The Commercial Hub - the Ferry
Location: Across from the Songshan Administration Center, next to Raohe St.
The earliest cities in Taiwan were all developed upon harbors or river-ports. Owing to the easy navigation on Keelung River, Sikou Port, located between Taipei and Yilan, naturally became the main transportation hub. Raohe Street was prosperous for a time and in full flourish during the reign of Tungchih. However, its glory dimmed during the Japanese colonial period as Keelung River started to deposit silt. Today, only an old alley called “Ferry Alley” (i.e., Alley 221) is preserved.