Sanshia was one of the most famous traditional streets located in northern Taiwan. As transport shifted elsewhere and the use of river transportation declined, however, Sanshia gradually lost its importance as a commercial center. It has become known in recent years because of Qingshui Zushi (Divine Ancestor) Temple, which is unique among all the Chinese temples of the world for the painstaking and time-consuming dedication to classical temple arts that is manifested in its modern reconstruction work. These features have also made it a powerful attraction for tourists from all over Taiwan and the world.

Sanshia Old Street length is about two hundred meters, and its architecture dates back to the early days when the Republic of China was newly established. Walking along Sanshia Old Street is like walking into a time tunnel; the arched red brick hallways, the traditional architecture, the beams, columns, ancient wooden plaques, the squat maiden’s walls and the figure carvings upon the buildings are all very unique.

Red brick was the main material used for the side of the buildings facing the street; pebbles were less used, and cement was not used until recently, for renovations, was used for the interior walls of the buildings. Because the merchants who lived along the Street in those days were all well-to-do folks, the architectural style and the building materials used were the cream of the crop; many materials were imported, and some of the residents employed architects from as far as England. The protruding sections on the roof of the buildings and the carved patterns under the windowsills on the second floor of the buildings enhance the beauty of these constructions. The patterns are widely varied and extremely interesting to study.