By Jade
Jiufen is a beautiful village in the town of New Taipei City while the town of Shifen is known for the nostalgic vibe often seen in old Chinese movies. These two are the most popular tourist attractions that should probably be on everyone's travel list once visiting Taiwan.
1. Jiufen - the precious old gem of Taiwan
One specific point that attracts both domestic and foreign tourists to come to the old village of Jiufen is that the village is built along the mountains of Taiwan’s northern coast. The village still retains its ancient architectural features, with a unique lifestyle and culinary culture that has made the village a remarkable tourist destination.
Behind the reason why the village is called Jiufen (which means ‘nine parts’ in Chinese) is the whole story. In the past, when in the Qing Dynasty, at first the village was found with only nine families. Back then, Jiufen had a poor transportation system that made it inconvenient for the residents to travel out of town. Therefore, whenever a family went shopping at further markets, they often bought a large amount of goods to bring back and divide it into eight parts for the remaining eight families. That's why the village has such a name.
Arriving in Jiufen, you will be amazed with the magical, fairy tale-like scenery as the village is coated with the white thin fog and enjoy the fresh, cool breeze from the blue sea. Because the village is based on the mountains, the bus will only take you to the submontane stop so you follow the narrow path and walk into the village.
Jiufen is featured with ancient Japanese architecture as the foreign culture has had a big influence on Taiwan and also, the red lanterns have become a symbol of this spot. They all together make the nostalgic vibe of an old story and that is why the village became the inspiration for the spectacular Oscar movie ‘Spirited Away’ directed by Mizayaki Hayao.
In addition, Jiufen is well known for its cuisine and as the ‘paradise of street snacks’. Some of the must-try dishes are beef noodles, dumplings, grilled sausage and sweet soup with taro and sweet potato balls, which are easily found in the shops by the streets of Jiufen.
Finally, the address that instagramers cannot miss is Amei Tea House. It is the filming location for the movie ‘On Air’ and the hot check-in spot in Jiufen.
2. Shifen - old town from the movies
Along with Jiufen, the nearby Shifen is a considerable destination for tourists with rich traditional customs. Shifen evokes a sense of old Chinese movies, including small alleys and poetic walkways along the train station and colorful shops. But the best thing to do here is not to eat and shop, but to release the sky lanterns 孔明燈 (Kong Ming Lanterns) into the night sky.
This has been practiced for a long time in Shifen. As in an old tale, this place was often attacked by the robbers, causing the residents to evacuate up onto the mountain to avoid the distress. After a few days, the strongest men in the village would go down the mountain to check if the village was safe again, and if so they would release the sky lantern to call for the villagers. Later, this became one of Shifen’s cultural features. The lanterns often come in many colors, each representing a different type of wish. Tourists can buy the lanterns at souvenir shops around the train station, write wishes and light up candles inside them before releasing them into the sky. The best spot for this activity is the railway in downtown Shifen.
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