Anping Old Street (Yanping Old Street)(安平老街(延平老街))

Anping Old Street (安平老街) was the first street in Taiwan to be given a name. More than 300 years ago this was the first street built by the Dutch in Anping. In the early days, the street was built solely for pedestrians and push carts due to the fact that the street was narrow and there was not that much space to navigate. Many tourists coming to Anping must visit this street, and the noisy and bustling environment of Anping Old Street is one of its hallmarks. The street features all kinds of old stalls and shops, and regardless of whether you are a domestic or foreign visitor coming here to look for nick-knacks, raise your head once in a while to admire the Wind Lion Gods (風獅爺) on the roofs of the old buildings or take a look at the Sword Lions (劍獅) on the lintels of doors. There are many small alleyways within the Anping Old Street area, and each alley has its own characteristics and features, such as Jasmine Alley (茉莉巷) and Rouge Alley (胭脂巷). The area retains many of its old-style buildings, and when entering some of the more quiet alleyways it feels as if time is flowing backwards. The maze of alleys is filled with adventurous feel. It is a pity if you don’t explore the alleys when you come to Anping Old Street.