Jiufen Old Street - Best Things to Do in the Magical Mountain Town
Jiufen is a magical old town situated in the hills of Taipei. It is famous for its Jiufen Old Street, which hosts countless shops, restaurants, street food stalls, market vendors and teahouses. The winding street markets of Jiufen Old Street are lively and bustling with activity, while the hillside paths of Jiufen town provide tranquillity and scenic landscapes.
Jiufen has become famous for its unique blend of mountainous terrain with beautiful views and bustling street markets with romantic teahouses.
Jiufen Old Street at Sunset
Located north of Taipei City, Jiufen is one of the easiest day trips from the capital. Jiufen Old Street is one of my favourite destinations in Taipei. I have visited Jiufen many times, and there are so many amazing sights and things to do in Jiufen.
In this post, I will share my experience of Jiufen Old Street, what there is to do in the magical town and advise you on all the incredible places nearby Jiufen.
Stroll Through the Alleys of Jiufen Old Street
The street markets of Jiufen Old Street are some of the best in Taipei. The narrow winding streets host various shops, restaurants, food stalls and tea houses. As with many markets around Taipei City, Jiufen has a wide variety of food stalls, and it is a fantastic place to try Taiwanese street food.
A long stroll through Jiufen Old Street is the first thing you should do when arriving at the town, as this unique attraction is the main reason visitors flock to the Taiwanese mountain village. These winding alleys are packed as they are a very popular tourist attraction. Visitors flock here from around the world to see the bustling Jiufen Old Street.
Jiufen Old Street shopping street market with tourists
Walking through the old street of Jiufen will familiarise you with the town and let you get a feel for the atmosphere. It's a good idea to give a proper walk on arrival as you may find good spots along the way that you can revisit later for lunch or dinner.
I recommend visiting early if you want to avoid the large crowds. Although some do like this lively atmosphere, it can get tiring if you are trying to shop and eat amongst a sea of tourists.
Visiting Jiufen hungry is an excellent idea as you will find a ton of street food and snacks to eat there. Sitdown restaurants are also available in Jiufen, so you won't just be limited to street food stalls.
Best Foods to Try at Jiufen
Wheel Cakes
These tasty cakes are from two pancakes with a filling in the middle, a type of pancake sandwich. They are usually filled with custard, red bean, matcha custard, chocolate or bubble tea flavours. They are one of the most delicious Taiwanese snacks, and Jiufen has plenty of food stalls that sell them.
Beef Noodle Soup
Niu Rou Mian, or Beef Noodle Soup, is another Taiwanese staple that can easily be found in any tourist area in Taiwan. The deliciously aromatic broth and some juicy cuts of beef make this a must for anyone looking for a delicious noodle soup.
Stinky Tofu
Stinky Tofu is an acquired taste, mainly because it stinks! This fermented tofu dish can be found in most areas with Street Markets in Taiwan, and if you're having trouble finding it, just be sure to follow the overwhelming smell. Jiufen Old Street has restaurants that sell Stinky Tofu. Although I'm not a fan of Stinky Tofu, you might want to try it if it's your first time visiting Taiwan.
Peanut ice cream
The peanut ice cream is a peanut flavoured ice cream wrapped in a pancake roll. This is a pancake wrap with ice cream inside. It is easy to eat and tasty, and this is an easy recommendation for anyone who likes peanuts and ice cream.
Taro Balls
This Taiwanese dessert consists of sweet potato balls, taro balls, condensed milk, and other toppings like red beans and jelly. It looks a bit strange initially, but it is pretty tasty and worth a try.
It's the kind of thing you could have for breakfast to replace your cereal, so if you're looking for a unique dessert/snack, you might like this. The Taro Potato Teahouse is famous for this dessert, and they are said to have the best taro balls in Jiufen.
Dumplings
Handmade dumplings are a speciality in Taiwan, with stalls and shops all across the island. Jiufen also has plenty of dumpling restaurants and stalls, so these had to be on the list of things to eat at Jiufen Old Street. Dumplings are one of my favourite things to eat, and a trip to a Taiwanese market usually involves some kind of dumpling feast.
Buying Tea at Jiufen
Jiufen is home to some of the best tea houses and tea shops. There are a wide variety of tea shops here to suit all budgets. Most of them sell different types of Taiwanese tea and teaware. You can find tea such as Dong Ding Oolong, High Mountain tea and many more Taiwanese teas such as Pu er tea.
Many of the tea shops in Jiufen Old Street offer you a sample of the tea, so you can try most teas before buying them. The more expensive tea shops will ask you to sit down while they perform a tea ceremony and pour you the tea. This is usually to try and get you to buy higher quality expensive tea at the end of the ceremony.
The tea on offer at Jiufen is not overpriced, but they do offer a range of teas, from cheap to expensive, as do most tea stores in Taiwan. Although you do not have to buy the tea at the end of the trea ceremony, and the tea prices at Jiufen are very reasonable.
Some stores even have offfers like buy 2 and get 1 free. This is a great way to try a variety of Taiwanese teas for a very reasonable price. I paid around 1800 NTD for 3 bags of tea. There are a lot of tea shops with affordable prices, so just be sure to look around before deciding what you want to buy.
If you visit a teahouse, they will usually offer tea to purchase by weight too. It is more pricey than the tea shops but tea houses like to select high-quality teas, so that might be the reason for the higher prices.
Is Jiufen the Town That Inspired Spirited Away Anime?
Yes, Jiufen is the town that inspired the Spirited Away anime movie. In fact, Jiufen has become so famous for its inspiration of Spirited Away that people from all over the world want to visit the mountain town because they watched Spirited Away. The Lantern Alley and Amei Teahouse are some of the best places to see this inspiration of the Spirited Away movie.
Best Items to Buy at Jiufen
One of the best things to buy at Jiufen Old Street is high mountain tea. However, if you're looking for non-consumable items, there are plenty of arts and crafts goods and general souvenir shops. You can buy almost anything themed with Taiwan or Jiufen Old Street printed on it.
The souvenir shops around Jiufen Old Street usually stock well-made items, and the prices are very reasonable, so you should find it easy to pick up some great souvenirs and gifts.
Jiufen Old Street also has many anime-type souvenir shops, mostly aimed at the Studio Ghibli fanbase. In these shops, you can buy figures, keychains, soft toys, posters and other items related to Studio Ghibli anime movies. But more than anything, you will find items from the Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro. So, if you love those movies, the Jiufen Old Street souvenir shops are the perfect place to pick up some cool items.
Enjoy Taiwanese Tea at the Amei Teahouse
The Amei Teahouse is one of the most famous teahouses in all of Taiwan. Red lanterns cover the exterior walls of this traditional teahouse, making it one of the most beautiful sights in Jiufen. Amei Teahouse looks like it came straight out spirited away.
The Amei Teahouse traditional architecture with lanterns
The former blacksmith shop turned teahouse is situated on a winding street called Lantern Alley. The red lanterns that decorate the alley and the Amei Teahouse are even more beautiful at night and in the evening, which is one of the best times to see this street. So be sure to stay around this street during the evening for the ultimate picturesque scenes of Jiufen Old Street.
Amei Teahouse serves the usual variety of Taiwanese teas and traditional Taiwanese cakes and snacks, all within an authentic setting. It is a great place to enjoy tea, snacks and the ambience that a traditional teahouse offers. You can also buy tea and souvenirs from here if you wish to take some back.
Explore More Jiufen Teahouses
Amei Teahouse is not the only teahouse in Jiufen. There are many more amazing teahouses located right next to this one, so if you find yourself in a long queue at Amei Teahouse or just want to try some new teahouses, Jiufen has quite a lot to choose from.
There are plenty of options, many of which have tranquil surroundings and offer great tea and cakes like Amei Teahouse. The artist teahouse is one of my favourites; it has a beautiful atmosphere, and some of the tables even have coastal views and hill views. It is a popular spot, so getting one of the tables with coastal views might be difficult, but it is still a beautiful teahouse either way.
Another great option is the Jiufen Teahouse. This awesome teahouse has one of the best interiors out of all the teahouses in Jiufen. The traditional rustic interior with beautiful antique ornaments makes it stand out amongst its competitors. The Jiufen Teahouse is fantastic for those who like a very traditional style teahouse.
Places to Stay In Jiufen
Jiufen has many small guesthouses and hotels dotted around its hillside. These range from basic to luxury. Some offer breakfast and beautiful mountain views, while others offer a basic room, enough for a good night's sleep.
You won't find resort style hotels in Jiufen. For example, those with pools, gyms and large gardens will be difficult to find. However, being in such a natural environment and close to the nearby ocean, you probably wont need those facilities. I recommend booking in advance as Jiufen is a popular tourist destination and can get fully booked fast.
Hike up Mount Keelung for Panoramic Views
Hiking to the peak of Keelung Mountain is one of the most rewarding things to do in Jiufen. The mountain path is made from stone steps, which are laid out all the way to the top of the Keelung Mountain peak. You can easily find the beginning path from Jiufen Old Street.
Hike up the Keelung Mountain in Jiufen
Once you have reached the halfway point, you will be greeted with the most spectacular views. You can see all the tiny houses sitting on the hillside amidst the greenery of Jiufen.
View of Jiufen Old Town from the Keelung Mountain
This hike will allow you to see a different perspective of Jiufen. All the small, colourful townhouses and beautiful nature can be seen from the midway point. It is a view you won't find anywhere else in the town and lets you see Jiufen as the small, magical mountain town it is.
From Jiufen Old Street this scenic hike takes around 1.5 hours total to complete. The walk is very easy, and even the most beginner-level walkers can hike up the Keelung mountain, so it is definitely worth a visit if you have enough time on your itinerary.
Scenery of the ocean and hills from the Keelung Mountain
If you don't have enough time to complete the entire hike, then there is an eastern peak viewing platform which can be reached around 30 minutes into the hike. This still provides fantastic views and is a great walk. I highly recommend this location for photographers and anyone who enjoys nature and beautiful scenery.
Jiufen Gold Ore Museum
The Jiufen Gold Ore Museum is within a 5-minute walk of Jiufen Old Street. The museum is an interactive experience which allows visitors to experience the gold mining town how it once was. The museum owner was one of the gold miners who once worked in the mines of Jiufen.
You can find exhibits mimicking the mining tunnels, showing equipment used to mine and other interesting artefacts. The Golde Ore museum is excellent, especially if you want to know more about Taiwan's gold mining history.
Explore Jiufen Town
Walking the hilly winding paths of Jiufen Town is one of the most exciting ways to experience that magical feeling. I recommend getting outside the Jiufen Old Street shopping area and taking a stroll through the paths while looking at the beautiful old houses and incredible scenic views.
Jiufen town and hills
This is an awesome way to experience the real Jiufen, away from the busy tourist streets. A great way to do this is to walk in whichever direction you choose outside the old street area and just explore the winding paths and streets. Most parts of the town has breathtaking views and a magical atmosphere.
Jiufen can be a bit of a maze sometimes, but usually, there are plenty of signposts directing you back to the old street and other sites. Taiwanese locals are very helpful too if you need help finding the old street again.
Visit the Old Shengping Theater
The Shengping Theater is a historic theater in the Jiufen Old Street area. The theatre was first built in 1934 and was restored several times over the years. The Shengping theater is an exciting tribute to Taiwanese performing arts and film.
It hosts many old items, such as movie posters and stage props. This small museum is free to enter, so it is definitely worth a quick visit as you will likely pass it while walking through Jiufen Old Street.
Capture the Best Sunset From the Cats Viewpoint
If you're always looking for that spot to enjoy the golden hour and capture a few beautiful moments, then the cat's viewpoint is the best place. Jiufen Taiwan has plenty of viewpoints on its scenic hills, but the Cats Viewpoint is famous for its view of the enchanting hills and magical sunset.
Jiufen sunset view from the Cats Viewpoint
It's one of my favourite places to take photos in Jiufen, especially during sunset. I managed to capture this great shot above during dusk just after sunset. The viewpoint also has plenty of cats roaming around, which makes this location even more awesome.
Check Out the Jiufen Kite Museum
The Jiufen Kite Museum is another great museum in the Ruifang District. Located right next to the Jiufen Old Street area, the Jiufen Kite Museum is a small guesthouse/hotel that sometimes doubles as a museum when the guesthouse is not busy.
It has a great selection of decorated kites on display, and they even sell kites at this cool little museum. The museum is not the best in Jiufen, but for those interested in kites, it is quite a cool addition to a trip to Jiufen.
What Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Jiufen?
Taiwan's winters are not too cold, but its summers are sweltering. That said, regardless of the weather, Jiufen is always great to visit during any time of year.
Visiting on a rainy day adds to the romantic atmosphere. In contrast, a sunny day means you can trek the nearby Keelung Mountain and Teapot Mountain. Even a cloudy, overcast, cold day during Taipei's winter is just as good as you can spend the afternoon shopping and sipping tea.
There are plenty of indoor shops and cosy teahouses. The weather in Taipei can sometimes be quite harsh. However, Jiufen is well prepared with plenty to do indoors and outdoors, so feel free to visit during a rainy day in Taipei as there is always something to do in Jiufen.
Is Jiufen Better at Day or Night?
Jiufen is great during the day or night, although the times of day provide very different atmospheres. Daytime is lively and bustling; it is full of tourists, and all the shops are open. Opposite to this is the nighttime in Jiufen, which is slightly eerie due to its quietness and lack of tourists.
Night view of Jiufen Old Town
Most restaurants and teahouses are still open at night, but most shops close around 7pm. If you are looking for the enchanted atmosphere of Spirited Away, then you will have better luck at night when the Red Lantern street is lit up.
An excellent option to experience both times would be to visit at mid-day and stay until the night. The best way to see both is by staying the night at a guesthouse or hotel to get the whole Jiufen experience.
Visit the Houtong Cat village.
The Houtong Cat Village is another magical destination in the Ruifang District. This small village is home to 100s of wild cats, who have taken the streets of this Taiwanese village as their very own home.
Cats in the Houtong Cat Village live from tourists and locals feeding them and are taken care of by the government along with help from locals. The cat village is tiny, but depending on how many cats you want to pet, you could spend 1 hour here or 3 hours.
When I visited the cat village, there were quite a few tourists around, and it was difficult to see any cats. But after a little walk around the village, we discovered a few hiding in the small streets. The Houtong Cat Village also has small shops selling cat souvenirs and cat food.
There are also some cat cafes where you can grab a coffee and see cute cats. Regular restaurants and street food are also available here, but options are limited at the Houtong Cat Village, so keep that in mind when visiting. Overall the cat village is great, but remember it is small, so don't expect too much.
Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park
The Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park offers a fascinating insight into Taiwan's gold mining history. To reach the museum from Jiufen Old Street, you can take a short bus ride or a leisurely 20-minute walk. The best part of this walk is the incredible views you get to enjoy along the way.
Inside the Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park Museum, you can explore interactive exhibits, old mining equipment, and informative displays. Visitors can learn about the techniques and tools used to extract gold and the stories of the miners who worked these tunnels.
The Jinguashi Golden Museum offers a detailed perspective on the significance of gold mining in Taiwan's history. If you are looking for a great museum near Jiufen town, then this is the place to go.
Hike the Teapot Mountain
Behind the Jinguashi Gold Museum is the path to one of the best mountains in the area, Teapot Mountain. This scenic trail has become famous amongst travellers visiting Jiufen as it provides some of the best in the area.
The teapot mountain hike is relatively easy but can take a reasonable amount of time. It is roughly a 1 hour 30 minute hike to reach the peak of Teapot Mountain and around 3 hours return from the Teapot Mountain hike back to Jiufen Old Street.
If you start the hike from the Jinguashi Gold Museum, it is a lot shorter, only around 45 minutes each way. This makes the teapot mountain hike a lot easier. So it is a good idea to do these two sites on the same day if you are interested.
Visit the Golden Waterfall
The Golden Waterfall is a natural cascade of water coming from the mountains of Jinguashi. Its name has nothing to do with the waterfall containing gold or being near the Gold Ecological Park.
The Golden Waterfall has a gold colour, which comes from high amounts of heavy metals and mud being dragged down from the mountains.
This beautiful waterfall is situated behind a fence, and the water is not safe to touch due to the water being highly toxic. This Golden Waterfall site is designed purely to look at and enjoy the natural beauty.
It is beautiful but not so easy to reach from Jiufen Old Street. Around 40 minutes of walking or 10 minutes in a car will get you there. It is a shorter walk from the Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park, approximately 25 minutes. So, if you bundle these sites together, it might be easier.
Public transportation from Jiufen to the Golden Waterfall is complicated, so either taxi, car or walking are the best ways to reach it.
How to get to Jiufen from Taipei City
My favourite departure spots for Jiufen Old Street are the Zhongxiao Fuxing district and Taipei Main Station. Both provide a fast and easy bus journey to Jiufen Old Street.
Zhongxiao Fuxing - Jiufen Old Street
1062 Bus Departing from Zhongxiao Fuxing shopping district near Sogo.
Taipei Main Station/ Beimen Station - Jiufen Old Street
Walk from Taipei Main Station to Beimen Station, which takes around 4 minutes.
Depart from Beimen Station with the 965 bus to Jiufen Old Street
Journey time for both routes takes just over one hour.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Jiufen
Jiufen Old Street is by far one of the best places to visit in Taipei. The mountain town has incredible nature, tons of shops, teahouses, restaurants and museums, all within 1 hour of Taipei City.
Visiting Jiufen Old Street is the basis of a trip to the village, but exploring Jiufen town and its surrounding sites is just as awesome.
There is so much to see in Jiufen; every time I visit, I discover a new adventure. I highly recommend a trip to Jiufen as it is one of the best old streets in Taipei.