Jiufen

Me, Beth, Rosie, Tina, Ursa, Bonnie taking a moment to pose on our hike up to the top. 

Jiufen is a small town about an hour or two from Taipei.  You can catch the bus just outside the MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing stop, next to the ESPIRIT store.  However, my procrastination in writing this blog and recording our memories has made me forget the bus number.  Either way, though be it winter or summer the bus will be almost guaranteed to be blasting the AC so be prepared with your fleece from back home or that night market steal with the faux fur on top.  We went in early December and it was much colder inside than outside.

On a side note, it's interesting that the lowest it will get here is about 17 Celcius/in the 50s but it feels much colder because there is so much moisture in the air.  Central Heating is not common here so opening windows when its cold outside is actually the best way to circulate the air and keep it from getting colder inside than out.   I was very confused the first few mornings our teacher came into our class, everyone dressed in layers, only to open all the windows!

So, one of the first things you will notice when you get off the bus in Jiufen is a small mountain.  The 45 minutes hike up is definitely worth the view.   From the top we could see a stunning view of the Mountains meeting the coastline.


Jiufen is popular because it has a unique history as a gold mining mountain town run by the Japanese government when they controlled Taipei.  The main street is narrow and winds past dozens and dozens of shops, food stands, restaurants and hotels.   It can be quiet so it best to pop your patience pill because you embark down the old street (alley, really).

The Mountain is just behind the temple just behind me.

A wonderful view of the rolling mountains and the ocean would be on the right if this picture was about an inch longer.

The hour hike to the top. 

The view from the top. Beautiful coastline and swerving roads with houses and buildings sprinkled around.

The main street at Jiufen, not so crowded later in the afternoon after our hike.  A street vender selling grilled mushrooms.

An interesting shop selling steamers, massagers, wooden spoons and other traditional items made from a beautiful wood.  I had to remind myself that I didn't need to stock a kitchen while I was in Taipei.  That will have to wait.  I might get one of those steamers before I leave, though..

The old street in Jiufen at night.  The famous staircase that was in a movie I've never seen and inspired an impromtu silly song about, "So many types of people" to see in Jiufen.