Taipei’s Dihua Street Elegant Cultural & Creative Pastry Shop Brings Shanghai Tea Pastries to Life!

Text & Photos /Mi’er

In the past, most people visited Dihua Street to buy dried goods and seafood, but in recent years, the front section of Dihua Street (near Taipei Bridge) has undergone revitalization, giving rise to many charming cultural and creative shops. Among them is "He Xing 1947," established by the younger generation of He Xing Cake Shop at Nanmen Market. It's a new-concept store that transforms traditional Shanghai tea pastries into an elegant and fashionable dining experience.

Mi’er came here at the warm invitation of Huifen, the owner of He Xing Cake Shop at Nanmen Market. Her daughter gave up her well-paying job as an interior designer and decided to learn Shanghai pastries from her parents. For Huifen, I imagine it must have been an emotionally complex moment—on one hand, worried about her daughter having to endure hard work, and on the other, pleased that the He Xing legacy had found a new inheritor. Either way, with He Xing Cake Shop already an established name at Nanmen Market, now expanding to Dihua Street allows both the daughter and a new generation of customers to carry on the tradition of these flavors through the innovative presentation of Shanghai tea pastries.

Passing through the inviting wooden-framed glass door, the most eye-catching sight is the steam rising from the wooden steamer behind the pastry display counter, filling the air with the sweet fragrance of lightly scented rice cakes. All the traditional Shanghai pastries are miniaturized—not only looking cute and appealing, but also perfectly bite-sized. They are neatly arranged in thoughtfully designed drawer-style shelves, adding a refined touch.

At the back, there is a small seating area with limited seats, but it’s elegantly decorated. Enjoying tea and pastries here is a uniquely delightful experience.

Here, you absolutely must try He Xing’s signature Shanghai rice cake, steamed on-site using their own ground millet flour. Varieties include those with red beans, sesame, and even the currently popular red quinoa powder, offering a range of flavors. Each small cake comes in a white open paper bag sewn with red thread, looking delicate and classy. This kind of packaging is perfect for enjoying while strolling along Dihua Street, but if you have it in the shop, you can also appreciate the unique aesthetic sensibility of the shop owner, who once worked in design.

The Suzhou-style crisp pastry is one of Mi’er’s favorite items. Its flaky crust, made with peanut oil, encases a variety of fillings. My personal favorite is the preserved vegetable and pork filling—the savory richness of meat and oil never feels heavy. The traditional hundred-fruits and salt-pepper crisp pastry, with its mix of various nuts and the aroma of orange cake, gets more delicious the more you chew, making it an ideal pairing with a cup of light tea.

InnovativeRed Quinoa Rice Cakefeatures a crust made with red quinoa powder, filled with purple and yellow sweet potato paste—an appealing treat just to look at.

Small flower-shaped rice cakes are presented in red-thread-sewn bags, adding a touch of elegance.

Their single-serving size makes it easy to sample several different flavors with friends.

The red bean paste and sesame rice cake is my personal favorite flavor.

Osmanthus Red Bean Cakeis soft, glutinous, and fragrant—absolutely not to be missed by anyone who loves a chewy texture.

With a crust made from peanut oil,the crisp pastriesreveal their flakiness as soon as you unwrap them. The hundred-fruits and salt-pepper flavor leaves you wanting to chew more and more.

The shop is small but exquisitely designed.

The drawer-style display case makes traditional Shanghai tea pastries even more enticing.


The little decorative touches in the shop show the owner’s thoughtful creativity.

Gift box packaging features traditional Chinese red with gray accents, creating an elegant look.

A shopfront you’ll want to pause and admire as you walk by.

He Xing 1947
Address: No. 223, Section 1, Dihua Street, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2557-8060

Article by: Mi’er, who transitioned into food journalism after graduating from National Chengchi University’s Chinese Literature Department. Growing up under the guidance of her chef mother, she developed a keen sensitivity to food—both loving to eat and to cook. Due to her work, she frequently travels around Taiwan in search of delicious eats, sharing her experiences on her blog and often organizing group food outings. She is the author of the book “Group Food Tasting Reports.”
Blog: Mier's Love Affairs　Facebook: Mier's Love Affairs