Jiufen
Wikipedia | Google | Google Images | Flickr
, once one of the most taboo
subjects in Taiwanese history that took place on 28th of February 1947, when thousands of civilians were killed by the
government troops to suppress the rebellion. Monuments in commemoration of 228 Incident can be found all around Taiwan, and Jiufen is just of them.Japanese and Western travelers year after year choose Jiufen for a different reason. Travelling to this small town on the slopes of Ruifang hills feels like crossing the border between dimensions as the road runs up among villages and graveyards – and finally the bus drops you off in that very town where the little girl, Chihiro, found her parents turned into pigs in Hayao Miyazaki
’s famous animation
Spirited Away. Red strings of Chinese lanterns, convoluted dragon tails, and winding stairways, often covered
with the evening fog, will truly transport you to a magical world.
Activities and Sights
Mining Operation Office
At the end of 19th century, gold was discovered in the area, and the Japanese built a prison camp here to start mining for the precious metal. The mines were eventually abandoned in the 1970s, and you can still visit them, left the same way as they were decades ago. Wufan Tunnel (五番坑道) near Songde Park (頌德公園) is sealed but can be viewed from the outside.You can climb a few peaks in the neighborhood to see the surrounding landscape in its full glory. Jilong Shan (基隆山) is the closest mountain and is easy to scale in less than an hour.
Sleeping and Eating
Jiufen has one budget hostel (One My Way Jiufen Hostel) and several guesthouses (Mingsu Long Men Ke Zhan, 86 Guesthouse), as well as a few upscale options.City of Sadness Restaurant is the most famous restaurant due to its name, as explained above. Otherwise, do not try to find a proper place to sit down and eat, the charm of Jiufen and many other Taiwanese towns is in its food stalls and night markets selling small snacks and sweet treats. You might not know what you are ordering but it will be delicious.
$ 18 USD
On My Way Jiufen Hostel
$ 79 USD
Chiu Chunt Dint Inn
$ 70 USD
Kyufun Komachi Inn
$ 79 USD
Golden101 Bed and Breakfast
$ 195 USD
Ample Villa
$ 81 USD
Loft 16 Bed and Breakfast
Getting There
From Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT in Taipei, take bus number 1062 that goes directly to Jiufen. It stops in several other places around Taipei and you can choose the most convenient stop to hop on.From Keelung
harbor, bus 788 runs directly to
Jiufen.Do you see any omissions, errors or want to add information to this page? Sign up.
Author: wilhelminamurray. Last updated: Jan 12, 2015
Pictures of Jiufen
