Lukang Old Town

鹿港老街

Qing-era port lanes of red brick and an old Mazu temple

Hours

Streets always open; temple and shop hours vary (check locally)

Tickets

Free

Address

Start at Lukang Tianhou Temple, 430 Zhongshan Rd; the old streets (Putou St, Yaolin St) run south

In the Qing dynasty this was central Taiwan's biggest port. Start at the incense-hazed Lukang Tianhou Temple and walk south into streets of red-brick houses and weathered wooden shopfronts. Nine Turns Lane, deliberately crooked to break the sea wind, and alleys so narrow you turn sideways to pass are part of the fun, and the street stalls sell old-style snacks like oyster omelettes, shrimp balls and flaky 'ox tongue' pastries. Half a day from Taichung is enough.