Jiufen Village
Feel spirited away in this decommissioned gold mining mountain town, originally built by the Japanese and now a maze of lanes and alleyways with rich history and culture. Founded during the Qing Dynasty, this small town was a relatively isolated village until the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation in 1893, quickly developing the town due to a gold rush. Many buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence on both architecture and culture on the island. During World War II, the town housed a Japanese prisoner of war camp where captured Allied Force soldiers (mainly British) were forced to work in the gold mines. After the war, gold mining activities declined, and the town today exists mainly as a tourist destination remembering and celebrating Taiwanese history and culture. Today, the town is filled with both retro Chinese and Japanese style cafés, tea houses, and souvenir shops, as well as fantastic views of the ocean. The majority of attractions are concentrated along the cobblestone steps of Shuqi Road between Jiufen Elementary School and the Jiufen police precinct. The three roads running perpendicular to Shuqi Road (Jishan St., Qiche Rd., and Qingbian Rd.) each boast a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and cafés. Jiufen is the setting of the Taiwanese film City of Sadness the first film to discuss the politically controversial 228 Incident, and as a result of the film's success, many new visitors were drawn to visit Jiufen to experience a time gone by. The unique architecture of Jiufen's downtown area was used as the model for the Japanese animated film Spirited Away. Be sure to check out the Shengping Theatre a prominent cultural landmark located on Qingbian Road built during the Japanese occupation. Both the theatre and surrounding buildings feature 1930-40s architectural elements, and has more recently been used as the set for commercials and movies, including City of Sadness. Source: https://guidetotaipei.com
Feel spirited away in this decommissioned gold mining mountain town, originally built by the Japanese and now a maze of lanes and alleyways with rich history and culture. Founded during the Qing Dynasty, this small town was a relatively isolated village until the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation in 1893, quickly developing the town due to a gold rush. Many buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence on both architecture and culture on the island. During World War II, the town housed a Japanese prisoner of war camp where captured Allied Force soldiers (mainly British) were forced to work in the gold mines. After the war, gold mining activities declined, and the town today exists mainly as a tourist destination remembering and celebrating Taiwanese history and culture. Today, the town is filled with both retro Chinese and Japanese style cafés, tea houses, and souvenir shops, as well as fantastic views of the ocean. The majority of attractions are concentrated along the cobblestone steps of Shuqi Road between Jiufen Elementary School and the Jiufen police precinct. The three roads running perpendicular to Shuqi Road (Jishan St., Qiche Rd., and Qingbian Rd.) each boast a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and cafés. Jiufen is the setting of the Taiwanese film City of Sadness the first film to discuss the politically controversial 228 Incident, and as a result of the film's success, many new visitors were drawn to visit Jiufen to experience a time gone by. The unique architecture of Jiufen's downtown area was used as the model for the Japanese animated film Spirited Away. Be sure to check out the Shengping Theatre a prominent cultural landmark located on Qingbian Road built during the Japanese occupation. Both the theatre and surrounding buildings feature 1930-40s architectural elements, and has more recently been used as the set for commercials and movies, including City of Sadness. Source: https://guidetotaipei.com