再訪知名步行街 (一) / Revisiting Famous Pedestrian Streets (Part 1)







步行街在我們這邊通常稱為行人徒步區,通常這是一個僅允許行人步行的區域,通常多為各種商業設施與消費活動高度集中的區域,在全世界各大城市或許都有,就像台北的西門町或日本的秋葉原,不但白天人來人往,夜晚更是人潮洶湧,這裡重斥著街頭文化和潮流時尚,是青少年的流行文化的勝地,這裡餐館、商店、攤商林立,不論是吃的、穿的及玩的都可以找到喜愛的。
在我幾次停留在廈門的經驗中,我特別喜歡住在中山路步行街附近,到廈門,中山路是必去的景點,因為它代表了廈門的繁華,它不但保留了歷史風貌的舊城街區之外,還有西洋風情的建築古蹟,因為很多過往南洋華僑,在他們發達之後,紛紛返回家鄉投資,並一併帶入南洋文化元素,此外,泉州、廈門、漳州及台灣地區,自古以來都屬閩南區域,本土特有的閩南風情更不用多說,因此,對於外來人而言,在這條一公里長的中山路步行街上,可以感受到中西合璧的文化衝擊。
身為一位台灣人,我的第一眼印象是這裡真的很像台北的西門町,但是可以明顯地感受到兩者的不同,雖然,兩者的房屋都有騎樓的設計,主要是南方多雨的氣候,早期將街道上兩旁的房屋設置騎樓,當下雨時,人們可以沿著騎樓下行走,不怕日曬雨淋,不過,中山路步行街的建築偏向南洋風,這條步行街的夜晚比白天更美,當夜幕降臨時,璀璨的燈光打在乳白色的南洋風建築上,整條步行街仿彿穿上一件穿着古羅馬時代的金色袍子,整條街都閃閃發亮。
街道兩旁的霓虹燈閃爍著五顏六色的光芒,招牌上各種有趣的圖案和文字吸引著過往的行人。每走幾步,就會看到店家主動出擊的店員推銷商品,這裡有著琳琅滿目的各色閩台特色小吃,像是海礪煎、肉粽、沙茶面、花生湯、餡餅等廈門風味小吃,我還看到熟悉的臭豆腐及大腸包小腸等,其中我最感到好奇的是土筍凍,它是一種用類似沙蟲加工的凍品,有些像果凍,在燈光下閃閃發光,看起來十分誘人,加上調味,如蒜蓉醬油和香菜,吃起來整體味道更加鮮美。
中山路步行街走到底,沿海邊的騖江道再一路走,會走到廈門輪渡碼頭,對岸是世界文化遺跡的鼓浪嶼,鼓浪嶼這個面積只有1.87平方公里的小島號稱海上花園,也是廈門必去景點之一。
A pedestrian street, often referred to as a pedestrian zone in our region, is an area where only foot traffic is allowed. These zones are typically packed with various commercial facilities and consumer activities. Almost every major city in the world has them, like Ximending in Taipei or Akihabara in Japan. These places are bustling with people during the day and even more crowded at night. They're vibrant hubs of street culture and trendy fashion, making them popular spots for teenagers. You can find a plethora of restaurants, shops, and stalls offering a variety of food, clothing, and entertainment.
From my several stays in Xiamen, I particularly enjoyed staying near the Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street. Zhongshan Road is a must-visit spot in Xiamen because it represents the city's prosperity. It not only preserves the historic charm of the old down town but also features Southeast Asian style architectural monuments. Many overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia returned home to invest after achieving success abroad, bringing with them elements of Southeast Asian culture. Additionally, the Minnan region, which includes Quanzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and Taiwan, has its own unique Minnan cultural charm. Therefore, visitors can experience a blend of Chinese and Southeast Asia cultures along the one-kilometer-long Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street.
As a Taiwanese person, my first impression was that it resembled Ximending in Taipei. However, the differences between the two are noticeable. Although both have arcades designed to protect pedestrians from the rain, a common feature in southern climates, Zhongshan Road's architecture leans towards Southeast Asian styles. This street is even more beautiful at night. When night falls, the brilliant lights illuminate the white Southeast Asian-style buildings, making the entire pedestrian street sparkle as if draped in a golden robe from ancient Rome.
The neon lights along the street shine in various colors, and the interesting signs and patterns attract passersby. Every few steps, you'll encounter shop assistants actively promoting their products. The street is filled with a variety of Minnan and Taiwanese snacks, such as oyster omelets, meat dumplings, satay noodles, peanut soup, and stuffed buns. I even saw familiar snacks like stinky tofu and large intestine wrapped in small intestine. The one that intrigued me the most was a dish called "tushun jelly," a jelly-like delicacy made from something similar to sandworms. It glistens under the lights and looks very enticing. When seasoned with garlic soy sauce and cilantro, it tastes even more delicious.
Walking to the end of Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street and continuing along the seaside on Wuxiang Road, you'll reach the Xiamen Ferry Terminal. Across the water is the Gulangyu Island, a world cultural heritage site. This small island, covering only 1.87 square kilometers, is known as the "Garden on the Sea" and is another must-visit attraction in Xiamen.
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Beautiful photos
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