Taiwan Food Atlas

Hukou Old Street

Intact Japanese colonial brick arcades — the hundred-year commercial street memory of a transit hub between Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli
📍 Hsinchu · Hukou Township · Old Hukou⛩️ Historic site🔖 County-designated historic site cluster · Japanese colonial brickwork · Sanyuan Temple

Hukou Old Street is a Japanese colonial-era brick commercial street in Hukou Township, Hsinchu County, built in 1916 by local gentry and originally called 'New Street.' Laid out in an L-shape with a roughly 120-meter short arm and a 640-meter long arm — nearly 760 meters combined — the street is lined with uniform, symmetrical brick arcade shophouses. Sanyuan Temple at its heart was registered as a Hsinchu County-designated historic site in 2001, and the street is considered one of the best-preserved Japanese-era brick old streets in Taiwan.

The brick shophouses were built in 1916, near the site of the Qing-era 'Dahukou' rail stop that first brought prosperity to the area. The street runs in an L-shape, with a roughly 120-meter short arm and a 640-meter long arm. Commercial activity declined after the railway was rerouted in 1929, which paradoxically helped preserve the street's brick facades intact. Sanyuan Temple, at the center of the street, was registered as a Hsinchu County-designated historic site on May 21, 2001.

What to see at Hukou Old Street

Hukou Old Street runs about 200 meters, with red-brick connected arcades on both sides. The uniform columns and orderly rhythm reflect a planned development by local gentry in the early Japanese colonial period — quite different from the ad hoc character of most old streets. Sanyuan Temple sits at the center of the street and remains the community's spiritual heart; the plaza in front of it still retains its traditional layout.

The commercial activity on the old street is quieter these days, with a handful of local food stalls and traditional businesses still operating. Weekend markets and cultural events are held occasionally. The relatively low-key atmosphere suits visitors who prefer unhurried exploration of architectural details. The ruins of the former Hukou Train Station (now closed) are also nearby and worth a look.

Tips for getting the most out of your visit

🧱
Walk the full length of the brick arcade facadeWalk to the far end on one side, then cross and walk back on the other, studying the arcade columns and brick details. Light falls differently on the columns at different times of day.
⛩️
Context of Sanyuan TempleSanyuan Temple was the religious core around which the street grew. Learning about its founding history inside the temple illuminates how the Old Hukou commercial settlement came to be.
📸
Low-angle framing down the arcadeCrouching at one end of the street and shooting along the colonnade creates a strong vanishing-point composition — the most common and effective way to photograph the old street's architecture.
🚂
Explore the old train station ruinsThe ruins of the abandoned Old Hukou Station are nearby. Visiting them adds context to the street's history — the story of how the settlement declined as the railway line shifted away.

Practical information

Getting there and timing

  • By car: Exit at Hukou Interchange on National Highway 1 and follow signs to Old Hukou; roadside parking is available. About 10 minutes from the interchange.
  • The old street can be visited year-round with no admission fee. Shops are busier on weekends than on weekdays; weekdays are better for unhurried architectural appreciation.

Nearby connections

  • Xinpu Fangliao Yimin Temple is to the south of Hukou Township, about a 20-minute drive — good for a northern Hakka township day trip.
  • Yangmei in Taoyuan is nearby; the area can serve as a midpoint on a cross-county Taoyuan-Hsinchu itinerary.

Sources: The Wikipedia entry for Hukou Old Street and Hsinchu County Cultural Affairs Bureau county-designated historic site records. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own shots.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of place is Hukou Old Street?

It is a Japanese colonial-era brick commercial street in Hukou Township, Hsinchu County, built in 1916 and laid out in an L-shape, with well-preserved brick arcade shophouses — one of northern Taiwan's most representative old streets.

How long is Hukou Old Street?

The street forms an L-shape with a roughly 120-meter short arm and a 640-meter long arm, nearly 760 meters combined, lined on both sides with connected brick arcade shophouses.

What is the historical status of Sanyuan Temple on the old street?

Sanyuan Temple is the spiritual heart of the street and was registered as a Hsinchu County-designated historic site in 2001; the plaza in front of it still retains its traditional layout.

Why did the street decline yet remain so well preserved?

After the railway was rerouted in 1929, commercial activity shifted elsewhere and development stalled — which is exactly what kept the brick facades intact, making the street a valuable historic district today.

Sources

🗺️ View on the map ← All Hsinchu attractions