Dihua Street
Encyclopedia
Dihua Street is a street located in the Datong District (大同區) of Taipei
winding from the south of the district to close to the north in the old village of Dalongdong
(大龍峒). The street, then known as Centre Street (中街), was constructed during the 1850s, when many commercial entities belonging to Quanzhou
-originating owners moved in from the nearby village of Bangka (艋舺). Since then and throughout the rest of the 19th century, Dihua Street has been an important centre for commerce in Taiwanese products and produce such as Chinese medicinal herbs
, fabrics, incense
materials, and for the post-processing
of Taiwanese
tea
.
The name "Dihua
" was given in 1947 by the Republic of China
government, in reference to Urumqi
, Xinjiang
, and effectively joins a string of older streets in this area of Taipei existing prior to the Chinese Civil War
. Locals living in the district refer to the portion of the street north of of the Minsheng West Road
(民生西路) as Dihua North (北街), and the portion south as Dihua south (南街). Being the oldest street Taipei (with sections in existence since the rule of Dutch Formosa from 1624–1661), its architecture has been under preservation and conservation efforts by the city. Modern Dihua Street along with its surrounding neighborhood and streets, known as the Dihua Street commercial loop (迪化街商圈), remain one of the most commercially active in Taipei with transactions in excess of 3 billion US dollars.
decorations, atmosphere, and architecture. The street continues to be a major destination during Chinese New Year
festivities, with 750,000 people visiting the street in the two weeks leading up to the holiday.
The hiring of clean-up crews and rental of store-fronts to seasonal merchants during the two weeks is an important source of revenue for many residents.
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
winding from the south of the district to close to the north in the old village of Dalongdong
Dalongdong
Dalongdong , or pourompon is an old village in historical Taipei located nears the narrows of the intersection between the Keelung and Tamsui Rivers...
(大龍峒). The street, then known as Centre Street (中街), was constructed during the 1850s, when many commercial entities belonging to Quanzhou
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
-originating owners moved in from the nearby village of Bangka (艋舺). Since then and throughout the rest of the 19th century, Dihua Street has been an important centre for commerce in Taiwanese products and produce such as Chinese medicinal herbs
Chinese herbology
Chinese Herbology is the theory of Traditional Chinese herbal therapy, which accounts for the majority of treatments in Traditional Chinese medicine ....
, fabrics, incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
materials, and for the post-processing
Tea processing
Tea processing is the method in which the leaves from the tea plant Camellia sinensis are transformed into the dried leaves for brewing tea. The categories of tea are distinguished by the processing they undergo. In its most general form, tea processing involves different manners and degree of...
of Taiwanese
Taiwanese tea culture
Taiwanese tea culture, include tea arts, tea ceremony, and a very social way of enjoying tea. While the most common teas are oolongs especially Taiwanese oolongs such as Iron Goddess and Alpine Oolong; Puers, black teas and green teas are also popular. Many of the classical arts can be seen in...
tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
.
The name "Dihua
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
" was given in 1947 by the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government, in reference to Urumqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, and effectively joins a string of older streets in this area of Taipei existing prior to the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
. Locals living in the district refer to the portion of the street north of of the Minsheng West Road
Minsheng Road
Minsheng Road is an east-west 4-lane to 10-lane arterial in Taipei connecting the Songshan District and Datong District of Taipei City. Minsheng Road is divided into east and west sections, with five smaller sections in the east section and only one is the west section...
(民生西路) as Dihua North (北街), and the portion south as Dihua south (南街). Being the oldest street Taipei (with sections in existence since the rule of Dutch Formosa from 1624–1661), its architecture has been under preservation and conservation efforts by the city. Modern Dihua Street along with its surrounding neighborhood and streets, known as the Dihua Street commercial loop (迪化街商圈), remain one of the most commercially active in Taipei with transactions in excess of 3 billion US dollars.
New Year's Market
Although a relatively calm street during most times of the year Dihua street street bustles with people during the two weeks before Chinese New Year. The residents of Taipei flock to the street during these times to buy necessities for the festivities, while the tourist visit for the tradition FujianFujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
decorations, atmosphere, and architecture. The street continues to be a major destination during Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year – often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar – is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is an all East and South-East-Asia celebration...
festivities, with 750,000 people visiting the street in the two weeks leading up to the holiday.
The hiring of clean-up crews and rental of store-fronts to seasonal merchants during the two weeks is an important source of revenue for many residents.