Travel Date: 2018/09/18
Bored at home, we decided to go somewhere. I had an idea of a place to visit, and my husband agreed. After a 30-minute drive, he asked, "Where exactly do you want to go in this town?" I checked Google Maps and realized we were in completely the wrong place! But never mind, since we had never been here before, we decided to take a walk around Beipu Old Street.
See never post about Beipu Old Street: HERE
Beipu Township is dominated by hills and mountains and is densely covered by rivers, with the longest river being Dapingxi. It was one of the earliest developed areas in Hsinchu. The development of Hsinchu began in the late Qing Dynasty by people from Fujian and Guangdong. Beipu was originally named Zhubei Yibao Nanxingzhuang (竹北一堡南興莊). The settlement buildings in Beipu focused on multi-layered protection, creating a settlement with good defensive function. Beipu's natural and pollution-free environment makes it a good place to watch fireflies from the end of April to the beginning of May. The viewing period is very short, lasting about two weeks.
Beipu, a small village in Hsinchu, is home to about 1,000 residents, most of whom are Hakka people. The unique culture and lifestyle of the Hakka people are the main attractions here. Many of the original buildings have been preserved or renovated. The Hakka people first moved to Beipu about 150 years ago, but they faced friction with the Saisiyat tribe, who inhabited the nearby mountains. As a result, the Beipu town suffered many attacks.
Beipu Township, along with the nearby Emei and Baoshan Townships, was formerly known as "Dayu." It was a community for the Pingpu ethnic group. In 1826, the first Han people entered the area. Under the leadership of Jiang Xiuzhen, people from Zhudong entered the area and built Jinguangfu Mansion.
During the Japanese occupation, Beipu was very prosperous. A tea factory was opened here due to the popularity of tea in Japan. However, in 1964, the tea factory collapsed, and the tea industry in Beipu declined. In addition to the tea industry, Beipu's prosperity was also influenced by coal mines. Unfortunately, this period of history was marked by the suffering of the people under Japanese oppression. In 1907, a group of Hakka people, supported by the Saisiyat tribe, killed 57 Japanese officers and their families. As a brutal retaliation, 100 people were killed by the Japanese.
After the coal mines were depleted, Beipu once again declined. At that time, this place had almost completely lost its commercial prosperity. However, due to the Hakka food and the old street, it has now become a tourist destination. The main tourist attraction is Beipu Old Street, which is crowded with many food stalls. Walking there, you can explore many narrow streets that resemble a maze for every tourist.
In Beipu, you can also visit Grade 1 historic sites such as Jinguangfu Residence, Chiang Family's Tianshui Hall, or Chiang-a-xin Residence. These buildings are over 160 years old and serve as witnesses to the development in the mountainous area during the Qing Dynasty. Jinguangfu Mansion was built in 1835. The word "Jin" means gold, "guang" refers to the Hakka people in Guangdong, and "fu" represents the people from Fujian. This building is built in the Hakka style, without many decorations.
Another notable site is Ci Tian Temple, which was initially a small shrine built in 1835 by farmers to pray for peace. In 1846, it was rebuilt into a wooden temple and completed in 1848, becoming the religious center of Beipu. In 1874, two side wings and a front building were added to the construction. The temple primarily worships Kwan-yin, along with other gods. Ci Tian Temple is a courtyard-style temple with two entries, two corridors, and two wing-rooms. The major wood used in the temple's construction comes from the camphor tree. The temple features a rare stone-carved dragon pillar, as well as colored drawings, clay sculptures, and Koji poetry.Due to its historical and cultural value, the temple was designated as a third-grade relic in 1985.
Beipu is also known for its dried persimmons. A kind woman noticed me and invited me to try this fruit. It's quite yummy, and I think it's even better than the fresh ones.
Another place to visit is Chiang-A-Xin House. Chiang-A-Xin was born in 1901 and was the chairman of Zhudong Tea Company. After the end of Japanese rule, he founded Yung Kwang Co, which exported black tea. His house was built between 1946 and 1949 and served as accommodation for foreign guests and living quarters. The building is mainly decorated in a modern style. It was repaired and restored to its original appearance in 1995.
Lastly, you can explore Chiang's Family Ancestral Temple. This temple, completed in 1924, belonged to the largest family in Beipu at that time—the Chiang family. The temple's main hall is dedicated to worshiping the Chiang ancestors. It features colored drawings, sandstone carvings, and wood carvings. Due to its artistic value, this temple is recognized as one of the four largest ancestral temples in Taiwan.
See also: Xinpu Dried Persimmons
In Beipu, you can also visit Grade 1 historic sites such as Jinguangfu Residence, Chiang Family's Tianshui Hall, or Chiang-a-xin Residence. These buildings are over 160 years old and serve as witnesses to the development in the mountainous area during the Qing Dynasty. Jinguangfu Mansion was built in 1835. The word "Jin" means gold, "guang" refers to the Hakka people in Guangdong, and "fu" represents the people from Fujian. This building is built in the Hakka style, without many decorations.
Another notable site is Ci Tian Temple, which was initially a small shrine built in 1835 by farmers to pray for peace. In 1846, it was rebuilt into a wooden temple and completed in 1848, becoming the religious center of Beipu. In 1874, two side wings and a front building were added to the construction. The temple primarily worships Kwan-yin, along with other gods. Ci Tian Temple is a courtyard-style temple with two entries, two corridors, and two wing-rooms. The major wood used in the temple's construction comes from the camphor tree. The temple features a rare stone-carved dragon pillar, as well as colored drawings, clay sculptures, and Koji poetry.
Due to its historical and cultural value, the temple was designated as a third-grade relic in 1985.
Beipu is also known for its dried persimmons. A kind woman noticed me and invited me to try this fruit. It's quite yummy, and I think it's even better than the fresh ones.
Another place to visit is Chiang-A-Xin House. Chiang-A-Xin was born in 1901 and was the chairman of Zhudong Tea Company. After the end of Japanese rule, he founded Yung Kwang Co, which exported black tea. His house was built between 1946 and 1949 and served as accommodation for foreign guests and living quarters. The building is mainly decorated in a modern style. It was repaired and restored to its original appearance in 1995.
Lastly, you can explore Chiang's Family Ancestral Temple. This temple, completed in 1924, belonged to the largest family in Beipu at that time—the Chiang family. The temple's main hall is dedicated to worshiping the Chiang ancestors. It features colored drawings, sandstone carvings, and wood carvings. Due to its artistic value, this temple is recognized as one of the four largest ancestral temples in Taiwan.
See also: Xinpu Dried Persimmons
Picture source: https://images.app.goo.gl/xGit1XESXaiPgag78
Picture source: https://images.app.goo.gl/j4e26hq7X79kDGXk7
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