Sanxia Golden Croissant is the signature butter bread of Sanxia District in New Taipei, made by rolling dough into a horn shape and baking it with a butter-and-egg wash until crisp outside and soft within. It was developed by Luo Fu-qing, founder of Fumeixuan Bakery, roughly in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and became widely known after media coverage around 2001; today multiple bakeries along the old street sell it as their signature item, a rare case of a bread becoming synonymous with a place.
Fumeixuan Bakery was founded by Luo Fu-qing in 1958 in the market behind Sanxia's Zushishi Temple; the golden croissant was developed by Luo around the late 1980s to early 1990s, inspired by a Philippine bread he tasted while traveling abroad, after roughly six months of experimentation. It became widely popular following heavy media coverage around 2001 and was named one of the former Taipei County's Top 10 souvenirs in 2008. Sanxia Old Street's red-brick arcade architecture dates to the 1916 Japanese-era "street rectification" project and was designated a historic conservation district in 1995.
What is a Sanxia Golden Croissant?
A golden croissant is a bread made by rolling dough into a horn shape, brushing the surface with butter and egg wash, and baking it until golden. The crust comes out of the oven crispy and golden, and when torn open the interior is layered and richly fragrant with butter — somewhere between a croissant and a standard bread roll, more substantial than a croissant but crispier than ordinary bread. The Sanxia Golden Croissant first appeared near Sanxia Old Street in 1992 as the signature item of a local bakery. Its appealing shape, pronounced butter flavor, and suitability as a souvenir quickly made it the defining snack sold up and down the entire old street.
The golden croissant market on Sanxia Old Street is now anchored by established bakeries such as Kangxixuan, Fumeixuan, and Guangming, each with a slightly different recipe ranging from dense to flaky, and each with its own devoted customers. The Sanxia Old Street commercial district's official website and local tourism materials all list the golden croissant as the old street's top souvenir buy. The smell of freshly baked butter wafts every few steps along the way. From the red-brick arcades to the Zushishi Temple area, the golden croissant has become a visual and culinary symbol inseparable from the old street itself — a rare case of a bread becoming a place's defining identity.
How to eat it like a local
Local knowledge
Verified credentials (sponsored content filtered out)
- The golden croissant originated near Sanxia Old Street in 1992 and is a locally created bread.
- The Sanxia Old Street commercial district website lists Kangxixuan, Fumeixuan, and other long-established shops as the signature golden croissant vendors.
- Sanxia Old Street is a New Taipei City heritage conservation area; the red-brick arcade buildings date from the Japanese colonial period.
Visitor tips
- Crowds are heavy on weekends and waits during popular baking times are longer. A weekday visit is more comfortable.
- Golden croissants are a higher-calorie butter bread. They work best as a snack rather than a meal replacement.
- Sanxia Old Street has limited space. Drivers can park in the lots near Zushishi Temple and walk in.
Information compiled from the Michelin Guide, New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau, and large volumes of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with exclusive channel footage after Dio's on-site shoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the Sanxia golden croissant?
It was developed by Luo Fu-qing, founder of Fumeixuan Bakery in Sanxia, inspired by a Philippine bread he tasted while traveling abroad.
What year was the golden croissant invented?
No single confirmed year exists; most sources place its development in the late 1980s to early 1990s, and it only became widely popular after media coverage around 2001.
When were Sanxia Old Street's red-brick arcades built?
The old street's buildings date to the 1916 Japanese-era "street rectification" project and were designated a historic conservation district in 1995.
What does the golden croissant taste like?
Its texture sits between a croissant and ordinary bread — crispy outside, dense inside, with a rich buttery aroma.
Sources
- 金牛角 - 維基百科 — 金牛角研發歷程、爆紅時間點、2008年十大伴手禮
- 品牌故事 - 福美軒餅舖 — 福美軒1958年創立資訊
- 三峽老街 - 維基百科 — 三峽老街1916年市街改正、1995年歷史風貌區