Wenshui Old Street 汶水老街

Historical Background:

Dahu Township, located in southern Miaoli County, Taiwan, is a hilly basin known nationwide for its strawberries, earning it the nicknames “Strawberry Kingdom” and “Home of Strawberries.” With a mild, rainy climate and a population that is about 91% Hakka, the township is bordered by Shitan, Gongguan, Tongluo, Sanyi, Zhuolan, and Tai’an. Before Han Chinese settlement, the area was inhabited by Atayal indigenous groups and was known by names meaning “mountain pepper” or referring to a local chieftain or surrounding streams; the modern name “Dahu” (“Big Lake”) dates to 1856, inspired by the basin’s lake-like landscape. Administratively, Dahu has passed through multiple jurisdictions from the Qing dynasty through Japanese rule and postwar Taiwan, becoming part of Miaoli County in 1950. Its terrain is shaped by fault lines and river systems, forming a closed basin drained mainly by the Dahu and Nanhu streams, while its population has steadily declined from over 21,000 in 1981 to about 13,000 in 2024.

Wenshui Old Street is located in Zhumu Village, Shitan Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan, and is predominantly Hakka in character. Historically, it served as a major trading and distribution center for goods from Shitan, Tai’an, and Dahu townships. Situated along Provincial Highway 6 and near Highways 3 and 72, the street blends Hakka culture with local history and arts, and also functions as a gateway for visitors heading to Dahu Township for strawberry picking. After the opening of the east–west Highway 72 expressway, diverted traffic, Wenshui Old Street became a quieter, pedestrian-friendly area, now known for traditional Hakka snacks such as rice cakes and Hakka cuisine.

Hours:

Shops usually open from 8 AM to 5 PM

Price:

Free to visit

Shokolake Chocolate Factory:
300 NT per person.
You can buy tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here.  

Strawberry Picking Season:

November to March

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 Central Miaoli, take Provincial Highway 6 or Expressway 72 east to Dahu. The Old Street is off the first exit in the valley.
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 Miaoli station, take bus 5657 or 5656 to Fayun Temple. The Old Street is about a ten-minute walk from the bus stop. The whole trip should take an hour, one way. You can also book a 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:

Our Journey:

We have been to Wenshui Old Street twice, once when we passed by to pick strawberries in Dahu, and also on another day trip where we took a longer tour. We drove our own car there. We also stayed the night at Shokolake B&B. It was a fun experience, but I recommend not visiting during holidays when there can be heavy traffic.

We first drove from Nanzhuang to Dahu, and along the way found many beaitful places in the hills of Miaoli, such as Donghe Suspension Bridge here.

Another suspension bridge we came across.

Beautiful mountain scenery on the way to Dahu.

First view of Wenshui Old Street. There are lots of traditional Hakka noodle shops along the old street.

You can also usually see lots of tourists and pedestrians here, especially during strawberry season in the winter.

Tangyuan and corn stall.

Strawberry ice cream and ginger for sale.

Wider view of the old street.

Strawberry smoothies for sale.

And here we reached the expressway and the end of the old street, where someone was selling steamed buns.

Dahu, the Kingdom of Strawberries 大湖，草莓王國

Dahu is a large valley in the hills of Miaoli inside Shei-Pa National Park, known for its strawberries, which are in season from November to March, and is also called the Kingdom of Strawberries. Here you can pick your own strawberries for a discount and bring them home. In the meantime, you can enjoy the amazing scenery and Hakka culture in the area…(read more)

Shokolake Country House Chocolate Factory 巧克力雲莊

Shokolake Chocolate Factory (aka Shokolate Country House) is a tourist factory, museum, and resort in rural Miaoli, Taiwan. Here you can taste all kinds of chocolate, enjoy gardens, cherry blossoms, and beautiful scenery, try out DIY activities, and more. It is a fun experience for the whole family…(read more)
You can buy tickets at a discount on Klook here or KKday here.  
You can book a room at Shokolake on Agoda here or Booking.com here.

Check out our full travel guide to Miaoli here.

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