Jiufen Old Street, Historic market street in Ruifang District, Taiwan
Jiufen Old Street is a pedestrian lane lined with traditional shops and teahouses in Ruifang District in northern Taiwan. The narrow alley winds uphill through multistory wooden buildings with covered sections that shelter from rain.
The street emerged at the beginning of the 20th century when miners came to the region to search for gold in nearby mines. After World War II the area lost importance until it was later rediscovered as a film location and began attracting visitors.
The place takes its name from an old habit of dividing nine portions of goods among early settlers when the village was still remote. Today visitors come here to try taro balls and sweet rice cakes while passing stalls run by families across generations.
Most shops open in late morning and close by early evening, with shorter hours possible on weekdays. The path is steep and can become slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is advisable.
An animated production from Japan used the architecture and lights of this street as inspiration for the backdrop of a fictional world in the mountains. Since then many visitors come to compare the place with scenes from that film.
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