Taiwan Old Street - Daxi, Taoyuan Trip 2011

Taoyuan city was our last stop for our Taiwan tour.  We decided to stay for 2 nights since we have to leave for the Airport in the morning. We took the HSR [High Speed Rail] from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan.  The fare is NT$360 one way to Taoyuan.  Very fast. The hotel [Lite Hotel] is at Bade City which is quite a distance from Taoyuan and Zhongli City. Our mistake to book it online which was not as advertised.
This hotel is along Jieshou Road which is a very long road [several kilometres].  We were very disappointed with the hotel's location and room condition [dirty with minimal facilities]. Drinking water is along the corridor.  Room is not cleaned during the duration of stay.   No internet access and room lighting points are without bulbs. Hotel staff are not helpful and well informed.

Taxi fare to the airport was NT$550.

Road arch at Daxi Old Street

We cancelled our intented trip to Hsinchu because of the inconvenience to travel there from our hotel.  Instead we visited Daxi Old Street on the advice of the local people.  Not too bad a place to visit though.   To get there, take a bus to Daxi, get down at Daxi Old Street and explore the place by foot.

The three distinguished bridges over the Tahan Rivulet. Daxi Bridge located at the foot of Zhongzheng Park and across the downstream of Tahan River features the same Baroque style as Daxi Old Street.  Over here, tourists can relive the scene of returning boats in the old days.  Street performers often gather at the entrance of the bridge on holidays.  The place bustles with music and various speciality performances such as the incredible feat of top spinnings.

The three bridges  - Daxi, Wuling and Kanjin

All about Daxi Old Street in pictures.

Chiang Khai Shek Residence and Convention Hall 

at Daxi.

Japanese Old House, Clock Tower, Top Spinning area, Church near Chiang Khai Shek [Zhongzheng] Park.

This big spinning top can really spin

Famous Old Man's braised beancurd. Daxi dried tofu is well-known island wide.  The clear, pure and sweet underground water in this town makes it the best water for making dried tofu here.

This stall has very good business

Assorted braised soya food and eggs

We also visited the morning market at Bade City  [see my postings on Taiwan Morning Markets here] which surprisingly is a big market place full of activities and good food.

Taiwan Old Street - Sanxia, Taipei Trip 2011

My husband and I love Sanxia.  Probably because of the new township which is well planned compared to the other areas in Taiwan.  The place looks serene with new apartment blocks and the roads are not as congested.  Some pictures of our road journery to Sanxia.

Transportation wise is well linked.  You can travel to Sanxia from Taipei by MRT.  Take MRT [Blue Line] to Yongning station, then take Shuttle Bus No. 30 to Sanxia Old Street.  From there you can explore the place by foot.

Sanxia Morning Market is around the vicinity of Sanxia Old Street.  Market scenes in pictures.

This man is directing customers to his shop not traffic

Bull's horn crossiant shop

Good quality spring onions, special specie in Taiwan

All about Sanxia Old Street [Minquan Road] in pictures.  Sanxia Old Street - the southern section of Minquan Street in Sanxia - consists of a row of old western-style buildings with a baroque archway gallery of red brick.  Decorations on the buildings consist of intricate wood cravings as well as bronze and stone sculptures, giving the street the sobriquet "Oriental Art Palace".

Notice how slim is this 3 storey building

See the green water pump next to the well

An extraordinary drain cover

Croissants of assorted flavours

Handmade soap shop

Taucheo shop in Sanxia

Assorted pickles and preserved soy bean products

Proprietress of this 'sauce' shop

Really cheap local oranges - they are good

Cheng Chooi Chor Soo Temple, Sanxia [similar diety 'Chor Soo Kong' to that at Snake Temple, Penang, Malaysia].  This temple at Sanxia is very beautiful temple.  See it in pictures here.  

 

A different 'sheperd' in the temple

Prosperity Bridge, Sanxia.

 A very small 'God of Prosperity' Temple nearby Sanxia market with beautiful interior.

Lovely roof top of a small temple