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About Jiufen and Jinguashi
Jiufen (九份) is a crowded scenic place in northern Taiwan where to meet international and local visitors. People who want something different from the urban Taipei come to Jiufen to seek the nostalgic atmosphere along the winding streets and the buildings on the hillside facing the northern coast.
This is the town which was once prosperous from the gold mining a century ago but then depressed due to the downturn of mining operation after WW II. People of my generation started knowing Jiufen since the highly acclaimed movie, “The City of Sadness” (悲情城市), released in 1989. This movie not only brought the awareness toward Taiwanese history but also triggered a wave of tourism for this old town. Jiufen is usually a popular destination for young students / couples to hang around (to date). I have been there at least four times for a couple of reasons.
Jinguashi (金瓜石) is the neighbor to the east of Jiufen, sharing similar history and transformation in post-mining period. In comparison with the touristy Jiufen, this town is quieter and neat. If you like to linger along the narrow and graceful alleys with some solitude, this is the place for you.
I found Jinguashi is my preferred place to stay for several days because I felt being closer to the locals rather than the tourists. And actually there are heaps of scenic spots to explore inside and around the town. A stroll around Jinguashi may take an entire day, a good exercise if you are not sporty. The only thing not so convenient is that there are less options for accommodation and eateries than Jiufen, but at least the convenient store can help.
Although going to either town by public transportation is possible but hiring a scooter in Rueifang (瑞芳) should provide you the maximum flexibility to tour the area. You need to watch out the traffic, which can be messy from time to time, and many sections of the roads are steep and winding. Do ride carefully and safely! If you have plenty of time, the trip to Jiufen / Jinguashi may include some hikes to the hills such as Keelung Mountain (基隆山) or Teapot Mountain (無耳茶壺山), or the easy sight-seeing tour for Yinyang Sea (陰陽海) and ShuiNanDong (水湳洞).
For more general information about Jiufen.
