8:30am: FOMO Coffee
Since you have to take a bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing Station to the next location, why not just pop by a nearby cafe for some morning coffee? FOMO is a minimalistic white and black cafe. I wonder if the store owner(s) actually know there’s another meaning to “FOMO”?
11am: Gold Ecological Park 黄金博物园区/黃金博物園區 Take bus 1062 to Gold Ecological Park, it’s a 2hrs bus ride. The Gold Ecological Park is located at the mountain area of Jinguashi (金瓜石) in Ruifang district, just a few bus stops away from Jiufen. It is notable for its historic gold and copper mines. The town was used as the Kinkaseki Prisoner of War Camp during the Japanese ruling for mining works. The mines were operated by Taiwan Mining Company (台湾鉱業株式会社/台灣鉱業株式會社).
After the formation of New Taipei City, the park was renamed to New Taipei City Gold Museum (新北市立黄金博物馆/新北市立黃金博物館) in 2004, though some signage still shows the old name. The gold museum is an open-air museum which consists of the old buildings and sites once used by the Taiwan Mining Company. Admission is NTD$80. Grab a gold miner’s lunchbox while you are here!
Jinguashi Shrine (黄金神社/黃金神社) or Ogon Shrine, is a Shinto shrine located halfway up the mountain in the park. The shrine was built during the Japanese ruling, dedicated to the three deities of Okuninushi, Kanayamahiko and Sarutahiko Okami.
The Golden Waterfall (黄金瀑布/黃金瀑布) runs off into what is called the Yin Yang Sea. The soil and the water that runs off contains many minerals including sulfur, arsenic and copper ore, which made the water golden in colour. With the high amount of metal minerals, it is said that the water is very toxic.
The Yin Yang Sea (阴阳海/陰陽海) is popular for its dual colour, the natural blue sea with yellowing from the waterfall’s runoff. The locals started to call it “Yin Yang Sea”, from the Chinese principle of yin and yang, the natural concept of duality.
4pm: Jiufen Old Street 九份老街
Take bus 856 to Jiufen that is nearby, just 10mins away. During the early years of the Qing Dynasty, this isolated village housed 9 families, thus the village would request for 9 portions (which is “jiufen” in Chinese) every time shipments arrived from town. Thus, becoming the name of this village.
Jiufen rose to fame in 2001 due to its resemblance to the downtown in the Japanese anime movie, Spirited Away. It soon attracted many Japanese tourists, and many Japanese travel magazines and guide books about Taiwan introduced Jiufen. Jiufen is filled with yummy snacks, and here’s some to try:
Zhangji Traditional Fishballs 张记传统鱼丸/張記傳統魚丸
A-Jou Peanut Ice Cream Roll 阿珠雪在烧/阿珠雪在燒
Jin Zhi Red Yeast Rice Mock Meatball 金枝红糟素肉圆/金枝紅糟素肉圓
Wudi Sausage 无敌香肠/無敵香腸
Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls 赖阿婆芋圆/賴阿婆芋圓
6:30pm: Skyline Teahouse 海悦楼茶坊/海悅樓茶坊
Many say the best spot to get a nice scenic photo of Jiufen and the iconic A-mei Teahouse (阿妹茶楼/阿妹茶樓) is from the Skyline Teahouse located opposite. Grab a pot of tea at Skyline and enjoy the view.
Lastly, take bus 965 back to Taipei, Ximen Station. It’s a 1.5hrs bus ride.
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