Jiufen, probably already on your bucket list of must go places, is one of the most renowned cities among travelers to Taiwan. Once the most dominant gold mine city of Asia under Japanese colonization, she enjoyed prominence even well into the 1950s. For decades, Jiufen was celebrated for its luxurious life style, grandeur of its temples and theaters, and the size of its visitor crowds. Today, Jiufen is mostly appreciated for its local cuisine, the coastal views of North Taiwan, and its relation to popular movies such as Spirited Away and A City of Sadness. However, on this fascinating route, we take you to the unknown side of Jiufen away from the clustered tourist sites - Come with us on this tour to travel back in time and see the authentic Jiufen Town in its golden years!
-
Fushan Temple
Fushan Temple is home to the God of Earth in Jiufen, where residents and mine workers used to come and worship for better luck during the Gold Rush Era. Even today, locals believe that the gods here are still guarding them with things other than material gold. Here in Fushan Temple, you will also find wooden statues of naked women as built entertainment for the gods, which symbolized Jiufen regionâs comparably liberal society in old-time Taiwan.
-
House Crossing Lane
In comparison to the popular Old Street of Jiufen, house crossing lanes are the disclosed alleys only known to locals. At this site, visitors will be able to see the architecture features of Jiufen, and how the local population built their lives under harsh circumstances during the Gold Rush Era.
-
Songde Park
Songde Park is a packed site of breathtaking views and local history. Be sure to snap some shots of the panoramic coastal-hill outlook while listening to our tour guides tell origin stories of the local elite of Jiufen - the Yen Family.
-
Tunnel Entrance
Hand-carved and built in the 1930s, this tunnel was the entrance and exit of transportation to Gold Town Jiufen during its most prominent years. Movie-loving guests might also find this site familiar due to similar appearances of tunnels entrances in Spirited Away.
-
Jiufen Gold Ore Museum
The Jiufen Gold Ore Museum is owned by the son of a former miner, and was founded in hope to build a legacy of Gold Town Jiufen. Here guests will be shown the unique gold prospecting skills only used in Taiwan, and hear stories of Jiufen community told by the museum owner.
-
Shengping Theater
At the last stop of our tour, we take guests back to the Shengping Theater on Jiufen Old Street to show the past and present difference of the famed gold mine town. Afterwards, guests are free to explore Jiufen with their own eyes.
- Time: Every Wed / Fri / Sun 2:00PM - 4:30PM
- Place: Meet up @ 7-11 at Jiufen Old Street entrance
- Recommended Transportation
BUS 965: 60-min ride. NT$90 one way.
- From MRT Ximen Station: Take exit 2 and walk straight for 100m past Chunghua Rd. & Changsha St. intersection, then youâll see the bus stop
- From MRT Beimen Station: Take exit 2 and youâll see the bus stop
- Please get off the bus at âJiufen Old Streetâ and youâll see the meeting point (7-11) straight ahead!
BUS 1062: 70-min ride. NT$85~101 one way. - From MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station: Take exit 2 and youâll see the bus stop
- From MRT Songshan Station: Take exit 4 and youâll see the bus stop
- Please get off the bus at âJiufen Old Streetâ and youâll see the meeting point (7-11) straight ahead!