This article is translated from 17度C的黑夜

 

How to arrange your intineray in Tamsui? It’s one of the tourist attractions that you can’t miss in Taipei, and the other one is Jiu Fen.
It’s also an attractive spot for the sun set.
I’ve received lots of couchsurfers to Tamsui, so this time I’ll introuduce Tamsui trip for one day.
I strongly recommend again that don’t arrange Jiu Fen and Tamsui in the same day!
“Could I arrange Jiu Fen and Tamsui?”
This is also a question that others usually asked me in the article “How to go to Jiu Fen”
My answer is

 

“strongly not recommend”
“strongly not recommend”
“strongly not recommend”

 

It’s because that they both have fantastic sunset view,
So if you arrange them in the same day, it’s a pity that you could only appreciate one of the sunset view.
Besides, it takes long from Tamsui to Jiu Fen and the recommended bus is the bus to Keelung which will pass by North Coast.
Therefore, it’s also a pity that you just pass by it rather than stay.
It’s more suitable that you arrange one-day trip in Jiu Feng and the area of Pingxi.
Tamsui is already enough for one-day trip, but if you want, you could also arrange it with Beitou.

 

 

Since it’s a one-day trip in Tamsui, let’s start the travel in the early beginning!
Don’t worry about that the shops in Tamsui don’t open yet, because Tamsui Old Street is not our first stop.
After arriving the MRT, go to the exit 2, we’ll take the bus first and taste the local breakfast in Tamsui-“Tamsui Agei”.

 

Must-try local food-“Tamsui Agei”

 

 

Agei is breakfast for people who live in Tamsui, so it open normally at 6 a.m.
The most authentic Agei stores are these three stores located at Zhenli Street, so it’s also called Agei street here.
“Tamsui Agei”
It’s the first agei store in Tamsui.
However, it will close when the food is sold out, so the tourists have less chance to try it.
Tamsui Wenhua A-gei was often visited by Jay Chou when he was a student and I also prefer it.
Tamsui Agei is a local food that is not sold in others places in Taiwan.
So if you miss it here, you won’t get other chances!

 

p.s. I’d like to say again,“Tamsui Agei” is the first agei store in Tamsui!

# cultural heritage- Tamsui Customs Officers' Residence

 

 

The Customs Officers' Residence in Japanese western architecture style is a place chosen by couples to take wedding photography.
Through the exhibition space in the building, we could get understand more history in Tamsui.

 

Before aheading to another spot, let’s play some music
It’s a song produced by Jay chou, we could have this song accompanied with our one-day trip in Tamsui

 

# Tamkang High School

 

 

Tamkang High School is alma mater for Jay Chou(in the department of music).
So I think Jay Chou must has special affection to it.
The film “the untold secret” is shot in Tamkang High School.
It’s not the only one that is shooted here, many music videos are also shooted here and even a famous youtuber in Taiwan came here to shoot a video.
Through these cases, we could understand the charm of this school.

However, there was a security issue so it’s not open for others now.

 

 

Arriving at Chongjian St. Intersection stop and walking along Agei Street, Tamsui Customs Officers' Residence and New Taipei Tamkang High School, there’re lots of chances to take pictures.
If you keep going ahead, there’re also Aletheia University and Fort San Domingo(heritage), so you could decide how much time that you’d like to stay

 

# Fort San Domingo

 

There’re combined ticket for Fort San Domingo, Tamsui Customs Officers' Residence and Hobe Fort which costs NT$80.
You could choose this set for three heritage at once

 

The history of Fort San Domingo could be traced back to 1628 when the spanish empire arrived here and built “fort San Domingo.”
Years later, it’s destroyed and dutch empire rebuilt it in the original site and named it “Fort Antonio.”
Since the Dutch were called "Red Haired People" by the Han immigrants during the time, the fort was then nicknamed "Fort Red Hair."
After that, Zheng Chenggong defeated dutch empire and dutch empire withdrew for Taiwan in 1668.
Then, few years later, Zheng Chenggong surrendered to Qing dynasty and Fort Red Hair repaired by Qing dynasty.
In 1860, because of Tianjin Treaty, Tamsui port opened.
In 1867, british government rent Fort Red Hair as consulate and built 
official residence next to it.
In the second world war, the relationship between Japan and the United Kindom broke, so it was closed temporarily until the end of the war.
When Kuomintang took over Taiwan, United Kingdon and Ausralia broke off diplomatic relations with Kuomintang and Fort Red Hair became official residence ruled by United States and Australia until Kuomintang got back the power of Fort Red Hair and regarded it as Class 1 National Heritage Site

 

Besides the history, many tourists love to take pictures here.
They could leave their beautiful memories with the old wall and historic castle

 

# Hobe Fort

 

It takes about 15 minutes by walking from Fort San Domingo.
This fort is built in the late qing dynasty for defense.
It’s also an important facility for the modernization of sea defences in 1900s.

 

Although there isn’t copmlete introduction for this facility when you visit it, it has been 100 years sinced qing dynasty.

 

After the historic trip, if there’s enough time(3 hours), you could walk along the river or look for food in the old street.
To be simplified, you could choose take bus to Fisherman's Wharf to have a cup of coffee and wait for the sunset or turn left and walk along the river enjoying the wind, seeing the work artic

 

 

This time I’ll guide you in the direction of Fisherman's Wharf.
Although the Old Street isn’t night market, it’s still suitable for dinner after appreciating the sunset.
It’s better to arrive at Fisherman's Wharf one hour before the sunset.
You could search”Taipei sunset time” directly

 

#  Fisherman's Wharf(sunset/night view)

 

As a taipei citizen, it’s impossible that I don’t like this place.
I can’t even count how many times I came here.
You could appreciate the sunset in a coffee shop or buy a cup of coffee enjoying the sunset at viewing point depending on your habit.

 

# Must-try Tamsui Old Street local food-delicious fish ball and “iron egg”

 

 

If you haven’t enjoyed the food enough, after the sunset, the Old Street is bustling.
What to eat in Old Street?
I’ll recommend 「可口魚丸」first, this is a really historic store.
It’s my memory in the childhood.
 

P.s. Tamsui Old Street is not night market, people is getting fewer after 8 o’clock.

 

# 。許義魚酥。

 

 

The original “許義魚酥” fish ball store is confonded by the soldiers(林水木、許義) in the same class in second world war.
Because of the rich fish resources in Tamsui, 許義 get inspiration from sliced fish cake. 
After researching and improving for many times, they invented portable fisg cake.
Few years later, they create their own brand seperately.
The fish cake invented by 許義 accomapiend people in Tamsui for about 60 years.
Now you could see fish cake everywhere in Tamsui, but “許義魚酥” is still their favorite one.
This is also a memory in my childhood!
You must buy it as a souvenit in Tamsui!

# 。淡水老街白糖蔥。

It’s a forgotten traditional technique.
It’s said that it’s a snack made by the chef in the palace for the emperor so it got the name of “dragon.”
I’ve already forgotten when is the last time I tasted it because it seems to be seen less in the night market.
Tasting it again, I was so touched by the taste and couldn’t help smiling from the bottom of my heart.
In the package of the dragon beard’s candy, there are two kinds of flavor among six candies which are sesame and peanut.
Two different taste of taiwanese snack and it’s also good for eating with a cup of coffee or tea.

# 晴光紅豆餅

 

 

It’s located just next to Starbucks near MRT station.

晴光紅豆餅 is originally a small stand located at Qingguang Market but there’re lots of branchs in Taipei.
The reason why I recommend the one in Tamsui is that most of tourists are limited by the time they travel in Taiwan, so there’s little chance to taste it intentionally.
However, Tamsui is regarded as a must-go place.
Benifiting from Tamsiui, their rich filling and the cheap price, you must try it in Tamsui.

 

|Words from 17度C|：

One-day trip in Tamsui from the early morning to the late night is actually a comfortable schedule.
If you need to combine it with other tourist attractions, I would recommend Beitou and Shilin.
But I still recommend to travel Tamsui only unless you have few time in Taipei.
Talking about the most popular local food, fish ball, fish cake, Agei and iron eggs are the ones that you can’t miss in Tamsui, which is also a symbol of Tamsui unique cuisine culture.
Have fun in Tamsui!

 

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