About
Lugang Old Street is a popular traditional market frequented primarily by Taiwanese locals. The street is lined with well-preserved old-fashioned shophouses and crowded food stalls, with all kinds of classic Taiwanese cuisine. It's the perfect destination for anyone looking for an authentic glimpse into the local culture and daily life of a person living in Taiwan.
Key Info
*Learn more about my Key Information methadology here.
Cost
As a place hidden to the tourists, the market has been able to maintain a relativly affordable "local" price.
Accessibility
I was lucky enough to have a car, but you can also take the bus. To get to Lukang Old Street in Changhua, Taiwan, take a bus from Taichung HSR (Zhonglu Bus 9018).
Uniqueness
The scale of Lugang Old Street is what makes it an amazing and must visit place if you don't mind the poor accesibility. The amount of food, culture, and attractions makes it easily a place that you can spend more than half a day.
My Experience
As a food and culture lover, Lugang was the perfect destination for me, chosen by local friends from Taichung.
As part of my road trip to Taichung and Changhua, I arrived with my local friends by car. It was my first destination of my trip, and from Taichung's High Speed Rail station, it wasn't too far away—around 30 minutes by car.
Finding parking was the most difficult part, but once that was resolved, we were finally able to set off and explore the market!
Lugang itself is actually a large area, composed of some museums, street markets, and many temples! There's a variety of things to try and, as a result, you can spend a lot of time here.
Feel free to try anything that is of interest, but I can share some of the things I tried and recommend. All of these are pinned on my Google Maps list, so make sure to check that out!
Fish Balls: If you aren't heading to Dakeng for hiking (check out my post on Dakeng if you haven't), you can try the same stall as they've set up one in Lugang!
Grass Jelly Dessert (仙草): A popular dessert in Taiwan, and one of my favourites!
Fried Sugar (白糖粿): Super unhealthy yet super tasty, it's high on my list to recommend to anyone who hasn't tried it before!
There are also a couple of more unique items that I haven't seen in other places:
Cow Tongue Biscuits (牛舌餅): Don't worry! It's not actual cow tongue! It's a long biscuit that resembles a cow's tongue and comes in different flavors. It's a popular snack from Lugang, and I highly recommend it!
Flour Tea (麵茶): A unique warm beverage made from roasted wheat flour, water, and sugar, stirred into a thick, nutty, and comforting paste.
Braised Duck Eggs: I wasn't really a fan of it, but if you enjoy Taiwan's classic tea eggs, you can give braised duck eggs a try!
The culinary offerings stretch far beyond this list, with countless more stalls and shops to explore. As one of the most extensive and authentic traditional markets you'll find, a visit to Lugang Old Street is strongly recommended!
