The historic street of Beipu/ Beipu Old Street (北埔老街）is located in the Beipu Township of Hsinchu county. It is known for its rich traditional Hakka culture and cuisine, as well as its specialty of dried persimmon cakes in the autumn seasons. Many tourists flock to Beipu Old Street every year just to stock up on their freshly harvested-and-dried persimmon cakes.
Getting to Beipu Old Street
Most people get there by car or scooter, which is also the more convenient way to go. There, you’ll be able to find both free and paid parking spaces. Beipu Old Street sees a lot of tourists during the weekends, so most people will have to pay a little for parking if that’s when you’re going.
If a car or scooter is not an option for you, then you could also take the shuttle bus (5700) from the TRA station at Zhudong.
Best Time to Visit
Most shops are open from 9am to 5:30pm on the weekdays, and from 8am to 6pm on the weekends. However, I recommend going earlier as a lot of the more traditional eateries close after lunch time. Also keep in mind that a lot of stores are only open on the weekends when there’s a larger crowd of tourists.
Fun things to do in Beipu Old Street
Beipu is also known as the town with the highest density of historic monuments in Taiwan-and you’re about to find out why.
Deng Nan-Guang Photo Memorial
Built in 1926, this historic building was home to photographer Deng Nan-Guang and his family. It is right next to the parking lot, so it’ll be the first building you pass by if that’s where you’re coming from. Today the building is a tourist information center as well as an exhibition hall for Deng Nan-Guang’s photography.
It’s a beautiful place to walk around, especially if you enjoy looking at old photographs. I actually spent a lot more time here than anticipated because I absolutely love looking at old photos of people who once lived here and observe how the city once looked, it’s truly fascinating to me.
If you also enjoy looking at pieces of history documented in photos, definitely go inside for a little stroll. The yard outside is also a beautiful place to just sit down for a rest and chat with your family and friends.
Beipu Citian Temple
Built in the 1840s, the Beipu Citian Temple (北埔慈天宮）is listed as a grade III historic monument in Taiwan. This beautiful Buddhist temple is the religious center of Beipu, and many come here everyday to pray for peace.
Chiang A-Hsin Western Mansion
One building you’ll see that stands out in particular from the rest is the Chiang A-Hsin Western Mansion. This Western style mansion was built in 1946, and at the time, it was definitely rare to see such a building in Taiwan. This is also where the historical drama Gold Leaf that came out in 2021 was filmed. It talks about the tea industry in Beipu, which was important back in the days, and you can find the series on Netflix.
Jin Guang Fu Hall
The Jin Guang Fu Hall is a grade I historic site, and the only residential building classified as a grade I historic site in Taiwan. I love looking at and walking through historic buildings because it’s so fascinating to see how much architecture in Taiwan has evolved within just the past two hundred year. I could honestly never imagine living in a building like that now, although I would love to try!
The Ancient Well of Beipu
Wandering around Beipu old street, one of the cool things that you’ll stumble across is the ancient well that the local residents have been getting water from for centuries. You’d be surprised to find that clean water still pumps out of it now; you can stop by to wash your hands in some cold water when it gets too hot during you walk!
What to Eat in Beipu Old Street
Although all the historic monuments you find in Beipu Old Street are definitely impressive, what most people are excited for when coming here are all the delicious Hakka food you can find here. Today I’ll be sharing with you some of my favorite foods that I’ve tried in Beipu!
persimmon cake
You wouldn’t know how many species of persimmons there are until you try them all out for yourself at Beipu. Some are sweeter, some are softer, some chewier- up for you to decide which one your favorite is! My favorite is the Bull-Heart Persimmon (seen on the very right) because of its chewiness and it was the sweetest. These persimmon cakes are the ideal treat to pair along with your afternoon tea.
Lei cha
Lei Cha is without a question my all-time favorite when it comes to food at Beipu Old Street. I have to get one everytime I come here! Lei Cha is originally a traditional Southern Chinese ground tea and a staple drink in Hakka households. It usually consists of multiple kinds of nuts and leaves all grounded to make the most refreshing, nutty drink. It tastes *kiiiinda* like matcha, but so much better in my opinion (sorry, matcha fans). You can choose to have it warm or iced, I always go for the iced Lei Cha- the most delectable drink you could ask for on a hot summer day.
mochi
Hakka cuisine is also known for their freshly ground mochi that you can dip in sweet peanut flakes. Hakka people make the best mochi, it’s crazy. You can find stands selling traditional handmade mochi everywhere at Beipu old street (or anywhere you can find Hakka people). If you like mochi you have to try the ones here!
traditional douhua
This traditional Douhua stand is also something that I recommend everyone try when coming to Beipu Old Street. If you see a lot of people lining up to buy douhua from an uncle, then you’ve found it.
This douhua is so good that we had to go back for seconds. You can either get the black sugar or the ginger flavor, and the cold ones come with a scoop of shaved ice. You don’t see Douhua with a scoop of shaved ice very often- I think it might be the Hakka way of eating it but I’m not too sure!
alkaline sticky rice
This was my first time trying alkaline sticky rice. It’s not a Hakka cuisine but they were selling it so I thought why not! It’s supposed to be eaten sweet with sugar or honey and I 10/10 would not recommend it 😖 I didn’t like it at all, to be honest I think it’s something that most people won’t enjoy unless if you grew up eating it. It tastes very…alkaline. If you’re curious about what it tastes like then try it at your own discretion!
lu wei
We decided to try this Lu Wei out because every time we come here there’s always a bunch of people lined up. It was mid.
squid and burdock tempura
A big yes from me! A yummy treat to eat as you take your time to wander around the streets. I really liked the burdock tempura- must get some if you like burdock!!
mini veggie buns
These are also really popular here in Beipu, I didn’t try them because my inner picky eater does not like buns (a disgrace to Asians, I know). But I’ve heard really good reviews, so let me know if you try them!
If you enjoy reading about historic streets in Taiwan, make sure you check out my other post on the Historic Town of Lukang!
And my friends, that’s it for today. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and I’ll see you next time! 🧡
Until next time,
Lol I want to try those veggie buns on your behalf! And all the rest of the food – it all sounds so tasty!! Beipu old street looks like a gorgeous area and all that food makes me want to try it even more!