Jiufen is a Top 10 MUST VISIT tourist destination for Taiwan.
Today Jiufen is known for many foods such as Taro balls, popular traditional tea houses and Taiwanese snacks. The town is dotted with B&B's and boutique hotels and endless side alley stair cases that lead up and down to winding paths. The Lao Jie (old street) is filled with endless shops for souvenir shopping, restaurants, cafes, tea houses and Taiwanese snacks that you might find at night markets. We'll show you Jiufen through a walking eating tour.
Many say Jiufen resembles the town in Japanese anime movie Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli. Jiufen was a gold mining town founded by the Japanese in 1893. It became popular as a tourist destination in the late 1990s especially with Japanese tourists. The town takes on a magical or haunted appearance at night with the red lanterns glowing on rainy nights. It can easily feel like a haunted town somewhere to explore for ghost hunters.
Located 45 mins drive east of Taipei. Taking public transportation here is much longer and will take over 2 hrs from Taipei.
At night Jiufen comes alive and the red lanterns light up the alleys and tea houses. One can view Keelung harbor from town.
During World War II, a POW camp named was set up in the village, British soldiers captured in Singapore were held here and worked in the nearby gold mines. Jiufen is a reflection of the Japanese colonization era. Japanese B&B's survive to this day. Often also spelled Jioufen as well. Check out our other night market videos.
Part 2 Jiufen at Night
• Jiufen Taiwan Part 2. ...
0:00 Start
1:01 Driving to Jiufen
1:15 Arriving in Town
1:45 Entrance to Jiufen Lao Jie
2:01 Fried Breaded Shrimp Balls
3:31 Walking the Alleys (Lao Jie)
3:59 Gold Covered Boba Drink
6:00 Walking the Alleys (Lao Jie)
6:32 Ba-Wans and 5 Balls Soup
9:01 Walking the Alleys (Lao Jie)
9:35 Peanut Brittle Ice Cream Wrap
10:14 Lemon Iced Tea
10:38 Walking the Alleys (Lao Jie)
10:53 Grandma Lai's Sweet Taro Balls Dessert
12:14 Walking the Alleys (Lao Jie)
12:36 Kuey Steamed Rice Cake
13:13 Caozaiguo Hakka Savory Rice Cakes
14:38 Grilled Snails
14:57 End
I'm a Taiwanese American that grew up in Southern California and have moved back to Taiwan to Taipei in 2012. Join me and my wife as we explore Taiwan's night markets, popular and hidden destinations.
We'll explore Taiwan's Night Markets, street foods and travel scene. Along with the popular places in Taiwan, over time we'll go in depth to many places other youtubers never visit since we know most of the local and hidden spots and are able to explore smaller towns and far away villages that need a car to reach. Taiwan is a magical island with tens of thousands of temples, shrines, amazing food, endless 7-11s and boba shops and vending machines.
I'll give you my perspective having lived in both countries for many years.