台北最后一天 – The Last Day in Taipei

12/05/2025 星期五，Friday, the 34th day of our Down Under to Eastern Delight trip

上午坐地铁去了迪化街，它是台北具历史味道的一条老街，以中药、南北干货、茶叶、传统零食和文创小店闻名。这里保留了许多日治时期的巴洛克风格老建筑，走在街上还是很有怀旧的气息。

In the morning we took the metro to Dihua Street, one of Taipei’s most historic old streets, known for its traditional Chinese medicine shops, dried goods, tea, old-style snacks, and creative boutiques.

Many of the Baroque-style buildings from the Japanese era are still preserved here, and walking along the street carries a strong sense of nostalgia.

在迪化街尝到了草莓大福，是一种源自日本一種源自日本的和果子，软糯Q弹的麻薯外皮、包裹一层红豆馅或是芋头泥，再包一棵又大又多汁的新鲜草莓，一口咬下能同时享受草莓的酸甜、紅豆沙或芋头泥的绵密和麻薯的软糯。 

On Dihua Street we tried strawberry daifuku, a traditional Japanese confection with a soft, chewy mochi shell wrapped around red-bean or taro paste, then enclosing a big, juicy fresh strawberry. One bite gives you the strawberry’s sweet-tart flavor, the smooth bean or taro filling, and the soft, sticky mochi all at once.

在街边的一家本地小店又点了两碗卤肉饭，结果证明真的不是每一家卤肉饭都能做到惊艳。

At a small local restaurant by the street we ordered two more bowls of braised pork rice, only to be reminded that not every place can make a truly impressive version of this dish.

随后我们步行到了不远处的大稻埕码头广场。大稻埕码头在清末和日治时期曾是台北最繁华的港口之一，当年茶叶、樟脑、布匹等货物都从这里装船外销，使大稻埕一度成为台湾的重要贸易中心。如今虽然不再有往来的大船，却成了台北人的散步看夕阳的好地方。我们到的时候广场上几乎没有什么人，那些以集装箱改造的店铺大多还在午休，显得格外安静。我们就在河边慢慢走走停停，吹着风、看着河水发呆、享受难得的闲适。

We then walked to the nearby Dadaocheng Wharf Plaza. In the late Qing and Japanese eras, Dadaocheng Wharf was one of Taipei’s busiest ports; goods like tea, camphor, and textiles were shipped out from here, making the area an important trading center. Today there are no more cargo ships coming and going, but it has become a popular spot for locals to stroll and watch the sunset. The area uses old ship containers converted into small restaurants or shops with seating at the top. When we arrived, the plaza was almost empty, and most of the container-style shops had still not opened, giving the place a quiet feel. We wandered slowly along the riverside, stopping here and there, enjoying the breeze, watching the water, and savoring a rare moment of calm.

之后徒步半个多小时回到酒店。某人选择休息，我则出门去剪了个头发，850台币。晚饭时某人想吃川菜，于是我们找了一家离西门町不远的川味餐馆。老板是一位在台湾生活了二十多年的重庆人，菜的味道地道，真的很好吃。

After leaving the Wharf Plaza, we walked more than half an hour back to our hotel. One of us chose to rest, while I went out for a haircut, which cost 850 NT ($27 USD) . For dinner, he was craving Sichuan food, so we found a Sichuan restaurant (Chong La Jiao) not far from Ximending. The owner was from Chongqing and has lived in Taiwan for more than twenty years – the dishes were authentic and really delicious.

短暂的台北之旅也在这一顿温暖的晚餐中画上句号。明天就要回家了，台湾的秩序、文明、热闹与美食，已经装进了我的记忆里。

So, after 3 days, our short trip to Taipei came to an end with this warm, mildly spicy dinner. We’re heading home tomorrow, and the orderliness, civility, lively energy, and wonderful food of Taiwan are now tucked deep into our memories.

Bear had one last bit of fun at the wharf … 小熊在码头最后玩了一会儿…