Taiwan Food Atlas

Longggang Zhongzhen New Village

The food culture brought by Yunnan-Myanmar isolated army dependents has survived intact in Zhongli, Taoyuan to this day
📍 Taoyuan · Zhongli District · Longggang🎨 Cultural Park🔖 1950s Yunnan-Myanmar military dependents' village · birthplace of mi gan · Taiwan's most representative exotic-cuisine settlement

Longgang Zhongzhen New Village is a former military dependents' settlement in Zhongli District, Taoyuan, built in the autumn of 1954 by the Ministry of National Defense to house Yunnan-Myanmar isolated army dependents who retreated to Taiwan in 1953-1954. The original housing was demolished starting in 2004 and rebuilt as public housing, but the mi gan noodle food culture and a Yunnan cultural park continue around Zhongzhen Market today.

According to Wikipedia and the Zhongzhen New Village Cultural Park's official site, the village was built by the Ministry of National Defense in the autumn of 1954 to house the first wave of roughly 6,926 Yunnan-Myanmar isolated army dependents who retreated to Taiwan in 1953-1954, totaling about 534 households. Under Taiwan's military dependents' village redevelopment policy, the original housing was demolished starting in 2004 and fully cleared by early 2005, replaced with high-rise public housing. Taiwan's first Yunnan Cultural Park opened on the former village site in 2013, and the Faraway Land Story House within the Zhongzhen New Village Cultural Park opened on March 19, 2022; nearly 60 mi gan noodle shops operate around Zhongzhen Market today.

Highlights of Longggang Zhongzhen New Village

Zhongzhen New Village was built in the 1950s, settled by the dependents of Yunnan and Myanmar troops who retreated to Taiwan. This group, known as the "isolated army" (yìyù gūjūn), brought a distinctly different food culture: Yunnan mi gan (thin flat rice noodles in a pork bone broth), Shan State dishes, and Burmese-style snacks. Over the decades, the village layout has been updated multiple times, but the eatery culture has continued to this day, making it the only settlement in Taiwan of this scale for Yunnan-Myanmar food culture.

The neighborhood centers on the Zhongzhen Market in Longggang, with multiple eateries serving mi gan, wān dòu fěn (pea flour jelly), nasi lemak, and other dishes clustered around it. Some establishments have passed down to the second or third generation. Mi gan broth is made from slow-cooked pork or chicken bones, with smooth rice noodles topped with sliced pork and crispy shallots. Pickled foods typical of Dai or Burmese tradition are also common market items. Overall, this is the place in Taiwan that comes closest to the food memories of the Yunnan border region.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit

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Must-try Yunnan mi ganMi gan is the most iconic dish of Zhongzhen New Village — thin rice noodles in pork bone broth with sliced pork and crispy shallots. The flavor is clean and savory. Eating it for breakfast or lunch is recommended, as the broth tends to be freshest in the morning.
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Market treasure huntingThe Zhongzhen Market stalls sell various Yunnan-Myanmar pickled foods, spices, and specialty ingredients, including pickled tea leaves and shrimp paste — items rarely seen in other Taiwanese markets. Ideal for visitors who enjoy exploring unusual ingredients.
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Absorb the village historyParts of the neighborhood still retain the exterior appearance of dependents' village housing, and eatery walls often display historical photographs and text about the isolated army. Paying attention to these displays while dining gives a deeper understanding of this settlement's historical background.
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Try the variety of dishesBeyond mi gan, some restaurants serve Burmese nasi lemak, Dai-style sour soup, and Shan-style fried rice noodles — each establishment has its own take on the recipes. Sampling a few stalls to experience the diversity of Yunnan-Myanmar cuisine is worthwhile.

Practical Information

Getting There & Timing

  • Located in Longggang, Zhongli District. Take the Taiwan Railways to Zhongli Station, then transfer by bus or taxi (about 15 minutes). By car, parking is available in lots near the market.
  • The Zhongzhen Market and surrounding eateries mostly open in the morning. Some operate primarily for breakfast and lunch and close earlier in the afternoon — a morning to midday visit is recommended.

Nearby Connections

  • Zhongli city center has multiple commercial districts and night markets that can extend the Longggang outing for additional dining or shopping.
  • Taoyuan Children's Art Museum (sp-ty-29) is in Qingpu, about 20 minutes by car from Longggang — a full family day can be planned combining both.

Sources: Taoyuan City Government Hakka Affairs Council, Zhongli District Office cultural data, on-site survey records. Hero image pending Dio's original photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Zhongzhen New Village built?

It was built by the Ministry of National Defense in autumn 1954 to house the first wave of Yunnan-Myanmar isolated army dependents who retreated to Taiwan in 1953-1954.

Do the original village houses still stand?

No — the original housing was demolished starting in 2004 and fully cleared by early 2005, replaced mostly by high-rise public housing, with only the cultural park preserving the history.

How many mi gan noodle shops are near Zhongzhen Market?

Nearly 60 mi gan noodle shops currently operate around Zhongzhen Market, making it Taiwan's largest Yunnan-Myanmar mi gan food cluster.

Sources

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