Datong, Taipei — #3 Best Neighborhood in Taipei

About the neighborhood

District in Taipei, Taiwan

Twatutia (old name)TraditionalChinese大稻埕

Datong District or Tatung is a district of Taipei City, Taiwan. It is located between the Taipei Metro Red Line and eastern shore of the Tamsui River, and between Civic Boulevard and the Sun Yat-sen Freeway. The southern part of this district is known as Twatutia, one of the first settlements in what is now Taipei and once the commercial center. Taipei's commercial center has since shifted southeast to Zhongzheng, Da'an and Xinyi, and Datong is far less important economically. Some of the last vestiges of Twatutia's commercial importance is preserved on Dihua Street. The old town of Daronpon is in the northern part of the district.

History

During the Qing dynasty, the district was named Daronpon (Chinese 大浪泵; Pe̍h-ōe-jī Tōa-lông-pōng), Paronpon, and other variants, but was renamed Toaliongtong (大隆同; Toā-liông-tông) in 1844. Following the Second Opium War, a port was opened in Twatutia for international trade. Foreign trade resulted in the economic development of the district.

In 1946, the district's name was changed to Tatung (大同), which means "Great Unity", the Confucian notion of utopia which is in the lyrics of the National Anthem of the Republic of China. In 1990, the district merged with neighboring Jiancheng and Yanping Districts to create today's enlarged Datong District. The spelling became "Datong" due to switching to the Pinyin Chinese romanization system.

Administrative divisions

The district consists of Bao'an, Dayou, Guangneng, Guoqing, Guoshun, Jiangong, Jianming, Jiantai, Jingxing, Laoshi, Linjiang, Longhe, Minquan, Nanfang, Penglai, Shuanglian, Siwen, Xingming, Yangya, Yanping, Yongle, Yuquan, Zhaoyang, Zhisheng and Zhongqing urban villages.

Government institutions

Ministry of Labor

Tourism

Dihua Street is most notable for its Qing period and Japanese period architecture. It is also famous for street market during the Lunar New Year holidays. The market sells dried fruits, nuts, dried meats, dried seafood, snacks, and health drinks.

Other attractions in Datong include:

Tianma Tea House

Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Hall

Chen Tian-lai Residence

Ama Museum

Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Park

Chen Dexing Ancestral Hall

Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei

Customs Museum

Taipei Confucius Temple

Bao-an Temple

Xia Hai City God Temple

Cisheng Temple

Also in the district are Qsquare shopping mall, Yongle Market (also on Dihua Street), Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market and Dalong Night Market.

Transportation

Metro

Datong is served by the following stations of the Taipei Metro:

Shuanglian metro station

Yuanshan metro station

Beimen metro station

Daqiaotou metro station

Zhongshan metro station

Minquan West Road metro station

Road

By road, the district is served by National Highway No. 1, Provincial Highway No. 1, and Provincial Highway No. 2.

It is also the location of the Yuanshan Bus Station and Taipei Bus Station, the largest bus terminal in the city.

Ferry

The Dadaocheng Wharf is located within the district.

Notable natives

Chiang Chia, manager of Chinese Taipei national football team (1981–1985)

Chiang Peng-chien, chairperson of Democratic Progressive Party (1986–1987)

Frank Hsieh, Premier of the Republic of China (2005–2006)

Huang Tien-fu, member of Legislative Yuan (1981–1984, 1996–1999)

Kuo Chin-fa, former singer

Tsai Eng-meng, businessperson

Yeh Ching-chuan, Minister of the Department of Health (2008–2009)

Datong

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