Taiyuan Food Street, originally established during the Song Dynasty, is located in the commercial center of Taiyuan. Known as “Yuanmenqian (院门前)” during the Qing Dynasty and later as “Mao’er Alley (帽儿巷)” after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was renamed “Food Street” in 1986. After centuries of development, it has become a distinctive leisure street for dining, sightseeing, and relaxation. The street stretches from Fudong Street in the north to Zhonglou Street in the south, measuring 10 meters wide and 552 meters long.
Taiyuan Food Street hosts over 120 shops, each offering unique culinary experiences. The northern section features specialty cuisine, the central area is known for its trendy bars and Western restaurants, and the southern section focuses on Shanxi local flavors. The street also incorporates various cultural elements, such as sugar painting, dough figurine making, and shadow puppetry, which are recognized as intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, the area includes artistic venues like crosstalk clubs, sing-along bars, and pubs. A large parking lot accommodating over 500 vehicles supports the influx of visitors, which reaches over 30,000 people each night.
From the southern entrance, looking north, visitors see two rows of two-story buildings designed in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with intricately arranged pavilions and archways. The street is adorned with traditional Shanxi cultural symbols, such as painted towers and red lanterns. Antique-style flower pots, sculptures representing Shanxi’s noodle culture, and vintage-style benches line the paved bluestone road. The food street is a hub of culinary delights, attracting crowds to long-standing favorites like Quanwazi Snacks and Xueshan Cold Drinks, as well as new establishments like Yantong Building, Jinyun Building, and Lao Beijing Lu Zhu Huo Shao, all bustling with eager food enthusiasts.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
Location and Transportation
Taiyuan Food Street is located at 129 Zhonglou Street, Yingze District, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 61, 87, 502, 610, 809, 828 Inner Loop Line, 828 Outer Loop Line, or 863, get off at Jiefang Road Zhonglou Street Intersection Stop (解放路钟楼街口), and walk about 120 meters to the east.
Metro: The closest metro station to Taiyuan Food Street is Fuxi Street (府西街站) on line 2. After getting out of the station from Exit C, walk about 100 meters to the east.
