If you leave the expressway via the Chongqing North Road Exit Ramp, continue straight and then make a turn, you will arrive at Dadaocheng. For the people of Taipei, a visit to Dadaocheng’s Dihua Street is a must-do before Lunar New Year.‘Nian Wei’, the Lunar New Year experience, feels somewhat incomplete without a visit to Dihua Street.

Min Min’s mother glanced at the clock and found that it was almost eleven. She asked Min Min,“Min Min, would you like to accompany me to go shopping at Dihua Street?”Min Min replied,“I feel a little hungry. Can we go after lunch?”Min Min’s mother smiled and she replied,“People usually do not eat before shopping at Dihua Street.”

Min Min did not understand why, but she saw her mother’s serious expression. So, she decided to listen to her mother, and not have lunch before going to Dihua Street. After getting out of the car, Min Min saw that the way to Dihua Street was full of people. It was really crowded. She heard vendors selling their wares along the entire bustling street.
“Yoo hoo! 600 grams of pistachios for 180 NTD!”
“Please sample some delicious dried squid!”
“Peanuts! Peanuts from Beigang!
“Garlic-flavored and unseasoned peanuts!”
“Mullet roe from Donggang! Mullet roe from Donggang! Just arrived today!”

Each stall vendor was warmly inviting visitors to sample their food. Allowing visitors to sample their food was the best form of advertisement. Min Min was stunned by the wondrous sights, and sampled countless delicious foods with her mother, as they shopped for new year goods and snacks. By the time her mother was done shopping, Min Min had already eaten her fill and she was almost too full to walk.

Min Min rubbed her tummy and said,“Mother, now I know why people do not eat before shopping at Dihua Street. I ate so many things, like melon seeds, peanuts, and chocolate…”Min Min’s mother smiled and said,“This is the charm of Dihua Street. Before Lunar New Year, everyone goes to Dihua Street to shop for new year goods and sample delicious food. It has become a tradition for many.”Min Min replied,“Mother, please bring me here again next year. I will remember to come with an empty stomach!”

　　下了重慶北路交流道，直走，再轉個彎，大稻埕就在眼前。對臺北人來說，大稻埕的迪化街，是每年農曆新年前的必到之處。過年前，如果沒來這兒一趟，就好像缺少了一種很重要的「年味」。
　　媽媽看看時間，差不多快十一點了，便問敏敏：「敏敏，等一下要不要跟媽媽到迪化街買東西？」敏敏問媽媽：「可是我有點兒餓了呢。媽，為什麼不吃完午餐再去？」媽媽笑著說：「呵呵！沒有人是吃完飯再去迪化街買年貨的。」
　　敏敏雖然覺得奇怪，但是看媽媽認真的樣子，只好忍住肚子餓，乖乖地跟著媽媽去迪化街。下了車，還沒走到迪化街，敏敏就看見一路上人山人海，擠得水泄不通；聽見滿街的吆喝叫賣，更顯得熱鬧非凡。

「來唷！開心果一斤一百八十！」
「請吃吃看，好吃的魷魚絲！」
「花生！北港的花生！蒜味、原味都有！」
「東港烏魚子！東港烏魚子！今天到貨！」

　　每個攤位的店員都大方地請客人試吃，不怕客人不買，只怕客人不吃。敏敏看得目瞪口呆，跟著媽媽一路試吃，一路買年貨。等到媽媽買好東西，敏敏早就吃得飽飽的，差一點兒走不動。
　　敏敏摸著肚子說：「媽，我現在知道為什麼不能吃過飯，再到迪化街買東西了。我吃了好多東西，瓜子、花生、巧克力……」媽媽笑著說：「這就是迪化街啊！每年過年前，大家都會到迪化街買東西、吃東西，好像已經變成一種習慣了。」敏敏說：「媽媽，明年再帶我來，我會記得吃飯前來的！」