ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a trip
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Walking tours
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Nightlife
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Dadaocheng

    Taiwan

    Dadaocheng

    CityCultureCulinary

    Dadaocheng on the Tamsui River was Taipei's wealthiest commercial district from the 1850s. In the old shophouses of Dihua Street, merchants still sell dried goods, herbs, and tea, interspersed with cafés, bookstores, and design shops.

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Taiwan
    7. Taipei
    9. Dadaocheng
    Dadaocheng on the Tamsui River was Taipei's wealthiest commercial district from the 1850s. In the old shophouses of Dihua Street, merchants still sell dried goods, herbs, and tea, interspersed with cafés, bookstores, and design shops.The Xiahai City God Temple from 1859 is the district's focal point; in the evenings, people gather at Dadaocheng Pier on the river or at the Ningxia Night Market.
    Dadaocheng in Datong District is Taipei's most atmospheric historic district. Dihua Street, with its old merchant houses, is best explored on foot. Allow an afternoon for tea houses, cafés, and the Xiahai City God Temple. In the evening, head to the pier on the Tamsui River or the Ningxia Night Market, both just about a ten-minute walk away.

    Sights in Dadaocheng

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Dihua Street
    Historic Landmark

    1Dihua Street

    Dadaocheng's main street is lined with commercial buildings from the district's heyday, dating back to the 1850s. Merchants sell dried goods, herbs, and tea, interspersed with cafés and design shops. Before the Lunar New Year, a large market takes place here; the metro stations Daqiaotou and Beimen are each about a ten-minute walk away.
    Open in Google Maps
    Xiahai City God Temple
    Place of Worship

    2Xiahai City God Temple

    Dihua Street's small but most famous temple, built in 1859, is home to hundreds of deities. Many young couples visit to pray for a happy relationship, and for Lunar New Year, it's the focal point of celebrations.
    Open in Google Maps
    Ningxia Night Market
    Market

    3Ningxia Night Market

    Ten minutes' walk from Dihua Street, hundreds of food stalls line a single street, from beef noodles to Taiwanese pancakes, plus game stalls like marble pinball. On Fridays and weekends, it's very crowded.
    Open in Google Maps

    City walks in Dadaocheng

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Dadaocheng: From Dihua Street to the Ningxia Night Market

    A walk through Taipei's old merchant district, around 1.5km, taking two to three hours with breaks. Start late afternoon on Dihua Street, catch the river sunset, and end the evening with street food at Ningxia Night Market.

    Open in Google Maps
    Stops (4)

    Restaurants in Dadaocheng

    1

    Du Hsiao Yueh Dihua

    The branch of the traditional Danzai Noodle House from Tainan is located right in the middle of Dihua Street. Small bowls with noodles, minced meat sauce, and shrimp are ideal for a break while strolling through Dadaocheng.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink

    In Dadaocheng, you eat in small eateries, at the night market, and drink tea in historic houses.

    Ningxia Night Market

    Hundreds of stalls line a street, with beef noodles to Taiwanese pancakes.

    Tea from Dadaocheng

    Reputable tea merchants like Lin Mao Sen offer tastings.

    Danzai Noodles

    Du Hsiao Yueh's branch is right in the heart of Dihua Street.

    Riverside Trade Quarter

    From the 1850s, Dadaocheng became the city's wealthiest district; merchants built magnificent commercial buildings, and tea was shipped worldwide from its river port. Founded in 1883, the tea company Lin Mao Sen is among Taipei's oldest tea merchants.Before the Lunar New Year, Dihua Street transforms into a large market with lanterns, dried fruits, and sweets, with the 1859 Xiahai Temple at the heart of the celebrations.

    Nightlife

    1

    Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market

    On the pier over the Tamsui River, there are container and pop-up bars with food stalls. It gets especially lively in the evening, when the sun sets over the river and the city comes out.
    Show on Google Maps

    Getting Here and About

    Metro: Daqiaotou (Orange Line) in the north or Beimen (Green Line) in the south, each about a ten-minute walk to Dihua Street.On Foot: Dihua Street, Pier, and Ningxia Night Market are within walking distance of each other.

    Accommodations in Dadaocheng

    Find perfect stay in Dadaocheng

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Dadaocheng

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Dadaocheng

      Live
      • 1Dihua Street3 days
      • 2Xiahai City God Temple4 days
      • 3Ningxia Night Market5 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Zhongshan and Chifeng Street

    Zhongshan and Chifeng Street

    Zhongshan is Taipei's district for a stroll: Around Zhongshan MRT Station, a green strip of park stretches, lined with boutiques, department stores, and cafés. In the alleys west of it lies Chifeng Street, where old car repair shops and hardware stores now stand alongside vintage shops and small cafés.Further north, things get cultural: The Municipal Art Museum and the Expo Park are located on Zhongshan North Road, and at Xingtian Temple, you'll experience one of the city's most vibrant religious centers.
    Wanhua and Ximending

    Wanhua and Ximending

    Wanhua, formerly Bangka, is Taipei's oldest commercial district. Its heart is the Longshan Temple (1738), and shops in the surrounding alleys sell incense, herbs, and traditional remedies.Just north is Ximending, the youth entertainment district: pedestrian zones offer fashion, street food, and cinemas, and evenings at the Red House feature open-air bars.
    Zhongzheng

    Zhongzheng

    Zhongzheng is Taipei's political and historical heart. On Liberty Square are the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Theater and the Concert Hall; here, 1990 student protests paved the way for democracy. The Taipei Main Station area forms the city's main transport hub.In the district's east, the former 1914 distillery has become the Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a cultural complex with exhibitions, cafes, a cinema, and pop-up shops.
    Da'an and Yongkang Street

    Da'an and Yongkang Street

    Da'an District is Taipei's green, well-kept residential and university neighborhood. Right by Dongmen metro station begins Yongkang Street, not a night market alley, but a street full of good restaurants, tea shops, and small stores, known for mango shaved ice and beef noodle soup.A few minutes' walk away is Da'an Forest Park, the city's green lung, and further south, National Taiwan University.
    Shilin

    Shilin

    Shilin in northern Taipei combines three reasons for a visit: the Shilin Night Market, the city's most famous; the National Palace Museum with its imperial treasures; and the Shilin Residence, the former home of Chiang Kai-shek with a large garden.From Shilin, one can also ascend to Yangmingshan National Park with its extinct volcanoes.