從小到大，總是聽人們提到，過年時，台北最知名的年貨採買的地點，就是迪化街，很多人對於迪化街的印象，就是年貨大街，雖然北、中、南各有不錯的年貨採買地點，不過，迪化街還是以置辦年貨的首選而聞名全台，就位置上來看，迪化街是大稻埕的一部份，而大稻埕從清末至日治期間，大稻埕都是全台經濟、社會及文化活動的中心，外國物資經由淡水河運送至碼頭，在這裡卸貨運送至全台，貿易，一直是大稻埕得以延續百年繁華的關鍵，時至今日，這裡已經漸漸地失去往日榮光，但是，人們過年時，想到辦年貨，一定會想到迪化街，而人們在這裡可以找到各式各樣的南北乾貨、零食、雜貨、中藥材、罐頭食品、進口食品等。
我和朋友們並不是每一年都有去迪化街採買年貨的習慣，前幾年，因為疫情的關係，人們基本上都盡量不出門，而採買年貨一定是人擠人的，所以，我們更是沒去迪化街，今年我有些想去看看迪化街的變化，但是朋友們剛好都有事情，或是人已經在外地旅遊了，想了好幾天，我還是決定單獨去迪化街看看，我會不會買年貨呢？就看有沒有好貨。
因為好幾年沒去迪化街，我對於迪化街的位置只有模糊印象，不過，網路上查了一下，了解到最近的捷運站，應該是北門站，我就出發，迪化街距離北門站走路大概是5分鐘左右，迪化街大致上有分南街入口及北街入口，都在捷運站附近，我到達的地點就在南街入口附近，一到達入口，就發現迪化街在年節期間，早就封街為行人徒步區，而逛街或採買年貨的人潮幾乎滿到入口了。
一進去迪化街，我一頭就栽入零食的試吃中，大部份的迪化街攤販都大方開放試吃，希望顧客一試成主顧，能夠買個三、五、八包商品，而這種一邊走一邊試吃各式年貨食品的樣態，也是大家期待的消費方式，聽說幾年前有個新聞，某個迪化街攤商打短期工的店員，因為看不慣許多只試吃卻不消費的客人，大聲喝斥「一群買不起的窮酸人，只吃不買」，結果，該攤位的業績下滑，因為許多客人投訴，只要有她在，就抵制不買，老闆知道這件事情後也責罵她，我對於這件事，不予置評，因為我不是當事人，不過，大部份的人，對於試吃都是抱持的，試吃商品後，真的喜歡，再購買的態度。
From a young age, I always heard people talking about how the most famous place for buying Lunar New Year goods in Taipei is Dihua Street. Many people associate Dihua Street primarily with shopping for Lunar New Year goods. While there are good places for Lunar New Year shopping in the north, central, and south regions of Taiwan, Dihua Street is still renowned as the top choice for buying Lunar New Year goods across the island. Geographically, Dihua Street is part of Dadaocheng, which was the economic, social, and cultural center of Taiwan from the late Qing Dynasty to the Japanese colonial period. Goods were transported via the Tamsui River to the docks here, unloaded, and distributed throughout Taiwan. Trade has always been the key to Dadaocheng's prosperity for over a century. Nowadays, it has gradually lost its former glory, but when it comes to Lunar New Year, people always think of Dihua Street for buying Lunar New Year goods. Here, people can find all kinds of dried goods, snacks, groceries, Chinese herbs, canned foods, imported goods, and more.
My friends and I don't have the habit of going to Dihua Street to buy Lunar New Year goods every year. In the past few years, due to the pandemic, people have generally tried to stay indoors as much as possible, and shopping for Lunar New Year goods always involves crowded places. Therefore, we didn't go to Dihua Street. This year, I felt like seeing how Dihua Street has changed. However, my friends happen to have other commitments, or they are already traveling elsewhere. After thinking for several days, I decided to go to Dihua Street alone. Whether I'll buy Lunar New Year goods or not depends on whether there are good items available.
Since I haven't been to Dihua Street for several years, I only have a vague impression of its location. However, after checking online, I learned that the nearest MRT station is Beimen Station. So, I set off. Dihua Street is about a 5-minute walk from Beimen Station. There are entrances to Dihua Street on the south and north sides, both near the MRT station. I arrived near the entrance on the south side. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, I noticed that during the Lunar New Year period, Dihua Street was already closed to traffic and turned into a pedestrian-only zone, with crowds of people already filling the entrance, either strolling or shopping for Lunar New Year goods.
As soon as I stepped into Dihua Street, I immediately got caught up in the free sampling of snacks. Most of the vendors on Dihua Street are generous with offering free samples, hoping that customers will try and then buy multiple packets of their products. This style of shopping, where you sample various Lunar New Year food products while walking, is what everyone looks forward to. I heard about a news story a few years ago where a shopkeeper at one of the stalls in Dihua Street scolded the temporary workers for not being able to tolerate many customers who only sampled but didn't buy anything, loudly accusing them of being "a bunch of poor people who can't afford to buy, only eat for free." As a result, the performance of that stall declined because many customers complained that they wouldn't buy as long as she was there. When the boss found out about this incident, he also scolded her. I won't comment on this matter because I'm not involved, but most people have a positive attitude towards sampling. After sampling a product, if they genuinely like it, they will purchase it.