Bopiliao Historic District

The beautiful Old Street preserved
Talk of the town: Bopiliao Old Street has been the backdrop for local films such as the award-winning 'Monga', a former name for the area.

Noteworthy for: The historic buildings here include Laosong Elementary School which was built in 1896, the Taipei home of scholar Chang Tai-yan, Weiling Taoist Shrine, and a public bath.
Stroll through the last 200 years of Taiwan's history along Lane 173, otherwise known as Bopiliao Old Street, flanked with a fascinating mix of neoclassical Japanese buildings and old Fujianese beauties. Despite its recent restoration, there is still a sense of faded glory in the chipped brick facades, chalk murals and somewhat abandoned covered arcades.

In the late 19th century, this area - now known as Wanhua - was one of the economic and cultural centres of Taiwan. When Japan invaded however, it fell into swift decline as trade shifted away. The area is still relatively poor to this day with many homeless and elderly, but it was the local residents who fought for Bopiliao's renovation to attract visitors. It is now home to a handful of interesting exhibitions, concerts and shops, and becomes a hive of activity around holidays when locals head here to buy spirit money, Chinese medicine, herbs and tea.