Historical Background:

Nanzhuang Old Street is located in the main settlement of Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County, Taiwan, and is traditionally Hakka, known for its strong nostalgic atmosphere that draws large crowds on weekends. Centered historically along Zhongzheng Road, the area features many shops and attractions such as Yongchang Temple, the Old Post Office, Osmanthus Alley (桂花巷), and the Washhouse Pit. After severe damage from the 1935 Guandao Mountain earthquake, the street was rebuilt under Japanese planning, resulting in today’s distinctive two-story Japanese-style wooden buildings lining Zhongzheng Road. Over time, Osmanthus Alley—originally named after a small noodle shop—was developed by local authorities and businesses into the well-known “Osmanthus Alley Community,” gradually becoming the most recognized part of Nanzhuang Old Street, which is also famous for Hakka snacks, osmanthus-flavored treats, lei cha, and other traditional foods.

Hours:

Most shops are open from about 10 AM to 6:30 PM

Price:

Free

Cherry Blossom Season:

Cherry Blossoms can be seen here from February to late March. Check out our full guide to Cherry Blossom Season in Taiwan here. 

Firefly Season:

Firefly season is from May to June. Check out our firefly season guide here. 

Where to stay:

You can book a room at Shokolake on Agoda here or Booking.com here.

We have stayed at and recommend Beautiful Landscape Resort, a fish farm and resort near Nanzhuang Old Street (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Yuan Motel, a high-class car motel which includes a great breakfast buffet (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). We also recommend Flying Cow Ranch which includes cabins and camping right on the tourist ranch; you can book a room on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here. 
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Activities in Miaoli:

There are many tours and activities available in Miaoli such as Schokolake Chocolate Factory, Shangshun World, West Lake Resortopia, Suweila Manor, Baba Kengdao, Hobbit Valley, Zhuo Ye Cottage Duck Box and more on Klook here or KKday here. 

How to get there:

By Car/Scooter: From Zhunan, take Provincial Highway 3 to Sanwan, and then switch to County Highway 124 until you reach Nanzhuang.
Looking for scooter rental in Miaoli? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By TRB/Bus: From Zhunan station, take bus 5806 to Nanzhuang Zhongshan Road Intersection. The whole trip should take an hour, one way. You can also book an TRB travel pass on Klook here.
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:

Please see below:

Drone Footage:

360 Degree Panorama:

You can also check out our 360-degree panorama below.

Our Journey:

We have been to Nanzhuang Old Street twice. I also stayed overnight near there at  Beautiful Landscape Resort, a fish farm and resort near Nanzhuang Old Street (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). I was surprised at how big and crowded the old street was, considering how remote it is in Taiwan. It is definitely one of the best old streets in Taiwan and is worth visiting for tourists.

If you visit from the south side, you will notice a big, beautiful suspension bridge that goes across the river here.

Kangji Suspension Bridge 康濟吊橋

Kangji Bridge was originally built in December 1953, spanning the Donghe River with a length of about 58 meters and a width of 4 meters. It was the first reinforced concrete bridge in the area and was named “Kangji Bridge” because of its vital role in transportation and the local economy. The bridge connected key routes linking Nanjhuang, Donghe (Miaoli Route 21), Penglai (County Road 124), and the Nanjiang area. Due to the area’s flood-prone terrain, severe damage occurred during Typhoon Ellen in 1959 and Typhoon Gloria in 1963, leading to the eventual replacement of the route by the Nanjhuang Bridge in 1975.

Following the township’s first urban planning review in 1980, development focused on creating a residential rural town with administrative and commercial functions. As tourism grew from 2001 onward, efforts shifted toward revitalizing Zhongshan Old Street. In December 2009, the Kangji Suspension Bridge was constructed, measuring 154 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, at a cost of NT$27 million. Designed as a scenic suspension bridge with flood control, landscaping, and LED night lighting, it extends the tourist route between Zhongshan and Nanjiang Old Streets, boosting tourism value and supporting sustainable development goals.

Here, the bridge connects with Shisanjian Old Street.

Map of the area.

Nanjiang Old Street 南江老街

Nanjiang Old Street lies on the south side of Kangji Suspension Bridge. You will not find as many touristy spots here, just some quiet old buildings.

View of some of the buildings you might find at Nanjiang Old Street.

Zhongzheng Street 中正路

Shisanjian Old Street has shops and restaurants mainly clustered around the north side of Kangji Suspension Bridge on Zhongshan Road. You will then need to turn onto Zhongzheng Road to get to the main part of Nanzhuang Old Street.

There are more restaurants and eateries clustered around the entrance to Nanzhuang Old Street here.

Here you can find some Japanese-era wooden houses.

Another view of Zhongzheng Street.

Hakka clothing store along Zhongzheng Old Street.

Ginger and sweet potatoes for sale.

Rice, tea, and noodle shops in front of the temple.

Fruit milk and pig blood cake stand.

Hot fish eggs.

Bitter tea stand.

Hakka restaraunt and hat store.

Hakka noodles shop.

Nanzhuang Public Market.

Yongchang Temple 南庄永昌宮

Yongchang Temple was first established in 1905 during the Japanese colonial period. After being destroyed by the Guandao Mountain Earthquake in 1935, the temple was relocated to its current site through the joint efforts of Mr. Zhong Lianfa and seven others, and was completed and consecrated in 1954. About 30 years later, construction was undertaken again in July 1986 to rebuild and expand the temple, with the sacred statues ceremonially enshrined.

The three-story temple, facing west, blends modern and traditional architectural styles. The main hall is dedicated to the Three Palace Emperors, with additional deities including the Jade Emperor, Mazu (the Heavenly Holy Mother), the God of Grains, the Loyal Martyrs Lord, and the Earth God. A plaque reading “Supreme Heavenly Virtue” hangs above the altar, giving the temple a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Inside, the temple preserves important cultural artifacts such as early bronze bells, wooden fish instruments, rice measures over a century old, and historical photographs documenting its construction, making it the central place of worship and community gathering for Nanzhuang Township.

The best part of the old street is near Yongchang Temple.

View from the top of Yongchang temple.

Another view looking up the steps.

Handrail up to the temple.

Main worship area at Yongchang temple.

Nanzhuang Historic Post Office 南庒郵局

The Nanzhuang Post Office, located in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, is one of the county’s ten historic landmarks and was officially designated a historic building on October 23, 2003. Established in 1900 during the Japanese colonial period as the Nanzhuang Post and Telecommunications Office, the original building was destroyed in the 1935 earthquake, and the current structure dates from its subsequent reconstruction. Before its establishment, postal services were handled by the Hsinchu Post Office, but strong local demand—driven by administrative offices, a garrison, and the camphor industry—led to the creation of a postal collection office in 1898, later upgraded to a full post and telegraph office.

After World War II, the post and telecommunications services were jointly managed, then later separated, with the telecommunications office remaining in the building until 1983. The post office itself operated there until 1996, when services moved to a new facility. The former postmaster’s residence behind the building was largely demolished due to severe damage, leaving only its foundation as a reference to traditional Japanese architectural layout. Following its designation as a historic building, the Nanzhuang Post Office underwent restoration, which was completed in 2005.

Chayuanping Trail 茶園坪步道

Chayuanping Trail is located at the top of the Chayuanping Hill behind Nanzhuang Old Street, and it has a total length of 342 meters. Along the trail, you can find a magnificent view of the forest, birds, and insects.

Osmanthus Alley 桂花巷

Osmanthus Alley is so named because Osmanthus Tea is often sold here. In addition, a Taiwanese movie and TV show were filmed here (with the same name), making the area even more famous.

The alley is a pedestrian area with many shops along the way. It is similar to Jiufen in that way.

Here you can find dense alleyways with tons of shops along the way.

When we visited, there were not a lot of tourists visiting, but I think there are lots of visitors on weekends and holidays.

Savory Tangyuan ball soup.

Hakka “Bantiao” flat noodles.

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup.

Osmanthus alcohol.

Toy shop along the old street.

More hakka traditional dishes.

Ice cream shot along the alley.

Lots of yelloes along the alley here.

Traditional Tangyuan shop.

More customers arrive.

Peanut candy shop.

Flower shop.

Another Osmanthus alcohol shop.

View of Shitoushan in the background.

Tofu shop along the alley.

We made our way back to Zhongzheng Road.

Downtown Nanzhuang at night.

Shisanjian Old Street 十三間老街

Heading back south, Shisanjian Old Street also has a lot of shops to explore, and some stalls here are open at night.

Restored Japanese era wooden house.

Nanzhuang Mini Night Market 南庒迷你夜市

Nanzhuang Mini Night Market is a small night market that opens on Shisanjian Old Street most nights (there are no opening hours posted online). Think of it as an extension of Nanzhuang Old Street at night.

Stinky tofu, fried squid, fried snail, and corn dogs.

There were also lots of clothes sold here. I bought a fleece jacket here for 100 NT that I still wear to this day.

Octopus ball shop at the end of the street.

Shitoushan (Lion Head Mountain) 獅頭山

Shitoushan in Miaoli is a popular hiking destination near Nanzhuang Old Street, one of Taiwan’s lesser 100 peaks, and has one of the highest concentrations of temples for any hiking trail in Taiwan. Here you can get away from it all and be swept up in the rugged beauty of Taiwan’s central foothills. It is definitely a worthwhile adventure for any traveler…(read more)

Beautiful Landscape Resort 春谷南庄休閒農場

We have stayed at and recommend Beautiful Landscape Resort, a fish farm and resort near Nanzhuang Old Street (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). The rooms here are spacious, and you can also explore the beautiful natural scenery around the resort, as well as the fish farm behind it.

There are lots of fish being farmed here behind the resort.

Shitoushan (Lion Head Mountain) 獅頭山

Nearby, you can also check out Shitoushan in Miaoli, which is a popular hiking destination near Nanzhuang Old Street, one of Taiwan’s lesser 100 peaks, and has one of the highest concentrations of temples for any hiking trail in Taiwan. Here you can get away from it all and be swept up in the rugged beauty of Taiwan’s central foothills. It is definitely a worthwhile adventure for any traveler…(read more)

Sanwan Old Street 三灣老街

Just down the road is Sanwan Old Street, which is a historic area of the small town of Sanwan in rural Miaoli County. Here you can find historical buildings, rural scenery, and wildlife. You can also discover more about Hakka culture in the most Hakka town per capita in Taiwan…(read more)

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more blogs on Miaoli to come!

Check out our full travel guide to Miaoli here.

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.