Legend says the village once had just nine families, who ordered 'nine portions' of everything. Gold was found in the 1890s, and in the Japanese era Jiufen became a boomtown nicknamed 'Little Shanghai'. Mining ended in 1971 and the town faded until Hou Hsiao-hsien's 1989 film A City of Sadness revived it; its lantern-hung teahouses on Shuqi Road are often linked to Spirited Away.
Architecture
Japanese-eraTimber housesStone houses
Themes
MiningJapanese eraFilm locationTea
Getting there
Where
Jishan Street, Shuqi Road and Qingbian Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei
Getting there
TRA Ruifang Station, then bus 788/965/1062 to Jiufen Old Street stop
Time needed
Half a day
Best time
Most beautiful at dusk when the lanterns light up; less crowded on weekdays
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