Dihua Old Street — Attraction in Taipei

Dihua Old Street (迪化街) is one of Taipei’s most iconic and historic streets, offering a fascinating mix of culture, commerce, and charm. Located in the heart of the Dadaocheng area, this vibrant street is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the essence of Taiwan’s heritage.

The architecture is a highlight, with beautifully preserved Baroque-style buildings and traditional shophouses that tell the story of Taiwan’s past. Walking along the street feels like stepping back in time, with every corner offering a glimpse into the rich history of this once-thriving trading hub.

Dihua Street is famous for its specialty goods, especially during the Lunar New Year season when it becomes the bustling New Year Market (年貨大街). You’ll find vendors selling dried fruits, Chinese medicinal herbs, tea, nuts, and traditional snacks. Even outside the holiday season, the street is home to many shops offering these items year-round, alongside modern boutiques, cafes, and tea houses that blend tradition with...

Pleasant shopping area. I kept to the main street or Section 1 starting from Yongle Fabric market end of the sreet. Had a great time choosing & buying dried fruit. We focused on Taiwan fruit & got mandarins, starfruit, guava & mango. The nougat shop was another great stop for us. As we bought our dried seafood from Donggang Market in Pingtung, we did not look at them. Otherwise, it's a good place for dried seafood like sakura ebi and anchovies. As a breather we had tea at Dihua Halfday Cafe at a teaware gallery - their backgarden is lovely & contributes to the nice ambience. When leaving the street, I bought an embroidered door curtain with double happiness as the centrepiece for my friend's daughter's wedding. Indeed, Dihua Street is crammed full of interesting shops and a serious shopper can easily spend many...

Love the old charm and it is accessible like to everyone as if we're locals living here.

We spent an entire day walking, listening, drinking, eating and reading (yes! there's a public library here too)... Plenty of F&B choices - from modern cafes/resto, heritage eating shops, hole in the wall, street food stalls in front of 慈圣宫 (Cisheng Temple), to street corner vendors of cakes (incl. Kue Indonesia!).

You will also see many types of old trades still operating here & plenty too modernizing. Many other cities around the world would have forced owners to demolish and repaint or rebuild - gentrifying the whole district. We are fortunate that Taipei City / DiHua is keeping this old charm so that we can continue to observe and enjoy what has been lost in many other places. Thank you for the privilege to...