Jiufen – Jiufen Ancient Village

Jiufen Ancient Village was established during the Qing Dynasty, this small town was a relatively isolated village until the discovery of gold during the Japanese occupation in 1893. After that, the town quickly developed. developed by the gold rush. Many of the buildings in the town remain unchanged to this day, reflecting the Japanese influence on both Taiwanese architecture and culture.

Most of the attractions are concentrated along the cobblestone steps of Shuqi Road (豎崎路) between Jiufen Elementary School and the Jiufen police area. There are three streets that run perpendicular to Shuqi Road, Jishan Road, Qiche Road and Qingbian Road, each lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Besides the main roads, there are small alleys that zigzag around the area and sometimes even run underneath buildings.

There are many ways to explore Jiufen and the surrounding areas. Visitors can choose to take a day tour that includes a guide or can use Taipei's public transport to get here. Most tourists come to Jiufen to visit during the day, while others will stay overnight to explore more of the place.

Jiufen Old Street is a narrow street with small eateries, tea houses, souvenir shops and pottery shops. For tourists who love the bustle and ancient culture, Jiufen will be an ideal place. In the evening, this place is quite crowded, visitors can follow the flow of people and can explore any restaurant.

In Jiufen, there is a splendid and very famous tea house – A-Mei Tea Room. Surely visitors will not less than once encounter the scene of a multi-storeyed old tea house with twinkling lights in pictures on the internet whenever looking for information about Taiwan. This old tea house is located on the top of the hill and not far from the main road. From the balcony here, visitors can admire the picturesque scenery with Mount Keelung on the right and the North Shore of Taiwan on the left.

A-Mei Teahouse will be the most popular and photographed place, so it will always be crowded with tourists. If you like quiet, you can visit another tea shop called Jiufen Teahouse. It is located just off the main alley, although there is not much to see here, but once inside, visitors will be impressed by the beautiful space and airy balcony at the back of the tea house.

Visitors can rent Qipao, also known as Cheongsam, to wear when coming and visiting Jiufen. Like wearing Kimono in Japan and Hanbok in Korea, Cheongsam is a traditional Chinese dress and is often worn during important events or the New Year. Along the streets of Jiufen, visitors will come across many clothing rental shops that can be worn and photographed for the day.

Referring to Jiufen, it is impossible to ignore the special dishes of this place. If you need to have a meal, don't miss the steamed rice with braised pork (Lu Rou Fan), Tieu long bao (Xiaolongbao), Noodles or Taiwanese sausages... very delicious and attractive. And of course you shouldn't miss out on desserts like Taiwan's famous taro soup, hand-crafted mochi on-site, and the famous A-zhu peanut ice cream.

Jiufen Ancient Village is a place not to be missed when coming to Taiwan. The streets here are small and crowded, but bring a lot of impressions to visitors. You can visit this place within two to three hours. For visitors who want to explore and learn more, stay overnight here. Mornings in Jiufen will be wonderful, unforgettable experiences during your stay in Taipei.

Opening hours: daily

Entrance ticket: free