The most unique charm of Lukang lies in the historical buildings and cultural relics. The most unique charm of Lukang lies in the historical buildings and cultural relics. Lukang Old Street is a representative time corridor, leading to the historical scenes of more than 300 years ago which were thick with guild merchants, wholesalers and retailers as described in the poetry Junk Boats at Lukang. The exquisite ancient mansions and the townhouses with depth interior were well preserved in the Old Street. With the wave of tourism, a variety of shops were stationed in, creating a strong attraction for crowds to visit Lukang for exploring the historical splendor of the past and getting surprised in treasure hunting while shopping and ambling down the Old Street.
Lukang Old Street generally refers to Yaolin Street and Putou Street. It is the first one designated as historic preservation area in Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty (1785 to 1845), Lukang was an important trading port between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. At that time, Yaolin Square was a river port and was a business center and transport hub, forming a populous cluster along the river. Hence, the mixed-use buildings that integrated residential and commercial spaces with a shop in the front and a river in the back for ships to dock and unload goods become the characteristic of the Old Street buildings.
The subsequent silting of the harbor led to the shift of economic power, miraculously leaving Lukang preserved as it was in the past. Many years later, the development requirement towards it attracted attention and had preservation project started. Nowadays, people walk in the zigzag red brick alleyways and admire the gorgeous brick buildings, courtyards, gray roof tiles, wine jar walls, China fir doors, window lattices and door couplets. Its ancient charm makes people recall the prosperity of commerce in the past and experience the humanistic feelings arised after ancients settled down here.
HeHe Hang, whose business has been transformed now, was the largest guild merchant at that time. The calligraphy treasures of the famous calligraphers of that time are still hung in the walls of its back hall and side rooms, inheriting the humanistic spirit.
Opposite HeHe Hang is the "HeDe Tang" with magnificent horseback-shaped entrance gate and brick fence. Its gable wall is embedded with green glazed window lattice and decorated with exquisite auspicious animals, flowers, gourds and other decorations. Moreover, it features a loft called "reading loft". Its close neighbor is a similar ancient mansion with the words“San Huai Ting Hsiu" on the door lintel, conveying the scholarly family status. It has a famous ancient half-sided well, which is half inside the mansion, and half outside, showing the owner’s kindness of willing to share water with other people.
Walk forward on Yaolin Street and Putou Street is just after the bend. Its zigzag course has contributed to prevent the Winds of September from driving in and defend against thieves.
The entire street is flooded with traditional Southern Fujian buildings, while the Lukang Assembly Hall is the one in a combination of Japanese and Western style, which symbolizes a turning point in history. It was originally the "Wanchuan Temple" built on the pier with the funds arised by Sha Guild merchants during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. During the Japanese occupation, the subsequent silting of the Lukang Stream made the harbor loss its function, and hence resulted in the God moving out of the temple. In 1928, the temple was pulled down and then rebuilt as the Lukang Assembly Hall. At present, it was transformed into a literary arts and cultural center.
As the biggest and most important commercial street in the past, Lukang Old Street is not old, it is still a stage for dreams. More than 90% of the townhouses are sublet for business operation, including shops selling products that have been passed down for centuries, such as confections, flour tea, mullet roe and crafts, shops selling innovated snacks, culinary delights, and teas, and craftsmen shops and workshops of gold, tin, jade, woodcarvings, ceramics, and dough figurines. In addition to a dazzling array of cultural and creative souvenirs, clothing, shoes, umbrellas and game tables are also available. In the other hand, some townhouses have been used as B&Bs, cultural and historical studios, art centers, etc., allowing tourists to reminisce about the past and feel the lively bustling atmosphere.
【Hua Wanru/Photography】
