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A day at “Gao’s Original Chilled Hot-Spring Egg,” tucked beside Lansheng Bridge at the head of Wulai Old Street, begins at dawn. Staff simmer the shop’s signature purple-rice eight-treasure congee, millet eight-treasure congee, and red-bean eight-treasure congee, while prepping wood-ear mushrooms, jujubes, sweet potatoes, lotus seeds, Job’s tears, taro balls, glutinous rice balls, shan-fen-yuan basil seeds, longan, and other toppings. Preparing the all-important hot-spring eggs is never neglected. Originally running a braised-snack stand on the old street, the owners wanted to pair their products with local specialties, so they applied their braising know-how to crafting hot-spring eggs. In 2001 they launched their signature chilled hot-spring eggs, winning coverage in print and on air. Besides the chilled eggs, the generously loaded eight-treasure congees are a hit, and year-round shan-fen-yuan basil-seed drinks plus summer-only shaved ices are tourists’ favorite relief from the sweltering heat.