【City Walking Tour】Taipei | Dadaocheng Xiahai City God Temple History & Culture Tour | English & Japanese Guided Service | KKday Signature Tour | Includes Limited Edition EasyCard

－ Tour Information －

• Meeting Time: 10:00 (Daytime) / 16:00 (Nighttime)
• Meeting Point: Beimen MRT Station Exit 2
• Duration: 2.5 - 3 hours
• Language: Chinese / English / Japanese
• Itinerary:
  
  【Daytime Tour】
  - Meet at Beimen MRT Station Exit 2
  - Taipei City Wall - North Gate (Beimen)
  - Dadaocheng Area Attractions (Beimen Post Office, Tianma dabang, Dihua Street, Yongle Market, Watson's Pharmacy, Dihua Street Post Office, Dadaocheng Visitor Center)
  - Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple
  
  【Nighttime Tour】
  - Meet at Beimen MRT Station Exit 2
  - Taipei City Wall - North Gate (Beimen)
  - Dadaocheng Area Attractions (Beimen Post Office, Tianma dabang, Dihua Street, Yongle Market, Watson's Pharmacy, Dihua Street Post Office, Dadaocheng Visitor Center)
  - Taipei Xia-Hai City God Temple
  - Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market
  

－ Tour Introduction －

• Xia-Hai City God Temple
  The formation of the Dadaocheng market was centered around the City God Temple, expanding northward. Although the development of Dadaocheng began much later than areas like Xinzhuang, Monga, and Hobe, the arrival of foreign powers propelled it to become the most vibrant commercial hub in the Taipei Basin at the time. Due to the booming commerce in Dadaocheng, merchants were willing to sponsor more temple festivals, attracting more devotees and making the Xia-Hai City God Temple increasingly popular.
  Furthermore, the Xia-Hai City God Temple enshrines the 'Old Man under the Moon' (Yue Lao), attracting people from all over Taiwan and abroad who wish to find a good romantic partner. You can refer to the following guide to help you on your journey to finding a good match!
  
  Step 1: Purchase joss paper and incense at the joss paper shop (located on the right side of the temple's registration station).
  Step 2: First-time visitors can purchase offerings such as wedding candies, lead threads, and red strings at the service counter (located on the left side of the temple's registration station).
  Step 3: Light your incense at the designated area. Please ensure all 3 sticks are fully lit (there is only one incense burner at the Xia-Hai City God Temple, so each person only needs 3 sticks!).
  Step 4: Face outward to pay respects to the Heaven God, introduce yourself, and pray for peace (do not rush to insert the incense; please carry it back into the main hall).
  Step 5: After receiving your offerings at the service counter, face the City God, the Old Man under the Moon, and the other deities. Briefly introduce yourself with your name, address, age, and the type of person you are looking for. Pray for your wish to come true and promise to return with wedding cookies as a token of gratitude if your relationship is successful.
  Step 6: Leave the main hall and go to the side hall on the right to pay respects to Yi-Yong Gong, praying for protection from malicious people and for everything to go smoothly.
  Step 7: Continue to pay respects to the City God's Wife to pray for family happiness and marital harmony.
  Step 8: Finally, pay respects to the Bodhisattvas to pray for wisdom, intelligence, and peace of mind.
  Step 9: Follow the signs on the ground to the exit. Insert your three incense sticks into the Heaven God burner and leave your wedding candy offerings for the temple to use in making peace tea for the public.
  Step 10: Remember to pass the lead coins and red string over the incense burner by circling them clockwise 3 times, then keep them safely in your wallet.
  Step 11: Place the joss paper in the collection box; temple staff will burn it on your behalf.
  Step 12: Enjoy the wedding cookies and candies for good luck, and drink the peace tea to build good karma.
  
  
• Taipei City Wall - North Gate (Beimen)
  The North Gate of the Taipei City Wall, also known as 'Yingxi Gate', is one of the few remaining city gates in Taiwan, built during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. Its architectural style blends traditional Chinese elements with Western influences, showcasing a unique cultural landscape. The area around Beimen features many historical buildings and cultural attractions, such as the Beimen city wall, attracting many visitors. Beimen is also one of Taipei's landmarks, symbolizing the rich history and culture of Taiwan, and serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Taiwan's ancient city culture.
  
  
• Beimen Post Office
  The predecessor of the Taipei Post Office was the General Post Office established by Liu Mingchuan, the Governor of Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty. Because it is located right next to the ancient North Gate, it is also known as the Beimen Post Office. It was not only the first post office built in Taiwan during the Japanese colonial period, but its nearly century-old classical architecture has also been designated as a municipal historic site. Today, the Beimen Post Office, which has witnessed the changing of seasons and eras, continues to handle postal services as it always has. Its brightly lit night post office service often sees many people coming and going to mail packages.
  
  
• Dihua Street
  Formally established in the 1850s, it is famous for its dried goods and imported snacks, and is usually at its busiest during the Lunar New Year. Its trading activities began during the 'Dutch Formosa' era, and it was formally established in the 1850s when many commercial entities moved from Monga. Since then, Dihua Street has become an important commercial center for both Taiwanese and imported products. Dihua Street is one of the oldest streets in Taipei, and its fusion of European and Chinese architectural styles has been well-preserved throughout the dynasties.
  
  
• Yongle Market
  Originally named the 'Public Yongle-cho Food Market', it was established in 1908. At that time, Japanese merchants imported large quantities of Japanese printed fabrics into Taiwan, using this area as a wholesale center for fabric imports. It was demolished in 1982 and rebuilt on the same site, completed in 1985, and renamed the 'Yongle Market Complex', collectively known as 'Yongle Market'.

• Xia-Hai City God Temple
  The formation of the Dadaocheng market was centered around the City God Temple, expanding northward. Although the development of Dadaocheng began much later than areas like Xinzhuang, Monga, and Hobe, the arrival of foreign powers propelled it to become the most vibrant commercial hub in the Taipei Basin at the time. Due to the booming commerce in Dadaocheng, merchants were willing to sponsor more temple festivals, attracting more devotees and making the Xia-Hai City God Temple increasingly popular.

• Dadaocheng Wharf Container Market
  Located by the Tamsui River, the Dadaocheng Wharf features colorful container houses. There are a total of 17 food vendors, including Italian pizza, various fried snacks, drinks, and cocktails. In the evening, you can enjoy delicious food at the container market while admiring the beautiful sunset and the riverside scenery.