Toucheng Old Street

　　Toucheng is the earliest developed town on the Lanyang Plain. Owing to its location near Wushih Harbor — the only commercial port in the Lanyang region — it once enjoyed bustling trade with the mainland and Taipei, reaching the height of its prosperity. Today, Heping Street near Toucheng Railway Station is the site of what was once the busiest thoroughfare, serving as a witness to the town’s rise and fall.

　　The northern section of the old street features the Thirteen Shops Site and the Lu Family Residence. The Lu Family Residence spans a large area, blending the simple, traditional Min-style architecture of the Qing Dynasty with the intricate carvings and colored ceramic washes characteristic of the Japanese colonial period. Its sloped roofs, gray tiles, and round arches give it a distinctive charm. Located just ahead to the left of the mansion is the Thirteen Shops, a collective term for the 13 merchant shops and warehouses owned by the Lu family.

　　Heading south along the old street leads to Qìngyuán Temple, the first ancient temple established in the region. Built in the first year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty, it was the first temple constructed when large numbers of immigrants settled in Yilan, enshrining Mazu, the goddess who protected the settlers. With Qìngyuán Temple as the boundary, the southern section of the old street was home to small merchants in its heyday. As a result, the houses here are more densely packed. Though not as spacious as the northern section, it possesses a unique old-street charm, with rows of red-brick storefronts featuring continuous round arches and daughter walls still engraved with the names of former businesses.

　　Transportation Guide:

　　1. Take a Taiwan Motor Transport coastal bus bound for Yilan, Luodong, or Su’ao from Taipei North Bus Station or next to the Keelung Cultural Center, or take a Yixing or Taiwan Motor Transport bus bound for Toucheng from Yilan City, and get off at Toucheng Station.

　　2. Take the North-Link Line train and get off at Toucheng Station.