Attraction · Jiufen & the Northeast
Jiufen Old Street
A warren of stone stairs and covered lanes packed with taro-ball desserts, tea shops and souvenir stalls. The classic view is from the teahouses at the top, looking down over the rooftops to the sea.
Photo: Morgan Calliope · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
The visit
Jiufen works best when you slow down and let the crowd flow past. Climb the stairs, duck into a teahouse and wait for the lanterns to come on. The reward is the view over the rooftops to the sea.
History and context
Jiufen boomed as a gold-mining town in the Japanese era and declined after the mines closed. Its steep lanes and teahouses are often said to have inspired the town in Spirited Away.
Gold was discovered in the hills around Jiufen in the 1890s, and the town boomed under Japanese mining companies. After the mines closed in the 1970s the population fell sharply; tourism and the film industry later gave the old streets a second life.
What to see
- Steep stone stairs and covered lanes
- Taro-ball desserts and tea houses
- Lantern-lit views over the coast
- Tea in restored wooden buildings
Practical notes
- Allow about: 3 hours
- Type: cultural site
- Destination: Jiufen & the Northeast
- Tickets: Free
- Best time: Sunset
- Booking: Not needed
- Accessibility: Partial
Getting there
- Bus: 1062 from Taipei Main Station
- Train: Ruifang
- Bus: 788 from Ruifang
Good to know
Stay until early evening when the day-trippers leave and the lanterns come on. A-Mei Tea House is the famous spot, but Shuqi Road’s smaller teahouses are calmer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
Recommended duration: 3 hours.
When is the best time to visit?
Plan your visit around sunset.
Do I need to book?
No booking is needed.
Location
Keep exploring
More places in Jiufen & the Northeast
Bitou Cape
A grassy headland with a lighthouse, sea caves and a clifftop trail where the East China Sea meets the Pacific. On clear days the views stretch to the horizon in both directions.
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A former mining village turned cat-themed stop, with railway cats, a cat café and hillside paths overlooking the Keelung River. It is kitsch, but charming.
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