aeeble

Toucheng is the first city of Kailan, and Heping Street is the oldest street in Toucheng. During the Qing Dynasty, it once became the most important economic center of the Lanyang Plain, but today it is the only remaining old street in Yilan area. Walking through it, recalling the prosperous scenes of the past and experiencing the changes of prosperity and decline is indeed a rare experience. The north-south oriented Heping Street was originally a street that developed due to river transportation. To the east, it is adjacent to Touwei Port, which could once connect to Wushi Port in the north and Damayan in the south. Sails were everywhere, and it was once at its peak. Local residents built a Tuodi Temple (God of Wealth) at both ends of the old street, facing the center of the street, to block the flow of wealth. Unfortunately, this prosperous period did not last long. In 1924, a great flood buried Touwei Port, and with the development of highways and railways, the economic center shifted, causing the old street to decline rapidly. The Beimen Tuodi Temple at the top of the northern section of Heping Street is the guardian deity of the old street. The long row of houses going south are the remains of the "Thirteen Halls," which were the shipyard in the Qing Dynasty. Further south, there is the "No. 139" Lu House, which features a blend of various architectural styles. The "No. 129" Wu House and the "No. 121" Xin Changxing Shuji, both examples of exquisite architecture from the Showa period during Japanese rule, and the Sanchuandian (Three-Pavilion Hall) of the Qinyuan Temple in the center of the old street still preserves its early and rustic stone carvings. The "No. 51 to 61" Yuanchenghe and Chenchunji, located at the southern end of the street, are imposing buildings from the Taisho period during Japanese rule. At the southern end of the street is the Nanmen Tuodi Temple. Looking at the old street of Toucheng, which has gone through the ups and downs of history, it is like walking through a history of architectural changes in Taiwan. The old street of Toucheng has left us with a precious cultural heritage.

Source: Yilan County Government Bureau of Commerce and Tourism