An Insider’s Guide to New Taipei City – Tamsui District
Tamsui District (Danshui District), is a historic port located north of Taipei in New Taipei City. The district is known for its cluster of historic buildings, which cover several colonial periods, its scenic riverside with features quiet cafes, and its bustling old street which sells several unique traditional snacks.
The area’s historic architecture, the most famous of which is Fort San Domingo, is located near the northern end of Tamsui Old Street, which itself has several historic relics, museums. Any trip to Tamsui wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Chi Po-lin Museum, which is home to a beautiful assortment of aerial photographs of Taiwan.
If time permits, the scenic Taoist Wuji Tianyuan Temple lies at the base of Yangmingshan to the North, and is only a 30 minute trip by bus from the old streets. The temple is well known for its seasonal cherry blossoms, unique circular rotunda, and tranquil grounds.
Chi Po-lin Museum
Located on the northern end of Tamshui Old Street, the Chi Po-lin Museum explores the work of local hero, Taiwanese documentary filmmaker and aerial photographer, Chi Po-lin. Famous for his aerial documentary “Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above”, which showed Taiwan at its most beautiful, while also examining the effects of unregulated urbanization and industrialisation, Chi Po-lin inspired a radical shift in local attitudes towards environmentalism and sustainability.
The Museum, housed in a rear building of Douglas Lapraik & Co on Tamshui Old Street, has a collection of over 600,000 photographs taken by Chi. These photographs offer unique perspectives on the beauty of Taiwan’s inner mountains, some of which are so isolated it can only be seen with a bird’s eye view. This location is a must visit for anyone inspired by Taiwan’s mountainous beauty, or intrigued by its sprawling urban centers.
Fort San Domingo
Situated on a hilltop overlooking the Tamsui River, Fort San Domingo is a historic landmark that offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. Famous for being one of the oldest Western-style fortresses in Taiwan, it was originally built by the Spanish in 1629 but later shifted hands and was controlled by both the Dutch and the British.
Over the years the fort has undergone extensive restoration and preservation efforts to maintain its historical integrity, and elements from Spanish, Dutch and British architectural styles can be seen, reflecting shifts in power throughout history.
Today the fort contains a museum with various exhibits dedicated to Taiwan’s colonial past. Artifacts, documents, and multimedia presentations shed light on various historic periods during which Taiwan was occupied.
Wuji Tianyuan Temple
Wuji Tianyuan Temple is a beautiful Taoist temple situated at the foot of Yangmingshan National Park. The temple differs from other Taoist temples in calm and peaceful atmosphere: it does not celebrate with loud temple parades, it avoids the use of attention-grabbing lighting, and it doesn’t worship deities.
The temple’s most captivating structure is the five-story Tiantan, or Altar of Heaven, located at the center. The cherry trees planted around the building create a beautiful backdrop and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the temple.
Moreover, the temple is renowned as one of Northern Taiwan’s most famous destinations for cherry blossom viewing in the spring. With multiple species of cherry tree being planted, the viewing period here tends to stretch from late January to early March.
Visitors can capture stunning photos of the cherry blossoms and the temple from various perspectives. Whether circling outside Tiantan, standing on the second floor at the same height as the branches, or reaching the top floor for an overview of the temple and sakura wood, there are ample opportunities for visually pleasing shots.
Tamsui Old Street
Tamsui Old Street (Danshui Old Street), is a renowned street in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, celebrated for its delectable food and historical ambiance. The street’s culinary scene boasts local delicacies like A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, shrimp rolls, and a traditional form of pound cake.
The street’s history stretches back to the Qing Dynasty in the late 1800s. As one of the few ports open to trade with the West in the entire Qing empire, it became a focal point for trade in Taiwan. The Danlan Old Trail, which was a network of roads and trails that sent tea and other goods from Yilan to Tamsui, once ended here. When trade eventually moved to the larger and more modern Keelung Harbor, Tamsui became a tourist destination. Today the street is host to a mixture of modern shops and traditional eateries.
Recommended Eats:
Pillow-shaped Castella Cake (Sponge Cake)
Tamsui’s famous castella cake is a simple confection made from milk, eggs, flour, sugar, and margarine. Aside from the original flavor, which can be thought of as a more flavorful version of sponge cake, there’s also a savory double-layer cheese stuffed cake.
Kushikatsu Shrimp Rolls
Made by combining fish paste, shrimps, ground pork, celery, cabbage, green onions, among other ingredients, and wrapping them with the membrane from a pig’s stomach! These rolls are then deep-fried until they turn golden crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside. If the freshly fried flavor isn’t good enough, try enhancing it with some sweet chili sauce!
Tamshui A-gei
A-gei is an iconic dish that consists of steamed hollow tofu filled with cellophane noodles and sealed with fish paste. There are three famous stores known for providing delicious A-gei: Original A-gei, Wenhua A-gei, and Three Sisters A-gei. Each store has its own unique features and loyal following.
