Xichang Street - Herb Alley

Walking on Xichang Street near Longshan Temple in Taipei, you'll catch a strong scent of herbs. That sweet and pure aroma signifies that you've arrived at Taipei's famous Herb Alley. In Lane 224, over a dozen herbal medicine shops gather, displaying a dazzling array of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. It is said that in the early days of Monga's development, many prevalent diseases existed, but there were very few licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. Herbal medicine shops thus became the primary institutions for folk remedies. People would drink concoctions made from boiled herbs to cure illnesses, and many ancient folk remedies were hidden within these practices. At that time, it was even called the 'Street of Salvation'. Later, due to Longshan Temple's discontinuation of medicinal lottery slips and the implementation of national health insurance, herbal products transformed into natural health-preserving foods. There are over 100 kinds of herbs here, all authentic Taiwanese herbs transported from the south and processed through drying. The famous herbal tea is a holy grail for reducing internal heat during hot summers. Many people come here to buy a few packets to brew at home. Under the planning of the Taipei City Government, living samples of medicinal herbs such as aloe vera, red Gynura, Begonia, and lavender are planted in Herb Alley and Lane 209 of Guangzhou Street, which is adjacent to Longshan Temple. This area has been designated as a medicinal plant garden, making it an excellent location for outdoor education.