Most of you will know that I recently moved, from Yuquan to Guangfu. A few streets, from one Taipei into another. For years I lived in Yuquan ( 玉泉里 ), on the southern edge of Dadaocheng ( 大稻埕 ). I now live in Guangfu ( 光復里 ), inside the old walls of Taipei City ( 臺北城 ). No river crossed, no hill climbed: only a few streets east. Yuquan is warehouses, hardware, spare parts, wholesalers and old family firms. Its streets still obey the Tamsui River ( 淡水河 ): goods arrive, change hands, acquire credit and move on. Guangfu is gates, government offices, public markets, hotels, bookshops, banks, schools and pork-chop rice served to people whose lunch break has an ending. Both belong to western Taipei ( 臺北西區 ); both are sold as "the old city". They are not old in the same way. Yuquan grew around goods and private capital; Guangfu around files, public authority and salaries. The map shows a short walk. The city shows a river port and a city gate, merchants and mandarins, inheri...