Jiufen is often known for being the inspiration behind Hayao Miyazaki's film Spirited Away (though Wikipedia states that he denies the claim). It's located on a mountain and can be reached by bus or taxi. I went with my cousins by taxi. There were a lot of turns and curves on the way up, so if you get carsick easily, close your eyes!
Some people call Jiufen the "City of Sadness" because of the film A City of Sadness, filmed in Jiufen. I'd like to call it the "City of Dreams" because of how beautiful it is.
Part of Jiufen felt like a big night market. Jiufen Old Street has tons of shops selling food and souvenirs. It's impossible to miss it - so many people head in that direction. It's not just one street; you can wander for at least an hour admiring everything and taking the twists and turns.
(After I posted this on Instagram, someone commented that that man is the owner of the teahouse there. I did some research and it seems that it's true!)
(The cutest souvenirs! These little lanterns light up when you shake them. I bought two.)
Later we would drink tea at a teahouse, but first we visited the most photographed place of Jiufen. There were so many people here, and the people in the lower right corner only shows a little bit. However, the place got even more crowded at night.
We sipped oolong tea at the Jioufen Teahouse and watched the sunset.
Before leaving, we walked around again. Originally we hadn't planned to stay past the afternoon but I'm glad we did! Jiufen really comes alive around the evening, though about an hour after sunset, we saw noticeably less people.
The lanterns were absolutely gorgeous.
(my cousin Carol)
Thanks for checking this out! This is one of my favorite places in Taiwan. Have you been, or would you like to go?