The new attraction "Rongjin Gorgeous Time" near the Yongkang Street business district, also known as the "Cultural and Creative Oasis", is only a six-minute walk from Yongkang Street. This article will give a complete introduction to Rongjin Gorgeous Time: historical stories, store and restaurant information, transportation methods and parking recommendations.
During the peak tourist season, tourists fill every corner of Yongkang Street. During meal times, popular restaurants with long queues are always packed with people, such as Din Tai Fung, mango ice, scallion pancakes, beef noodle shops, etc. The dim sum of Yongkang Street Nougat and white water tofu pudding are not to be underestimated. The queues are endless and you can hear people speaking in various languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, and Thai, while walking casually on Yongkang Street.
Mango ice cream is popular in Yongkang Street all year round / Image source: Taipei City Government Tourism and Information Bureau
As you walk, you will see a group of people. They have clearly reached the end of the Yongkang business district, with fewer and fewer shops, but they are still quietly moving in one direction. Based on my understanding of Taipei, I guess they are heading to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Just like that, my curiosity was aroused, and I followed the crowd. Unexpectedly, I discovered a new attraction on the way, the "Rongjin Time Life Park."
Walking into the park, I found that it was full of old banyan trees and old houses. It is not just a building, but a large, endless stretch of old Japanese houses. There is actually such an attraction in Greater Taipei, which is like a small oasis in the bustling city. Such a great place must be shared with more people.
Historical Stories
Hundred years ago
The location of Rongjin Shiguang was once where officials of the "Taipei Prison Official Residence" lived. It later evolved into the Huaguang Community, where many fires occurred and several dormitories were burned down, becoming an overgrown and dark urban corner on Jinhua Street.
About ten years ago
Because civil groups jointly initiated the "Cultural Heritage Preservation" and "Old Tree Protection" activities, this piece of land was registered as a historical building. Then the restoration of the old house, which lasted for several years, began, and the "Rongjin Time Living Park" was born.
Judging from the aerial photo below, the "old house complex" is the scope of the park's official residences and historical sites, while the area from the grassy lot to the post office on the right is the location of the former Taipei Prison.
Look at the picture below to see it more clearly. The area framed by the red line below is the Guansha Historic Site/Rongjin Gorgeous Time.
It’s hard to imagine how the park looked before the restoration. It’s now so beautiful, natural, transparent and breathable.
If you want to know more historical stories, you can go to the "Visitor Service Center" in the park and ask for relevant introductions.
Tel: 02-2321-8896
Store introduction
▌Ziman Teahouse
The newly opened Ziman Teahouse is located in the largest beautiful building at the entrance of the park. It specializes in fine tea utensils, carefully selected tea leaves, high-quality tea gift boxes, handmade meals and snacks, etc. It is a good place for everyone to buy souvenirs when they come to the park. The store is equipped with a comfortable dining space, which is very suitable for gatherings, tea tasting, and enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea time.
📍Ziman Teahouse Address: No. 177, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Business hours: 11:30~20:30
Tel: (02)2351-1218
▌Hoya Private Kitchen Restaurant in Jinhuayuan
The distance between the shops is very small. Just a few steps away you will reach the next shop, "Jinhuayuan Restaurant", which is the largest shop in the park. The restaurant mainly serves private chef cuisine. After entering, the old wood fragrance fills your nose. It is a great place to bring friends to party and have a drink at night!
📍Jinhuayuan Hoya Private Kitchen Restaurant Address: No. 169, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Business hours: 11:00~23:00
Tel: 02-2391-1331Reservation
▌Taihuju Dumpling House
"Taihu Dumpling House" is built in the style of a Japanese izakaya, and its main feature is "eating dumplings with beer". The overall atmosphere and the meals sold are very consistent with the building and style here. It is very comfortable to eat fried dumplings, drink draft beer, and listen to nice songs! It's a great place for Taipei people to have a drink after get off work.
📍Taihuju Dumpling House Address: No. 155, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Business hours: Monday to Thursday 16:00~23:30 Friday to Saturday 11:00~00:30 Sunday 11:00~23:30
(02)2391-0150
Friendly reminder: Can be reserved, can take photos inside, pet-friendly
Introducing the brand: Pali Pali
▌ Pali Pali
Another Pali Pali selection store has a collection of treasures from all over the world, including bags, handbags, scarves, home accessories, etc. The unique, bold and delicate totem designs are recommended for everyone to come and dig for treasures!
Address: No. 147, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Business hours: 11:00~20:00
After shopping in the store, there is a Japanese restaurant called "Kyocho Yamamotoya" in the back.
▌Kyocho Yamamotoya
"Kyomachi Yamamotoya" is full of authentic Japanese style and is jointly run by a Japanese boss and a Taiwanese boss wife. The restaurant offers traditional fruits, Japanese light meals, grilled skewers, freshly made bracken cakes, and a variety of delicious handmade desserts. The furnishings and cozy atmosphere in the old house, coupled with the hot matcha you make yourself, make you feel like you are in a "Kyoto Tea House".
Do you miss Japan? We recommend you to visit Kyomachi Yamamotoya, a place you cannot miss in the park.
Image source: Kyomachi Yamamotoya Facebook
The food cart at the side entrance will serve hot grilled dango every holiday, depending on the season. You can easily experience the authentic flavor of Kyoto machiya in Taipei.
Friendly reminder: The place can be reserved, service fee is charged, no child seats are provided
▌Shanyueyun Kimono Experience Store
In such a beautiful park, of course you have to experience the more authentic way of playing "wearing kimono". Shanyueyun Kimono Experience Store provides exquisite kimonos and professional photography services, allowing everyone to leave the most unforgettable memories on the quaint Japanese streets.
📍Shanyueyun Kimono Experience Store Address: No. 141, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Make an appointment for experience
Opening hours: 11:00-18:00
Reservation phone number: 0906003141
The most popular souvenir shop in the park, Kinnishiki-cho
▌Kannishikicho
"Kinjincho" is a dessert shop that combines an old Japanese house with a hipster style. In addition to the signature gold foil honey cake and pineapple cake, the amber candy in the store is even more exquisite and luxurious! Suitable for both giving as gifts and eating for yourself.
📍Jinjinding Address: No. 139, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City Business hours: 11:00~19:00
Tel: (02)2395-2688
Friendly reminder: For take-out only, photos are allowed inside
▌ Familia
Familia is praised by netizens as the most mysterious and magical magic bar 🔮🦄🌈🍄🪴. In addition to drinking and chatting, the store also has Tarot and HENNA soul hand-painting, waiting for everyone to experience.
▌Coffee Check-in
Opening hours: 11:00~20:00
Rongjin Time Historic Wall
The historic wall looks very long. If you walk slowly, you can walk through it in about 1 minute. Not only is the front alley good for taking photos, but the landscaping in the back alley is also amazing! The editor recommends that you don’t miss it. The secret check-in spot is hidden in this back alley!
Looking down at the ground, there is an iron plate with a geographical map embedded in the floor, which makes it easier to understand where we are and where we are.
It is quaint, poetic and picturesque, and every corner is a check-in point.
The mottled traces of time and the Taiwanese red brick buildings complement each other.
The old banyan trees in the park are bigger than the other.
The spectacular location of the tree house is both the end and the starting point of the entire park.
Weekend Cultural and Creative Market
During holidays, there is also a cultural and creative market here, which is very lively and worth a visit! Check the market schedule
Transportation
- MRT: Take the bus to Dongmen Station or Guting Station , which is about a 10-minute walk away.
- Bus: Take bus No. 214, 237, 606 or 670 and get off at the "Public Enterprise Center" stop. The park will be right in front of you.
- Bicycle: There is a YouBike station in the park. You can also ride a bicycle slowly from the MRT station.
- Park address: No. 167, Jinhua Street, Da'an District, Taipei City
In addition to Yongkang Street, other famous attractions near Rongjin Time include: this year's most popular 0km Mountain Objects, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Dongmen Market, Nanmen Market, Shida Night Market, Jizhouan Literary Forest... It's so lively, almost all the attractions are concentrated in one area, and you can walk around it.
Parking Information
There is no parking lot in the park itself. For a short stay, you can refer to the roadside parking spaces or nearby parking lots. Here are three nearby parking lots for your reference:
168 Jinhua Street
The Genji 168 Jinhua Street parking lot is located diagonally opposite the tree house in the park. The fee is 100 yuan per hour on holidays, but please note that this parking lot can only be paid with EasyCard. Cash and other card payment methods are not accepted. (I once encountered a lady waving at me outside the payment counter. I looked at her with a puzzled look on my face. It turned out that she wanted to borrow my EasyCard to pay for parking!)
Parking fee: 40 yuan/hour on weekdays and 100 yuan/hour on holidays.
Distance from the park: 30 seconds walk
Jinshan Parking Lot
Jinshan Parking Lot is located near Dongmen MRT Station . It is a good deal for those who need to stay in Dongmen for more than 2 hours! The maximum charge on weekdays is 150 yuan, and the maximum charge on holidays is 240 yuan.
Parking fee: 80 yuan/hour on weekdays and holidays.
Distance from the park: 6 minutes walk.
Conclusion
It is quite hot in the summer, and most of the park is open-air. If you just want to hang out and pick some spots, it is recommended to visit after 4pm, when the temperature is more comfortable and you can see the charming afternoon light and shadows shining in every corner of the park!
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