By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
If you ask young people what their impression of “Taipei” is, some might say Taipei 101, others might mention Shilin Night Market, and some might say xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). Fashion and food seem to be how the younger generation understands this city. But if you ask older generations of Taipei residents, neighborhoods like Dadaocheng and Dalongdong—places that blend tradition and historical culture—might be their most genuine memories of the city.
Taipei Xia Hai City God Temple is the faith center of Dadaocheng. (Image source / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
Tradition and modernity have long coexisted in Taipei, yet they are often arbitrarily divided into incompatible groups. What kind of spark would be created if young students were to walk into the neighborhoods of their elders’ memories? How would the younger generation interpret old Taipei?
Dihua Street’s Yongle Market is the wholesale center for fabrics across Taiwan. (Image source / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The Taipei City Department of Information and Tourism has launched the “Dadaocheng & Dalongdong: Exploring Together on Holidays” free guided tour program in Datong District. It features two free tour routes—“Dadaocheng” and “Dalongdong”—and in addition to experienced professional guides, students have also joined the team of lecturers. Hear how different generations interpret the stories of old Taipei.
URS127 is one of the “Urban Regeneration Advance Bases,” where old buildings have been renovated and given new life. (Image source / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
Dadaocheng was once the commercial hub of Taipei. This tour will start at “Yongle Market,” the gathering place of Taiwan’s fabric trade. Visitors will then explore the local faith center “Xia Hai City God Temple,” traditional businesses and Minnan-style street houses on Dihua Street, as well as the recently popular URS Urban Regeneration Advance Bases.
Taipei Confucius Temple holds a traditional Confucius worship ceremony every Teachers’ Day. (Image source / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The Dalongdong route is designed for an in-depth experience of religious and literary culture. The national third-grade historic site Confucius Temple and the Bao’an Temple—which won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation—are both located here. Their architectural structures and decorative ingenuity are not to be missed. If you want to understand Taipei’s traditional religious culture, Dalongdong is definitely the best destination.
Bao’an Temple is a national second-grade historic site and has won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. (Image source / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
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