial period, Taoyuan County’s Daxi Town was called “Dakokan,” which means “large plateau.” Located on the plateau by the Dahan River, it was once an important inland port in Taiwan. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, cargo ships arriving from Tamsui, Dadaocheng, and Monga could reach Daxi. The sight of “sails returning to the harbor” became one of Daxi’s most cherished scenic views. During the Xianfeng era, Daxi enjoyed great prosperity, but by the 14th year of the Taisho era (1925), with the completion of the Taoyuan Irrigation Canal, river transport on the Dahan River ceased, marking the end of Daxi’s golden age. Today, although we can no longer see the bustling scenes of the past, by carefully observing the historic buildings along Daxi Old Street, it feels as if we’ve traveled back in time.

　　Thanks to its location at the starting point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway and its proximity to the Shimen Reservoir, Daxi has become a transportation hub. In recent years, the development of tourism and the revitalization of Daxi Old Street have brought back the charm of its historical beauty. The main area of Daxi Old Street covers three historic streets: Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and Zhongyang Road. These are commercial streets formed by storefronts, and their architectural style is no different from that of traditional early Taiwanese merchant shops—narrow-fronted and deep, long, continuous row-house-style shops. By around 1919, during the Japanese colonial period, the Governor-General's Office implemented what was essentially a modern urban planning scheme. They demolished parts of buildings along Heping Road, Zhongshan Road, and other streets according to planned building lines. At that time, ordinary residences on Daxi Old Street mainly featured red-brick archway facades paired with red-brick houses, while shops were adorned with stone-carved European-style arched gates, pillars, and elaborate, ornate relief patterns, showcasing a Baroque-style façade. However, although the street-facing facades of Daxi Old Street’s archways are in the Baroque style, their designs incorporate many curved lines. The highest central point of the archway—the “gable”—comes in various forms such as pointed mountain shapes, semi-circles, and circular arcs. The “finials” at the top feature a variety of designs including animals, plants, and geometric patterns, making them quite unique. Remarkably, despite the decline of river transport and the changes of prosperity, these three old streets have preserved their original appearance and have integrated with Daxi’s other cultural and historical attractions, bringing back the former glory of Daxi Town.

　　At Daxi Old Street’s Zhongshan Old Street Square, guides are available to explain the historical background of the area. The square also features specialists teaching how to spin tops, and the toy shops along Daxi Old Street offer a full range of nostalgic playthings. In addition, Daxi boasts beautiful scenery. Historical sites such as Cihu—where the late President Chiang Kai-shek’s mausoleum is located—and the “Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall,” converted from the Daxi Guesthouse in Zhongzheng Park, have helped drive a surge in Daxi tourism. The services offered by Daxi hotels, inns, homestays, and motels have also become increasingly high-quality. To attract more tourists to visit Daxi, many lodging businesses now use online real-time reservation systems. Through secure online transactions, you can pre-book accommodations in Daxi hotels, inns, or even motels, allowing you to easily explore the vintage charm of the past.