The fields of Sanchong were once full of flowers and jasmine seems to still hang in the air.

Back during the Japanese colonial period, Sanchong was the most important bulk market for scent flowers (i.e. flowers whose value lies in their scent rather than their appearance) in Taipei. The making of Pouchong tea requires manual scenting and the Sanchong region, close to Dadaocheng (the tea district of Taipei) was a suitable place to grow scent flowers (true jasmine, gardenia, jasmine). Therefore, the rise of the tea industry boosted the economy of the Sanchong region.

The old practice of working from the living room enabled many blue-collar workers in Sanchong to start from scratch and make their contribution to Taiwan’s economic miracle.

Liquan Fulling Mill appeared near Bihua Street as early as 1957. With more and more garment factories and fulling mills in the area, textile retailers on Bihua Street slowly gathered and formed the early period Bihua Textile Street. The textile business started with recycling loose fabric from garment factories. The first textile shop on Bihua Street opened around 1966.

The fame of Bihua Textile Street once spread far and wide.

Bihua Street was at its height in the 1980s. Crowds filled the street on weekends making it as crowded as at Chinese New Year. Customers from the south would take night trains in order to buy textile on Bihua Street. Even garment traders from Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Africa, and countries in West Africa came to shop here. It can be seen that Bihua Street was internationally known.

A dwindling textile street combines the creativity and motivation of a new generation in an attempt to restore its glory

From the 1990s, the textile industry in Taiwan has dwindled and had a negative impact on business on Textile Street. However, a ray of hope has appeared for the industry under the commitment of the new generation. It is hoped that soon the determination of the old “textile oxen” and the creativity and vigor of the new generation will revive Textile Street.