Located on the Zhongzhen Road near Yongchang Temple and the alley nearby, Nanzhuang Old Street is full of stores selling special snacks and goods. There will be large crowds queuing on Old Street every weekend or on public holidays.
Nanzhuang’s Osmanthus Alley is widely known. The name originated from a local old noodle shop when community infrastructure establishment was promoted in 2001. It has accidentally become the other name for Nanzhuang. The name brought many osmanthus-related business opportunities. Delicious and sweet osmanthus products have become the unforgettable taste of Nanzhuang and the osmanthus syrup is a popular local product.
Shuibiantou is located at the end of Osmanthus Alley on Nanzhuang Old Street and is also known as the “cloth-washing ditch”. It is a natural water channel filled with an atmosphere of nostalgic tranquility different from that of the bustling Old Street. Back when tap water was not yet available, this was the place for local residents to pound and wash clothes, where a dozen or so washboards were set up beside the clear ditch full of water. Hakka ladies chatted while washing clothes at “Shuibiantou,” symbolizing the traditional Hakka hard-working and frugal spirit and living in harmony with nature.
Walking down from the opposite side of the old post office, you will be taking a flagstone trail named “Nogizaka” to remember Governor-General Nogi’s goodwill. Based on the documents of Nanzhuang Township Office, the flagstone trail was built during the Japanese occupational period to provide the then residents with more convenient transportation. Count Nogi, the then Governor-General of Taiwan, was the first to donate money in an attempt to encourage more people to come forward with help and money.
Thanks to Nogi, enough funds were raised to construct the trail. To show people’s appreciation for Count Nogi Maresuke’s good deeds, the trail was named after him.