A 300-year-old port town in central Taiwan has once again topped the country's tourism charts — and for international visitors who have only heard of Jiufen or Tamsui, it may be the most rewarding detour they haven't considered yet.
Changhua County's Lukang Old Street drew 11,131,324 visitors in the first five months of 2026, according to Taiwan's Tourism Administration, extending its hold as the most visited historic district in the country for a third consecutive period.
Why Lukang Keeps Drawing Millions of Visitors
Unlike many of Taiwan's more commercialized tourist streets, Lukang feels genuinely old. The district's core — Yaolin Street and Putou Street — is lined with connected brick shophouses built between the Qing Dynasty and Taiwan's Japanese colonial period (1895–1945), their narrow facades and winding back lanes largely unchanged over the centuries.
The town's historical weight matches its looks. Lukang was once Taiwan's second-busiest seaport, immortalized in the island's old saying "Yi-Fu, Er-Lu, San-Manka" — a ranking that placed it behind only Tainan and ahead of what is now Taipei's Wanhua district among the island's three great mercantile hubs. That legacy lives on in its temples: Tianhou Temple and Longshan Temple are among the most architecturally distinguished religious sites in Taiwan, drawing both worshippers and architecture enthusiasts.
Food is another anchor. Lukang's signature snacks — ox tongue cookies (flat, crisp pastries shaped like their namesake), oyster crisps, and noodle tea, a warm savory drink made from roasted flour — are sold by vendors who have been at it for generations. The Osmanthus Lane Arts Village, tucked into a quiet alley, adds a creative counterpoint to the historical main strip.
On Google Reviews, Lukang holds a 4.5-star rating from more than 42,000 visitors — unusually high for a site of its size and footfall. The district is notably spacious for a historic street, with room to wander without feeling crushed, even on busier days.
Getting There and Getting the Most Out of the Visit
Lukang is reachable by Taiwan Railways to Changhua Station, then a bus onward — or by high-speed rail to Taichung, followed by a regional coach, with total journey time around one hour from either direction.
The one firm recommendation from seasoned visitors: avoid holiday afternoons. Weekend crowds peak in the early-to-mid afternoon, making it harder to photograph the architecture or browse at a relaxed pace. A weekday morning visit, or arriving before 11 a.m. on weekends, makes a significant difference. Drivers will find parking at a multi-story garage near the old street and an underground lot at Luojin Elementary School, though fees have risen in recent years.
Jiufen and Tamsui Still Pull Strong Numbers
For those already planning a trip to northern Taiwan, the rankings confirm that Jiufen and Tamsui remain major draws — they simply couldn't match Lukang's numbers.
The Ruifang Scenic Area, which encompasses Jiufen Old Street along with Jinguashi's gold-mining ruins, Yin-Yang Sea, and Golden Waterfall, recorded 9.51 million visits from January through May — second nationally by 1.62 million. Jiufen's stone-stepped lanes, dense with teahouses and stalls selling taro balls and savory rice cakes, carry a misty, cinematic atmosphere that holds up even against heavy crowds. It holds a 4.3-star Google rating from more than 107,000 reviews. From Taipei, the trip is simple: Taiwan Railways to Ruifang Station, then a 15-minute bus or taxi ride up into the hills.
Tamsui's Golden Waterfront ranked third with 6.87 million visits and remains the easiest old-street experience in greater Taipei — a straight walk from the MRT's Tamsui terminus, with the old street and waterfront promenade right at hand.
Southern Taiwan's Hidden Contenders
Two entries in the top five deserve more attention from international itineraries than they typically get.
Douliu Taiping Old Street in Yunlin County, ranked fourth with 6.29 million visits, runs for about 600 meters and is unusually well-preserved in its Japanese-era Baroque architecture — ornate facades, arched colonnades, and festival lanterns that transform the street during holidays. It's less than ten minutes on foot from Douliu railway station, making it an easy stop on any west-coast rail journey.
Qishan Old Street in Kaohsiung, fifth with 3.62 million visits, offers a different flavor entirely: red-brick arcades, mock-Baroque shophouses, and an identity built around the region's banana-growing heritage. It's a natural extension of a Kaohsiung trip, reached by bus from the city center.
The Tourism Administration's full ranking for January through May 2026:
| Rank | Destination | Visits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lukang Old Street, Changhua | 11,131,324 |
| 2 | Ruifang Scenic Area / Jiufen, New Taipei | 9,515,707 |
| 3 | Tamsui Golden Waterfront, New Taipei | 6,874,213 |
| 4 | Douliu Taiping Old Street, Yunlin | 6,289,077 |
| 5 | Qishan Old Street, Kaohsiung | 3,624,224 |
| 6 | Yingge Old Street, New Taipei | 986,800 |
| 7 | Xinhua Old Street, Tainan | 886,841 |
| 8 | Sanxia Old Street, New Taipei | 860,368 |
| 9 | Neiwan Old Street, Hsinchu | 755,280 |
| 10 | Yanshui Old Street, Tainan | 610,821 |
The figures cover officially designated recreation areas recognized as old-street destinations; sites such as Tainan's Anping district and Taoyuan's Daxi Old Town were excluded as their official designations use different labels. （Related： Taiwan Tourism Administration Concludes Successful Three-City Roadshow Across Australia and New Zealand ｜ Latest ）
