My Bits of Historic Trails of Tamsui's Foreign and Han Chinese quarters

Exploring Taiwan's Proposed UNESCO World Heritage site of Tamsui by foot

Tamsui Old Market street can be divided through two major trailed zones with the Mackay Figure Head sculpture serves as the central point. Each trail can be explored by foot within 2 hours.

To the left hand side lies the Foreign settlement which is the oldest area ever marked in the written world history and dominated by the iconic Red Fort San Domingo. To the right hand side lies the Han Chinese market quarter with many temples spreading along the riverside and crawling hills.

Upper Tamsui Old Town Quarter of Foreign Settlements 淡水老街異人館區

Map of upper Tamsui with suggested points of interest in the unique Foreign Settlement area. Points of Interests marked in red are higher in priority.

1. Spanish Fort San Domingo and Former British Consulate Office of Formosa 紅毛城與前英淡水領事館

2. Chapel of Tamsui Oxford College 真理大學教堂

3. Oxford College 牛津學堂

4. Tamsui's Girl's School 淡水女學校

5. Tamkang High School 淡江中學

6. Dr. Mackay's Old Residence and Missionaries 馬偕居所與牧師樓

7. Foreigners' Cemetery 淡水洋人墓園

8. Former Customs Officer's Residence House of Chin-China 前清淡水海關長官宿舍

9. The first store of Tamsui A-Gae Dumpling 淡水阿給第一家店-文化阿給

10. The Dorm of a first Japanese Tamsui town mayor 淡水日人首任淡水街長

11. Dr. Mackay's first rented residence 馬偕租所

12. Mackay's Memorial Presbyterian Church 1929

13. Mackay's Clinic 淡水偕醫館

14. Mackay's Head Sculpture 馬偕人頭像

15. English Fish and Chips Restaurant by Britshake 英國奶奶炸魚薯條

16. Tamsui Post Office 淡水郵局

17. Former British Cargo Warehouse 前英商德記利忌船務倉庫

18. Former Stationed Garrison of Chin China Empire over Tamsui Fort 清帝國淡水汛房衙署

19. Former Tamsui Marina 舊淡水碼頭

20. Former Custom Warehouse 舊淡水海關倉庫

Central Tamsui Old Town Quarter of Han Chinese Settlements 淡水老街中段漢人街區

Trail map for the central Han Chinese street quarter of Tamsui. Points of Interests marked in red are higher in priority.

1. Mackay Head Sculpture 馬偕人頭像

2. Tamsui Ferry Lighthouse 淡水渡船口燈塔

3. Tamsui Fish Marketplace 淡水魚市場

4. Former Tamsui's First Farmer Bank 前淡水第一信用組合

5. Former Tamsui Rent Collection Office 前淡水租館

6. Tamsui Matsu Fuyo Temple 淡水媽祖廟-福佑宮

7. Deryu Fish Pastry Stall 德裕魚酥店

8. First Tamsui Mayor's House- Daguan Red House 淡水首任街長故居-達觀樓紅樓餐廳

9. Former Police Officer's Residence in Japanese Formosa 淡水日本警察長官宿舍

10. Tamsui Heritage Boutique Tea and Coffee 淡水九崁28

11. Old Row of 19th Century Redbrick Shophouse 清代重建老街紅磚店屋

12. Temple of Lord of the Land 重建街公土地宮興建宮

13. Doctor's Old House and Lover's Street 淡水戀愛街王旭雄老醫生館紅磚屋

The two story tall shop house at the junction of two narrow alleys is the former house of renown dentist and book writer of Tamsui, Wang Shuhsiong (王旭雄) is one of the few which still testifies the old shop house character of the Han Chinese quarter. The house can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century or further beyond. The redbrick material on the narrow front could be bricks shipped from the southern China. 

The wider side of the red brick cottage for the doctor in the Love Lane narrow alleyway and crawled with plants. Date taken in October of 2020. Photo courtesy of Katy Hui-wen Hung.

14. Tamsui Chinshuei Master Temple 淡水清水祖師廟

15. Historic Shi Family House 淡水施家古厝群

16. Tamsui Longshan Temple 淡水龍山寺

17. Former Tamsui First Credit Bank 淡水舊一信

18. Hafon Seafood Restaurant 海風餐廳

19. Tamsui Shuanyuancheng Backery 雙元成餅店

20. Site for former Tamsui Railway Terminal Station 淡水舊火車總站