Jiufen 九份

Some pictures of Jiufen

Presentation of Jiufen
Located 1.5 hours by bus northeast of Taipei, and nestled on a mountain by the sea, the small village of Jiufen is one of Taiwan’s most popular attractions and undoubtedly one of the must-see places during a stay on the island. With its traditional houses, narrow alleys and staircases, red lanterns, small shops and other fragrant restaurants, Jiufen has all the hallmarks of a traditional Asian village that attracts tourists in droves (be prepared to walk slowly on weekends there).
If the crowds are too much for you, you can relax in one of the many tea houses in the village, some of which have a view of the sea and the magnificent sunset.
It is this poetry, this unique atmosphere that gives the village its photogenic appeal, and which has attracted many famous artists and filmmakers, including Hayao Miyazaki, who was inspired by Jiufen to create the sets for Spirited Away.
The number one attraction of the destination remains this unique atmosphere mentioned just above, which can be felt in every street corner, the most crowded as well as the most deserted. The numerous tea houses offer a well-deserved rest (special mention to A-Mei, whose terrace offers a breathtaking view of the region), rest that you might really need after having conquered the very many steps of Jiufen and the accessible trails near the village. Among these we find the one leading to the mountain of Keelung 基隆山. If the latter rises to “only” 588 meters in height, it has the merit of offering an exceptional panorama of the surroundings from its summit and this after a climb of only 45 minutes.
Not far from Jiufen is Jinguashi (金瓜石), a former small mining town whose layout has been completely redesigned to welcome visitors and introduce them to the region’s mining past. While the area is clearly geared toward tourism, the atmosphere of a remote mountain village (quite similar to that felt in Jiufen) remains intact. Special mention should be made of the Gold Ecological Park and its waterfalls.