Our 334th entry in our digital diary is our first time visit to Jiufen Old Street in Taipei, Taiwan.

The name Jiufen literally means “nine portions” because the area originally consisted of nine families sharing supplies, a similar naming convention to Shifen (“ten portions”).

Gold was discovered near Jiufen in 1893, sparking a gold rush and rapid town expansion during the Japanese colonial era.

At its peak, Jiufen became a vibrant gold-mining hub, sometimes nicknamed the “Golden Mountain City”, compared to lesser-known “Little Hong Kong” or “Little Shanghai”. Following WWII and declining yields, the mines closed in 1971 and the town entered a period of decline.

We had our lunch at the Jiufen Red House Restaurant before we continued our walk around the alleys.

In 1989, the acclaimed film A City of Sadness was shot in Jiufen, sparking a resurgence of interest in the town’s nostalgic scenery. It’s often likened to the mystical setting in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, though Hayao Miyazaki has not confirmed Jiufen as inspiration.

The town’s buildings feature a charming fusion of traditional Taiwanese, Japanese, and Chinese architectural styles, with sloping roofs, wooden facades, and winding structures built literally into the hillside.

Jiufen Old Street is essentially a series of steep, narrow alleyways lined with lantern-lit teahouses and stalls, winding down the mountain’s slope.

Stretching roughly 970 m in winding alleys, Jiufen Old Street has been called one of Taiwan’s most iconic night markets by National Geographic.

It’s well known for beloved Taiwanese street foods like taro balls, sweet potato balls, peanut ice-cream rolls, fish ball soup, and more.

Visiting Jiufen often involves relaxing in a traditional mountain-side teahouse, where you can enjoy local tea among retro décor and ocean panoramas.

These elements—its gold-rush legacy, cinematic transformations, unique architecture, vibrant night market, and nostalgic charm—combine to make Jiufen Old Street a truly magical and unforgettable destination.