TaipeiHotel Royal-Nikko TaipeiRiding past temple courtyards and lively street sounds in the morning light

In the early morning, you set off on a gentle ride along Zhongshan North Road and Chengde Road. Sunlight slips beneath the eaves, landing softly along the arcades. In less than ten minutes, old trees sway their leaves, and Taipei quietly awakens.

Turning onto Minle Street, the square in front of Cisheng Temple is already alive with energy. Incense curls through the air, while the clang of woks and spatulas echoes all around. Faith and everyday life meet in this temple courtyard. From here, we begin our walk into the heart of Dadaocheng’s daily rhythm.

As we stroll along Dihua Street, we duck into herbal shops, fabric stores, and the remnants of old trading houses. The docent shares stories that don’t come from textbooks—but from lived memories, full of warmth and nuance. The voices of locals, the scent of freshly ground tea, the swish of fabric—these are the true sounds of Dadaocheng.

Starting from Cisheng Temple, we follow these sounds and scents, drawing closer to the morning heartbeat of the city.

ITINERARY BOOKING PLAN A TRIP

Stay, and see how the city begins its day

Dawn inside the room, streets awakening outside —
the journey starts here.

Riding past temple courtyards and lively street sounds in the morning light

Explore Dadaocheng’s alleys through a breakfast that tastes like old Taipei

Begin your morning with a leisurely YouBike ride from the hotel, pedaling along Zhongshan North Road and Chengde Road to reach Cisheng Temple. From there, a local guide will take you deep into the alleys of Dihua Street, where herbal shops, fabric stores, old trading houses, and tea rooms await—each filled with the rich aromas and lively sounds of a Dadaocheng morning.

Embracing the morning light on two wheels

Departing from Hotel Royal-Nikko Taipei, hop on a YouBike and ride through the quiet streets, soaking in the scents and sounds of Taipei’s awakening.
Breakfast bustle at Cisheng Temple

With incense still curling in the air and the clatter of spatulas echoing from nearby stalls, the temple square blends faith and food into a familiar morning ritual for locals.
Wandering through the stories of Dadaocheng

Join a guided walk through Dadaocheng to explore remnants of old trading houses and step into the living memories and cultural layers of this historic neighborhood.

Exclusive Royal Experience

Local guides lead the way — limited tours to step into the city’s awakening moments.
- One-night stay for two guests｜Guided tour itinerary｜Fixed departure dates
- A docent will lead you through the Dadaocheng district, revealing the intricate weave of faith, commerce, and daily life that defines the city’s cultural fabric.
- Begin your day with a refreshing YouBike ride to the vibrant breakfast street near Cisheng Temple. After the tour, return to the hotel to enjoy a late check-out and continued access to hotel facilities.
Booking Details
Royal Explorer Accommodation Package

Choose the right day, and let the journey unfold from here.
- One-night stay for two with breakfast｜Flexible departure date
- Collect stamps at three designated locations, including Cisheng Temple, to redeem an exclusive nougat gift.
- Guests booking a Premier Room or above (excluding complimentary upgrades) are entitled to free VIP Lounge access for the number of paying guests—up to two per room, or three if an extra bed is added.
Booking Details

CITY AWAKENING PROJECT EXPERIENCE & GUIDE

The first words of awakening are spoken by them

We walk the awakening route of the plan and witness the city’s true opening scene.

YouBike Riding Experience
Exploring neighborhood sights and morning sounds

Start your morning ride on a YouBike, gliding along Zhongshan North Road and Chengde Road before turning onto Minle Street. As you pedal through the quiet streets, the city gradually stirs to life. After a smooth 10-minute ride, you’ll reach the lively Cisheng Temple, where the sound of sizzling woks and clattering spatulas fills the temple square. In this mingling of steam and voices, your Dadaocheng walking tour begins.

TaiwanWalks
Telling morning tales of Dadaocheng’s living past

TaiwanWalks is a team of storytellers who guide you through the city’s backstreets—inviting you to walk, listen, and feel history unfold. This morning tour begins at the square of Cisheng Temple and gently traces the everyday fabric of Dadaocheng, revealing its scents, memories, and hidden corners. With every step, TaiwanWalks weaves together land and people, time and place, offering travelers a chance to enter a story still unfolding.

CITY AWAKENING PROJECT SIGHTSEEING SPOTS

Step by step, you encounter the awakening landscapes

As you walk through the morning, these places emerge naturally — a dialogue extended by the city.

Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple

As the temple square stirs, the entire street awakens

In the 1860s, settlers from Tongan brought the sea goddess Mazu from Bangka to this spot, praying for safe passage for dockside travelers. Over time, they settled, and a bustling street grew around the temple. Though rebuilt twice, the temple still preserves stone pillars and intricate carvings from Xiamen.
Come morning, walk into Minle Street and you’ll find incense still curling in the air. Beneath tin-roofed stalls, steaming bowls of pork rib soup and freshly made Shantou-style buns are already being served. In this space where faith, street life, and the scent of breakfast intertwine, you’ll encounter the living rhythm of a Dadaocheng morning.

No. 17, Lane 49, Baoan St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
Breakfast Street at Cisheng Temple

Red bricks and pointed arches: A quiet century of faith

Completed in 1915 with a donation from trading magnate Li Chun-Sheng, this building stands as one of northern Taiwan’s earliest red-brick Gothic churches. Once threatened by demolition, it was preserved and faithfully restored in 2002 thanks to the efforts of local advocates.
In the quiet of early morning, walking past its weathered façade along Ganzhou Street, you’ll see the outlines of pointed arch windows and faded bricks—like a silent prayer etched into the cityscape. This structure has borne witness to a century of belief and quiet resilience in the heart of Dadaocheng.

No. 49, Baoan St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
Di Yi Record Store

Melodies of yesteryear echo in Taiwanese songs

Opened in 1965, Di Yi Record Store is one of the few remaining vinyl shops still spinning in Dadaocheng. As the turntable whirs and the needle lands, the music flows—just like it always has. Inside, you’ll find decades of album sleeves, promotional photos, and musical memories. Once a regular stop for singers promoting their latest hits, the store now stands in its third generation of ownership.
Beyond records, they also serve coffee and pan-fried dumplings, offering a cozy corner where music lovers can still hear songs like “Hometown at Dusk” drifting through the air—melodies that carry the warmth of yesterday into today.

No. 88, Baoan St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
Dadaocheng Presbyterian Church

Light and faith preserved in a red-brick chapel

Tucked among the lanes of Dadaocheng, this red-brick church is one of Taipei’s few remaining early Christian chapels. Built in 1915 through the donation of trading magnate Li Chun-Sheng, the Dadaocheng Presbyterian Church blends the forms of Xiamen churches with Gothic architecture. Its unadorned red bricks, pointed arch windows, and soaring gables quietly recount a century of prayer and devotion.
Look closely and you’ll find traces of East-West fusion throughout: mock-Corinthian columns, ox-eye windows, and pebble-wash finishes adorned with traditional Taiwanese patterns—each a quiet dialogue between local craftsmanship and Western religious design.

No. 40, Ganzhou St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
The Koo’s Dadaocheng Residence

The grandeur of a western-style mansion on the Dadaocheng riverbank

Built in 1920, The Koo’s Dadaocheng Residence was originally established as a northern base for a wealthy merchant conducting business. Located adjacent to the Tamsui River, ships could once dock directly in front of the building. The mansion features a Western-style facade merged with local craftsmanship. Arched windows, red brick walls, and cypress wood ceilings reflect the architectural elegance of the era. Later repurposed as a kindergarten, the building was eventually sealed off before undergoing restoration. Today, it quietly stands along the riverbank as a designated city historic site, preserving the former glory of Dadaocheng for future generations.

No. 9, Lane 303, Guisui St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
Winlong

A century-old incense shop honoring tradition with every wisp of smoke

Founded in Yunlin and now rooted on Dihua Street, Winlong has been passed down through four generations, steadfastly upholding the art of incense-making. Every product is crafted by hand using natural ingredients—its incense a blend of agarwood, sandalwood, and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs; its joss paper made from bamboo pulp and genuine gold foil.
In 2023, Winlong began a new chapter, reimagining its legacy with offerings that combine Taisui blessings and modern living. Yet even as it evolves, this time-honored shop continues to burn incense slowly and quietly—maintaining a sacred bond between people and the divine.

No. 176, Sec. 1, Dihua St., Datong Dist., Taipei City
Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple

A temple of a hundred deities, guardian of Dadaocheng’s living history

Established in 1856 by immigrants from Tongan, Quanzhou, the Xia-Hai City God Temple was first built in Bangka, then relocated to Dadaocheng as the settlement grew. Its principal deity, the Xia-Hai City God, is widely revered for his spiritual efficacy, drawing worshippers from all walks of life.
The temple is always alive with incense and prayer, housing not only the City God but also Yue Lao, the matchmaker deity, the City God’s wife, and the civil and military judges. More than a center of faith, this temple has quietly witnessed Dadaocheng’s transformation—from a Qing-era riverside port to a bustling commercial hub—anchoring the neighborhood’s cultural and spiritual roots for over a century.

No. 61, Sec. 1, Dihua St., Datong Dist., Taipei City