Jiufen

The place in a few words

About 40 kilometres from Taipei, Jiufen is a former mining village perched in the mountains of northeastern Taiwan, with lovely views of the sea. Once prosperous thanks to gold mining, it's now known for its narrow lanes, traditional teahouses, small shops and, above all, the red lanterns that create a special atmosphere after dusk. Much of the activity is centred on Jiufen Old Street, with Taiwanese snacks, stairways and shops clinging to the hillside.

What we loved

What we especially enjoyed about Jiufen was seeing a completely different side of Taiwan after the bustle of Taipei. The village sits in a much more natural setting, with beautiful views of the mountains and sea. We also loved how different it felt during the day and in the evening. As daylight fades and the red lanterns light up, the lanes take on a whole new character. It's touristy and can get very crowded, but we felt the village's charm made the trip well worth it.

Our tip

We recommend combining Jiufen with Shifen on a day trip from Taipei, visiting Shifen first and saving Jiufen for late afternoon. That way, you can explore the village in daylight and enjoy its atmosphere at dusk. We organised everything ourselves using local trains and buses. Public transport is fairly well organised, and it's a lovely way to discover the area around Taipei without joining an organised tour.