Lukang, literally meaning “Deer Harbour”, is an urban township located in northwestern of Changhua County, Taiwan. The township is on the west coast of Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait, Lukang’s name came from the port’s trade of deerskins during the Dutch colonial period in the 18th and 19th century. Lukang was once the most populous city in central Taiwan until the early 20th century.

The subsequent silting of the harbor and the city’s refusal to allow railroads to pass through the city led to losses in trade in commerce, which in turn, led to Lukang’s decline. This same decline, however, averted the modernization processes that demolished historical buildings in Tainan and Taipei, leaving Lukang preserved as it was in its glory days. There are still many old temples and county monuments remaining in Lukang including Longshan Temple, Matsu Temple, Folk Arts Museum and Old Market Street. The township boasts over 200 temples dedicated to a wide variety of folk deities.

The locals call Lukang a “living museum” and this is true as much for the food as it is for the buildings and streets. Traditional dishes are cheap and readily available near all of the major sights. Look for the enticingly named phoenix eye cake, dragon whiskers and shrimp monkey, among many other dishes.