Datong District Walking Tour (Self Guided), Taipei

No stay in Taipei is complete without visiting the Datong district, which is a tiny slice of the city’s history, as it is here that Taipei was born. Formerly an important international commercial center, Datong still has many buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese Colonial period.

The best preserved buildings are to be found on Dihua Street, the oldest road in the city. Here are a lot of beautiful temples to explore in the area, such as Dalongtong Baoan Temple, which was founded by four important merchant clans in the 18th century and the Xiahai City God Temple, whose deity protects the living and oversees the spirits of the dead. This district will give you a feel of how life was lived in the 19th century, with its traditional shops selling exotic spices, herbs, tea and fabric lengths.

There are also interesting museums to visit such as the Lin Liu-hsin Puppet Theatre Museum with its thousands of theater puppets from all over the world. Relax on a bench in the sun or hire a bike and ride through the Dadaocheng Wharf and Park. There are plenty of cafes in the district; if you want to try some very good home cooking, try the Doorway Cafe not far from the Yongle Textile Market.