This guide will help you determine whether it’s worth visiting Dihua Old Street and Dadaocheng in Taipei. Keep reading to learn more.
I sometimes visit both areas when I’m around the area. I want to help you determine whether they’re worth visiting by showing you what there is to do and such.
Important Information for Travelers
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Address | Section 1, Dihua St., Datong District, Taipei City, 103 |
| Avg. Time Spent Here | 1 hour |
| Chinese Name | 迪化街 |
| Things to Do Indoors | Alternative places to visit if it’s raining or too hot. |
Dihua Street, Taipei’s oldest street, enchants visitors with its historic charm and rich cultural tapestry.
A fusion of past and present, this vibrant commercial hub features traditional Chinese medicine shops, fabric stores, tea houses, and Lunar New Year marketplaces, all housed in beautifully preserved Qing Dynasty architecture.
Frequented by history buffs, food lovers, and shopping enthusiasts, it offers a unique experience for those seeking to explore Taiwanese culture, cuisine, and traditions. Ideal for families, photographers, and culture enthusiasts, Dihua Street is a quintessential Taipei destination.
What’s There to Do?
Here’s what I recommend doing in Dadaocheng Old Street:
- Visit Xiahai City God Temple / 台北霞海城隍廟: A temple people visit to pray to the city god.
- Best for religious site enthusiasts.
- Cheng Lu Tong / 埕樂通: A cultural center with galleries.
- Best for anyone interested in Taiwan’s history.
- Salon 1920s / 貳零年華: Rent a qipao (traditional dress) & have a photography session.
- Admire the architecture
- Yongle Market / 永樂市場: Market that includes produce, fabric, prepared food, & more.
- Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple / 大稻埕慈聖宮天上聖母: Another temple.
Also check out one of the many gift shops. I don’t recommend getting anything specific as souvenirs other than handmade goods.
You’ll find a plethora of food shops, cafés, and tea houses. A place I’ve gotten bubble tea at that I highly recommend is Dadaochen. It has an angry pig as a logo.
Dihua Old Street is most popular during the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year). During this time, sometimes more than 10 million people flock to this street a couple of weeks prior to the holiday [1].
Taiwanese use this as an opportunity to buy fresh ingredients and candies for the coming holiday.
You’ll find Dadaocheng Pier Plaza at the end of the street. Let’s talk about it more.
Information About Dadaocheng Wharf (Tourist Hotspot)
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Address | 103, Taipei City, Datong District |
| Chinese Name | 大稻埕碼頭 |
Visit this place at night. You’ll find various vendors, bars, and live music. All while having a beautiful view of the Tamsui River. During the day, you could rent a YouBike and ride along the riverside cycling trail.
YouBike is Taiwan’s bicycle rental service and costs less than $1.00 (USD) per half hour, to use.
There’s also a functioning ferry pier that’ll take you to Tamsui or Bali District after finishing a tour, another wharf in northern New Taipei City. It’s another location with an excellent old street.
The ferry operates on weekends and costs NT$270 – NT$300 for a one-way trip.
How to Get to Dihua Street
Get to Dihua Street by taking the Taipei MRT Blue Line to Beimen Station. From there, make your way north on Tacheng Street.
This should take you around 9 minutes.
