There’s an old street in central Taiwan that’s known for its blacksmith shops. At its peak, the street in Nantou County’s Puli Township boasted about 30 blacksmith shops. That was about a century ago. But today, with the arrival of mechanical tools and changes to the agricultural industry, there are only a few blacksmiths in Puli that are still open for business.
Strike the iron while it’s hot or let the machine do the job. This blacksmith on Nanhsing Street sells all kinds of tools – everything from hoes and sickles to rakes.
Blacksmith Peng Tien is busy with customers. He helps them find the right size and fix their farming tools.
Today only six or seven blacksmith shops still exist. But Peng seems pretty happy with his loyal customer base.
The hustle and bustle of the old street is long gone, but the neighborhood is still teeming with nostalgia. Some people go for a cup of herbal tea at a 100-year-old shop. Others visit the 200-year-old temple where the Goddess of the Sea is enshrined.