It's hard to imagine one can still find such a history-laden area in a modern city like Taipei. If you have already had your fill of glitz and glam in the metropolis and crave something quaint and classical, you must come to Dadaocheng.

The major street of Dadaocheng is lined with hundreds of old houses. The facades of the buildings reflect the architectural trends of different eras. Some of them suggest the influence of Qing dynasty (the last imperial dynasty of China), while others give way to a marriage with European styles or modernism. Despite the diversity in style, they are all long and narrow, and can be divided into three sections. The first section is used to run businesses, showcasing goods including herbs for Chinese medicine, dried foods, bamboo wares, and lanterns. The second section behind the first section is, in its capacity, a living room; a walk through the houses brings the life of olden days to mind.

In the southern part of the street sits a small yet extremely popular temple, Taipei Xiahai City-God Temple. Every year, tourists from all over the world fly here for praying. Inside the temple, a silver-haired god (God of Relationships) scratches his head for making a match. Next to the temple is Yong-le Market, the largest textile market in Taipei, with fabrics of all shapes and sizes in stock. You will never be bored when walking in this vibrant neighborhood.

As Taipei modernized sometime ago, Manka, which was first developed 300 years ago, may seem out of place with its dated industries and a past filled with gangster stories; or is it?

As the earliest developed area in northern Taiwan and one of the first ancient cities on the island, Manka offers a glimpse to the past and of how Taipei came to be. At the historic Longshan Temple, one of the most frequented temples in Taiwan that has withstood earthquakes and a US air raid, get ready to be awed by its elaborateness and sacred spirituality. The winding streets of Bopiliao paints a vivid picture of what life was like centuries ago while herb lane offers exotic views of herbs and folk remedies.

Manka is laced with rich layers of history, and complex demographics, a unique combination that you won’t find anywhere else in Taipei. Join us for an authentic Manka experience.

“Taipei Walled City,” a familiar phrase that is somehow unfamiliar as well. Something that no longer exists but can be tracked on the signboards of some old shops, reminding us of its great existence and glory in silence.

The walls and gates of Taipei Walled City were built during the Qing Dynasty, while during Japanese Rule, most of the major facilities inside the walls were built. The Walled City included the highest building at the time— the Governor-General's Office (now Presidential Office), which allowed the Governor-General to look down at the whole city from his office on the central tower. From there, he could also see his residence in the gorgeous Renaissance style built to praise his glory.

Hengyang Road, on the other side, was once recognized as the “Ginza” district in Taipei, where people enjoyed shopping in various luxury stores and some Japanese commented that there were no streets in Japan that could compare. A few years later, along with the adjacent Chongqing South Road designated as the financial center, the first ever department store in Taiwan, Kikumoto, opened here and made Hengyang Road reach its peak prosperity.

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