漫遊年味十足的老街 (四) / Exploring an Old Street Filled with Lunar New Year Festivities (Part 4)

大街的尾端，逛街的人氣就沒那麼旺了，因為過來迪化街採買年貨的人群，往往止步於販賣年貨的那一區，而大街的尾端，則是少了市儈氣，多了些文青風，而最讓我覺得奇怪的是，這裡有超多賣茄芷袋的店家，看到時，我就想起來，之前不知道那篇我看過的報導就有提到，外籍遊客超喜歡來迪化街買茄芷袋，這種袋子堅固耐用，弄髒了只要沖水就可以洗乾淨，以前的農民都拿來裝農作物，現在變成時尚的台味伴手禮，難怪有這麼多家店。

此外，居然看到之前在台中審計新村看到的魚刺人雞蛋糕，推開大門進去後，可以看到魚刺人雞蛋糕的周邊商品，像是鬆餅粉、玻璃杯、帆布袋等等，發現裡面居然沒有空位，只能外帶，生意真是超好的，沒辦法，來這邊的人就是吃這味。

這一段的很多店家，因為沒有攤位招牌的遮蔽，可以清楚看到，建築物本身就是巴洛克風，充滿洋味的牌樓式建築，又都搭配現代文青味十足的裝潢，給我一種時代的錯亂感，例如，賣的是如魚翅、海參或烏魚子等乾貨，但是卻用精緻的玻璃罐或冷藏櫃等現代式的陳列擺設，給人一種語不清、道不明的迷惘，有點那種人造古鎮，刻意地營造復古與時尚並存的感覺。

這次，逛了一圈下來，因為時間關係，也沒機會品嘗永樂市場周遭的庶民美食，例如，台灣首富郭台銘的愛店 - 林合發油飯店，其實，永樂市場周邊還某些店家，有賣季節限定的蘿蔔糕，及農曆年期間為客人特別製作滷肉、酸菜、花生粉、八寶飯等，總之，那些美味的庶民小吃，應該一直都會在那裏，等待人們發掘。

At the far end of the street, the crowd thins out quite a bit. Most people coming to Dihua Street to shop for New Year goods usually stop at the main area where those items are sold. The tail end of the street has fewer market vibes and leans more toward a trendy, artsy feel. What struck me as odd, though, was the sheer number of stores selling those colorful woven plastic bags, known as "Chia-Zhi bags". Seeing them reminded me of an article I read, which mentioned that foreign tourists love buying these bags at Dihua Street. They’re sturdy, practical, and easy to clean—just rinse them with water. Back in the day, farmers used them to carry crops, but now they’ve become a trendy Taiwanese souvenir. No wonder there are so many shops selling them here.

I also came across something familiar: the Fishbone Man Egg Cake shop, which I’d seen before at Audit Village in Taichung. Stepping inside, I noticed they were selling all kinds of branded merchandise, like pancake mix, glassware, and canvas tote bags. The place was packed—there weren’t any seats available, so takeaway was the only option. It’s clear that people come here just for these treats.

This part of the street stands out because the lack of vendor stalls blocking the view allows you to fully appreciate the architecture. The buildings themselves are Baroque-style arcade structures with a distinctly Western flair. Many of them now have trendy, modern interiors, which create a fascinating contrast. For example, some shops sell traditional dried goods like shark fin, sea cucumber, or mullet roe, but they’re displayed in elegant glass jars or modern refrigerated cases. It’s a mix of old-world charm and contemporary design that feels both intriguing and a little surreal—almost like you’ve stepped into a man-made old town where vintage meets hipster chic.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I didn’t get a chance to try the local food around Yongle Market. One spot I wanted to visit was Lin He Fa Oil Rice, a favorite of Taiwan’s richest man, Terry Gou. The area also has shops offering seasonal specialties, like radish cakes and Lunar New Year dishes such as braised pork, pickled cabbage, peanut powder, and Eight Treasure Rice. All those mouthwatering street eats are waiting there, ready to be discovered another day.

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