| To match up with the original development of the old city district, the whole Changhua city are presented in an oval shape no matter it was made of bamboos or bricks. The Le-Gen gate(Eastern gate) is near the county assembly situated on the intersection of Zhong-Hua Rd and Zhong-Shan Rd; The Xuan-Ping gate(Southern gate)is on between Hua-Shan Rd, Ming-Sheng Rd and Nan-Yao Rd that is near the 42th alley on Hua-Shan Rd; The Qing-Feng gate(Western gate) is between Zhong-Zheng Rd, Cheng-Lin Rd and Ji-Xiang Rd; and the Gong-Chen gate(Northern gate) is located at the He-Ping Rd 84th alley between Guang-Fu Rd and He-Ping Rd near the Guo-Guang station. There is an Earth God Temple in each gate till the city reconstruction project in Japanese-Occupied Period demolish them. Four of the Earth God Temple were moved. The one in East gate had been moved to the opposite side of Yuan-Qing Temple on Ming-Sheng Rd; The one in West gate which is the Third Grade Historical site is on Zhong-Hua Rd, 243; The one in the North gate is behind the Kobayashi Glasses on He-Ping Rd. It’s said to be the most famous one that has a large number of religious followers. If you go there for worshipping, you would surely earn a lot. The one in Southern gate is on the intersection of Hua-Shan Rd. and Ming-Zu Rd now. |
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| Changhua old city building has two stories. The main streets were based on the the four gates, presenting as an intersection with the center of the city. They are the East Gate Street which is on the eastern part of Zhong-Hua Rd between the Triangle Park and Zhong-Shan Rd; the Southern Street is on Ming-Zu Rd between the Guan-Yin pavilion and the Hua-Shan Rd; the West Gate Street is on the western part of Zhong-Hua Rd between the Triangle Park and Zhong-Zheng Rd; And the North Gate Street is on He-Ping Rd between the Triangle Park and the Zhong-Zheng Rd which had already been broadened. | |
| Because that the West gate and the North gate are most highly used gates of the four gates, the neighborhood is therefore the most prosperous. Plenty of the alleys became short cuts that were used as frequently as the main roads like Qing-Chao Street which is in the 240th Alley on Zhong-Hua Rd. And the Xiao-Ximen Street which is in the 1st Alley on He-Ping Rd and the 194th Alley on Chen-Lin Rd…etc. Besides, Xiao-Ximen Street is the vital passage that serves as the link between West gate and North gate. And due to its geographic position that is near the Da-Ximen Street, people lived in this neighborhood call themselves “Xiao-xi people” if they have to tell people where they live while doing trade. That’s the reason why Xiao-xi Street is now not only an alley but a wide range of district. |
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| The specific range of Xiao-Xi Street now is ranged from from the Changhua train station to the districts including the route along Guang-Fu Rd, He-Ping Rd, Chen-Lin Rd, Yong-Xin Street and Zhong-Zheng Rd. It’s subordinated to the Chang-Le neigborhood in Changhua city. The western part is now the Xiao-Xi Street. However, the so-called Xiao-Xi Street actually got its name from the winding alleys that some of them could allow only one person to pass. In sum, it’s the 194th Alley on Chen-Lin Rd, 96th Alley on Yong-Xing Street, and 100th, 76th, 78th Alley and other alleys with Chang-An Street passed through. |
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| Resource： Bo-Nian Chen (2004) “The revival of old streets in Changhua city” research. Changhua, County Culture Affairs Bureau |
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