Jioufen

The quaint tea shops of Jiufen, a former gold mining town, offer dreamy panoramas of Mt. Jilong and Shenao Bay, particularly at sunset. Located 45 minutes by bus and train from Taipei, Jiufen offers nostalgia and a glimpse into yesteryear. Jiufen, which means ‘nine parts,’ a reference to the nine families that lived in the seaside town before gold was discovered in 1890, offers a respite from bustling Taipei. We love walking down Mt. Jilong via the winding Jishan Street and then exploring the stores, tea shops, and food stall vendors that populate the laddered, cobblestone Shuchi Street, which is lit nightly by round, red lanterns that helped the area gain the nickname “Little Shanghai.”