Dihua Street runs through Dadaocheng in Taipei’s Datong District, among the city’s oldest surviving neighborhoods. Its red-brick shop buildings and traditional Chinese stores make a stroll as much about architecture as shopping. Browse shelves of tea, herbs, dried fruit, spices, incense and other specialty goods, then pause at a food stall or cafe. The street is especially busy in the run-up to Lunar New Year, when residents shop for the holiday. Set aside one to three hours to explore at an easy pace.
A commercial street in Dadaocheng
Dihua Street was Taipei’s main trading and commercial center during the late Qing dynasty. Many of its historic buildings date to the 1850s, when the street was known as Centre Street. More than 70 historical buildings remain, giving the street its distinctive run of older shopfronts.
The architecture is part of the visit. Red brick, arched details and traditional facades sit alongside shops and newer businesses. Take time to look at the buildings as well as the goods displayed at street level.
What to find in the shops
Traditional stores sell Chinese medicine, herbs, spices, dried fruit, mushrooms, tea and incense. You can also browse tea sets, fabrics, pottery, woven and wooden goods, lanterns, clothing, shoes and religious supplies. Some shops focus on familiar household goods; others carry crafts and gifts.
Food and drink stalls line the street, with cafes and restaurants among the shops. The mix of old-style stores and newer cafes, bookshops and specialty businesses gives the area more to explore than a single market category. Move in and out of the shops as you go, and leave room for a snack along the way.
Lunar New Year in Dihua Street
The street becomes a major shopping destination before Lunar New Year. In the two weeks leading up to the holiday, Taipei residents come to buy festive foods and supplies, and the street grows particularly busy. The market also sells holiday-related goods such as traditional foods, incense and other items used for celebrations.
Outside the festive period, shops, cafes and handicraft businesses remain a reason to visit. For a longer walk, Yanping Riverside Park and Dadaocheng Pier Plaza are nearby, with a chance to continue toward the waterfront.
Perguntas frequentes
How long should I spend on Dihua Street?
Allow one to three hours to browse the shops, look at the historic buildings and stop for food or a drink.
When is Dihua Street busiest?
It is especially busy in the two weeks before Lunar New Year, when residents shop for the holiday.
What can you buy on Dihua Street?
Shops sell tea, Chinese medicine, herbs, dried goods, spices, incense, fabrics, pottery, lanterns and other traditional goods.
What is near Dihua Street?
Yanping Riverside Park and Dadaocheng Pier Plaza are nearby.
