A half-day walking route through Dadaocheng, Taipei

Dadaocheng is one of the few districts in Taipei where the old street fabric survives more or less intact. It rewards an unhurried half-day on foot, with the emphasis on the buildings and the feel of the streets rather than on covering as many sights as possible.

Morning: the southern end of Dihua Street

Start from Beimen station and walk north along Dihua Street. The southern stretch is dominated by dried-goods sellers and traditional pharmacies, and the Baroque facades above the arcades are what deserve a slow pace here — many of the signs and mouldings are original rather than later reproductions.

Midday: food around Yongle Market

The lanes around Yongle Market hold a good number of long-established food stalls. They are busiest at conventional mealtimes, so arriving half an hour early or late makes it considerably easier to find a seat and avoids the worst of the queues.

Afternoon: the wharf and the sunset

Follow Minsheng West Road down to the Tamsui riverside. Dadaocheng Wharf is a popular spot to watch the sun go down, with a cycle path and seating along the bank. Late in the day the light on the water against the ridgeline of Guanyin Mountain opposite makes this the part of the route most worth lingering over.