Jiufen
Ruijin Hwy, Ruifang District
About
The tiny mountain village of Jiufen only had a handful of families before gold was discovered in the area in 1890. The prosperous years that followed gave the small city the nickname of "Little Shanghai" or "Little Hong Kong." While the gold rush days are over, the scenic views overlooking the Keelung sea, the historic buildings, the quaint shopping and the local delicacies continue to pull in the crowds. If the thought of busloads of tourists with flashing cameras and fanny packs makes you shudder, Jiufen is not for you. Countless tourists, especially from Hong Kong, show up in droves to shop for touristy knick-knacks from the shops lining the winding paths. On the other hand, Jiufen offers an escape from the big city, allowing you to take in the views, buy a few gifts for friends back home and, most importantly, eat 'til you drop. Come hungry and graze the street vendor fare to your heart's content. Make sure to kick back at one of the many historic tea houses for a taste of local grown tea. Featured Image: Yuxuan.fishy.Wang/Flickr
