Dihua Street

"Dihua Street Commmercial Loop" Sign

Dihua Street is located in Datong District of Taipei City. The street is one of the oldest streets that are still well-preserved. Built in 1850s, Dihua Street was well known for being the commercial center that gathered goods from northern and southern Taiwan, such as tea, Chinese herbal medicine, dried foods, wood crafts, and cloths.

Dried Shark Fin: 600g for about $320 US dollars

Dried mushrooms sold in big plastic bags each bag for about $40

Other dried goods 

Dried plums and fruits

Dihua Street is about 800 meters long (2624.67 feet). Before World Ward II, the wholesale business has an average yearly gross income of 3 billion US dollars.
As Taiwan was occupied by Japanese during war time, many buildings on Dihua Street has adapted the baroque styled decorations that was trendy in Japan.

Now, the streets are still occupied by wholesale stores, yet it is not as prosperous as before. People now days come to Dihua Street during New Years for Lunar New Year goods shopping.

Dihua street also became an area for young Taiwanese to open vintage and fusion cafes and boutiques that incorporates western foods with traditional Taiwan foods.

Fleisch- Fusion Restaurant on Dihua Street

The restaurant that I ate at is called Fleisch. Fleisch serves western food such as stea, and risotto, yet their menu items always have traditional Taiwan elements fused in it.

Bread with Homemade garlic-lime butter

Roasted Chicken with Peeling Chili Salsa
Side of seasonal vegetables including tomato, eggplant, corn, sweet potato, and bitter melon

Pan-fried Pork with Scallion Vinegar Sauce

Breast & Cream Risotto with Mushrooms

Cafe Latte in a Ceramic Bowl

Tat-Kuan-Yin Tea / Iron Buddism Tea

Iron Buddhism Tea Latte

Brown Sugar

Fleisch also has a very interesting cocktail menu, incorporating traditional teas and seasonal fruits. Drinking age limit in Taiwan is 18 years old, so if you are younger, please do not order or drink from this menu.

Roselle Mojito
Roselle with mint, soda, and lime wine

Other stores on Dihua Street:

mini size tea blocks
P'uli tea/Puer Tea blocks
One block can be used to make 500-600ml of tea
each color= different flavor

Peach shaped tea cups

Retro postcards $1 each

Tea blocks, original size 

Dihua Post office 

bookstore

books about Taiwan

From Frog Cafe (located on Dihua Street)

Tourists taking pictures of the cat resting in Frog Cofe

Travel information
Address: Sec. 1, Dihua St., Datong District, Taipei CityPublic Transport: 1. Take the THSR to Taipei Station; continue by MRT to Shuanglian Station. Taiwan High Speed Rail

2. Take the train to Taipei Railway Station, continue by MRT to Shuanglian Station.