Cultural and creative industries move into Japanese-era heritage buildings, transforming the fate of Tainan’s Shennong Old Street

Text & Photos /Shadow

Visiting Tainan’s Shennong Street is like stepping into a historical time tunnel. In the early days, this place was known as Beishi Street and is the most well-preserved old street in Tainan City. These old buildings date back to the Qing Dynasty or the Japanese colonial period. Due to property rights issues, renovating them all at once was not easy, which is why they were able to be preserved. With the introduction of cultural and creative as well as artistic industries, people have been given the chance to rediscover Shennong Old Street.

In the past, many traditional shops operated here. For example, this one is a wood carving studio. Just by looking at its weathered wooden exterior, you can see the traces carved by time. Even the Spring Festival couplets on the door are carved from wood — quite unique.

Next door is an arts and crafts shop, with its window glass covered in paper-cut art in a variety of styles that are hard to ignore.

After the redevelopment of the old street, these features have become its charm, attracting young visitors. This approach is worth learning from for many other old streets in towns and villages.

Old architecture combined with cultural and creative industries, along with a wave of nostalgia, has brought these old buildings back to life — every brick radiates vitality.

The chairs outside the ice cream shop are there for anyone to sit and rest. With their strong Japanese-style elements, they attract many photography enthusiasts looking to capture memories of the old times.

A second-hand electronics exchange shop displays a variety of retro electrical items that are truly eye-opening. Friends who enjoy collecting used items can find treasures here.

The four-meter-wide street, lined with buildings of historical significance, is a great spot for travelers to stroll and admire.

When tired, travelers can take a breather at one of the local eateries and enjoy a slow-paced life with friends.

The handwritten font caught my attention. I’m not sure what style it is, but it feels unique. Unfortunately, the door was locked, so I couldn’t go inside.

Young people love browsing through cultural and creative goods, discussing what products to buy as souvenirs to remember this trip. But no matter what they buy, photos are also part of the memories.

Retro yet distinctive restaurants always make you want to take a second look. Buildings full of vintage charm have been highly sought after in recent years. As technology advances, people seem to cherish the simple and natural beauty of the past even more.

At the end of Shennong Road, there’s a tavern that knows travelers love taking photos. It humorously reminds visitors not to just take pictures — come on in. The entire street has greatly changed the fate of the old block after the arrival of cultural and creative industries. Each building along the street takes on a different look and style, bringing the aging street back to life and recapturing the world’s attention.

Taiwan’s Founding King of Medicine Temple is located at the very end of Shennong Street and is one of the “Seven Temples and Eight Shrines” of Tainan’s historic city. The main deity worshipped here is the King of Medicine. In front of the temple stands a 300-year-old banyan tree. At the end of our visit, we prayed for a safe and joyful journey.

This is a highly successful example of old street revitalization. The original architectural structure has been preserved, allowing us to appreciate the beauty of traditional buildings. On the other hand, it has also created business opportunities — various cultural and creative shops attract visitors to come, explore, and spend. It’s definitely worth a look for other aging communities to learn from. Walking into the time tunnel that is Shennong Street, we discover a different kind of old street — well worth a visit.

Address: Intersection of Shennong Street and Section 2 of Haian Road, West Central District, Tainan City

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