Step Back in Time! The Ultimate Nostalgic Stroll Through Yilan's Toucheng Old Street: Stories of the First Street in Lanyang, Hipster Check-in Spots, and Local Food Guide.
Step Back in Time! The Ultimate Nostalgic Stroll Through Yilan's Toucheng Old Street: Stories of the First Street in Lanyang, Hipster Check-in Spots, and Local Food Guide 🧱🏮🍂
If Jiaoxi represents the warmth of Yilan and Luodong represents its bustling vibe, then Toucheng definitely represents its deepest soul. Known as the "First Street in Lanyang," Toucheng Old Street is a time corridor that blends classic red bricks from the Qing Dynasty, Western-style mansions from the Japanese colonial period, and modern cultural and creative arts. Here, you won't see the cookie-cutter commercial tourist atmosphere, but only the purest tranquility of Lanyang's bygone days. As you plan this nostalgic trip to the old street, we highly recommend downloading the Trip.com App first. Whether it's booking a unique local homestay with a vintage vibe in Toucheng, a chartered one-day tour to and from Yilan, or purchasing fast-track tickets for the nearby Lanyang Museum, you can easily get everything done with just one tap in the App, making your pilgrimage to Lanyang effortless and exquisite!
📜 Background History of the "First Street in Lanyang"
Toucheng Old Street (now Heping Street) is the earliest developed commercial street in the Yilan area. During the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796 AD), Wu Sha led Han Chinese settlers to cultivate the Lanyang Plain, and Toucheng became the first settlement established. At that time, the old street was adjacent to the prosperous Wushi Commercial Port, a bustling harbor filled with countless ships where rice and local products from various regions were traded. At both ends of the old street, the South Gate Fude Temple and North Gate Fude Temple were built. About 600 meters apart, they formed a classic street block described as "two Earth Gods locking in the wealth."
However, with the opening of the railway during the Japanese colonial period, the silting of Wushi Port, and the ruthless invasion of a massive flood, Toucheng Old Street lost its former glory as a gathering place for merchants. Yet, precisely because of this shift in the economic center, the old street luckily escaped the fate of overdevelopment. It has perfectly preserved the Qing Dynasty Southern Fujian-style "Thirteen Hongs" Kang family old residence and the exquisite Japanese-style Lu Tsuan-hsiang Residence to this day.
🚌 How to Get There
The transportation to Toucheng Old Street is extremely convenient, with high accessibility by public transit, making it very suitable for independent travelers without a car:
By Train (Highly Recommended): Take the TRA Eastern Trunk Line to Toucheng Station. After exiting the station, turn right and walk along the plaza path for about 3 to 5 minutes to directly enter Heping Street (the prime section of the old street).
By Intercity Bus: Take the Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Route 1877 from Taipei Yuanshan Transfer Station or Nangang Transfer Station, get off at Toucheng Station, and walk for about 5 minutes to arrive.
By Car: Take National Highway 5 (Hsuehshan Tunnel), exit at the Toucheng Interchange, and drive towards Toucheng for about 10 minutes. Paid parking lots are available around Toucheng Train Station.
⏰ Time of Operations & Itinerary Planning
Outdoor Historical Block: Open 24/7 for free.
Cultural and Creative Shops & Local Food: Most shops are open from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Some hipster cafes remain open until 7:00 PM.
💡 Pro Tip: Most of the old street is paved with outdoor stone slabs. We strongly recommend visiting between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM, or after 3:30 PM. At these times, the afternoon sun casts a warm golden hue on the red brick walls, and you can perfectly avoid the scorching midday heat.
📸 Best Photo Spots for Social Media
In recent years, Toucheng Old Street has introduced many clever 3D art installations and lighting designs. The following three fantastic spots will definitely help you capture high-quality, cinematic shots:
Literature Alley and Rainbow Glass (Most Popular Spot for Influencers): Hidden in the red brick alleys, poetry and literary works by local Toucheng writers (such as Li Rong-chun) are carved onto hollowed-out metal plates hanging on both sides of the walls. When the sunlight shines through the rainbow glass above, it casts colorful, glowing text onto the blue brick ground and wooden doors, creating an ethereal, artsy atmosphere.
Pond in Front of North Gate Fude Temple and Lu Tsuan-hsiang Residence: This is the former site of the inner harbor of Wushi Port. Standing by the shimmering pond with the luxurious Western-style "Lu Residence" from the Japanese colonial period as your background, you can capture stunning reflection shots full of Taisho romanticism and Japanese retro vibes.
3D Retro Painted Walls (Highly Interactive): The middle section of the old street features many lifelike 3D murals, such as traditional grocery stores, ox carts, and the old Wushi Port waterways. By striking interactive poses from specific angles, every casual snap becomes a fun and humorous photo full of Taiwanese charm.
🎒 What to Prepare
Non-slip, Comfortable Flat Shoes: The old street is a mix of ancient stone paths and red brick roads. Some surfaces are weathered and uneven due to history, so comfortable sneakers are recommended over high heels.
Physical Sun Protection: Although there are arcades (Tingzaijiao) for shade along the old street, most of the corridors and squares are still exposed to sunlight. Summer UV rays are strong, so umbrellas, sun hats, and sunscreen are essential.
Mosquito Repellent: The historical block is surrounded by plenty of greenery and old trees. Especially around dusk, the "little black mosquitoes" (biting midges) flying in from the mountains are more active, so proper mosquito protection is a must.
💡 Travel Tips for In-depth Tourism
Must-eat Traditional Flavor - A-Zhong Taro Ice City: After strolling through the old street, be sure to walk to nearby Section 3, Qingyun Road, for a bowl of authentic A-Zhong Taro Ice. This purely handmade "babu" ice cream contains no whipped cream. The taro, red bean, and pineapple flavors all feature real chunks, making it a legendary Taiwanese soul food that will soothe your tired legs!
Link with Lanyang Museum and Waiao Sea View: The Toucheng Old Street itinerary takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Afterward, you can directly search and book tickets for the nearby Lanyang Museum (a 5-minute drive) on the Trip.com App, or head to Waiao Beach to order a cup of coffee and gaze at Guishan Island, piecing together the perfect Toucheng day trip.
This evergreen blue-brick old street, full of historical depth and cultural vibrancy, is waiting for you to savor it in detail. Open the Trip.com App now and book your time-traveling vacation to Toucheng!