Hukou Old Street, Hukou Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwán

Hukou Old Street, Hukou Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwán 

Located in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Hukou Old Street is a 300-meter long street occupied by 200-plus shop-houses that were built around 1920. Hukou Old Street is lined by two-story, redbrick buildings that are probably the most complete Japanese-era urban thoroughfare remaining in Taiwan.

This Taiwan old street is preserved well with a number of government-funded renovations going on. Hukou Old Street has been repaved with granite slabs, with the facades repaired and cleaned up, as well as crafts of dragons, deer, cranes and other symbols that are important features of Chinese-style architectures. Plastic drainpipes and lights have also been installed to highlight some of the architectural features.

Hukou Old Street is classical in appearance. Window frames are made of wood, and many of the houses still fitted with wooden sliding doors rather than roller steel shutters to preserve its traditional looks.

Epic Taiwan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound