Just half an hour’s drive east of Taipei
City, Jiufen is a small town perched on
a hill overlooking the East China Sea.
Its name, which means “nine parts” in
Mandarin, is said to refer to nine family
homes that comprised the settlement
in the early Qing dynasty. After
Japanese colonial forces discovered
gold in the nearby mountains at the
turn of the 20th century, Jiufen grew in
size to accommodate a huge influx of
miners and engineers. Today, it is a
laid-back countryside retreat known
for its steep, narrow streets, souvenir
shops, art galleries, tea houses, and
restaurants.
TAKING FLIGHT
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CHEN LIANG-DAO
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DIGITAL VISION VECTORS
The winding alleys lined with red
lanterns and food vendors were the
inspiration for the eerie town depicted in
Hayao Miyazaki
’
s 2001 animated movie
Spirited Away
. Jiufen was also the
backdrop for Hou Hsiao-hsien
’
s 1989
drama
A City of Sadness
. You can visit
many of the buildings depicted in
A City
of Sadness
along Jiufen
’
s storied Shuqi
Rd. Be sure to stop off at the City of
Sadness Little Shanghai Restaurant for a
snack and a cup of tea to soak up the
historic atmosphere.
ᆀ༷ɘ΅
JOYFUL JIUFEN
Hiking trails crisscross the steep
mo u n t a i n s l ope s a r o u nd J i u f e n,
punctuated by signposts, sheltered rest
areas, and lookout points. One of the
best climbs is Jilong Mountain, a 588m
peak that offers panoramic views of
Keelung Port, the East China Sea, and
Jiufen. Another of the area
’
s top walks is
Teapot Mountain, which is so named
because its rocky peak is shaped
exactly like a teapot, complete with tall
spout.
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