Nostalgic Jiu Fen Taiwan
October 28, 2009 by Nik
Filed under Uniquely Far East
Feel the oriental nostalgia with Jiu Fen’s quaint ancient charm that traces its paths back in history. Sitting at the top of a mountain up northern Taiwan, Jiu Fen used to be an isolated town up in the highlands, isolated from the rest of the world. It was until the 1800s where gold was discovered in the area, where the town then began bustling in prosperity as a hot gold mining field.
Photo credits - Julius.Hibbert
Photo credits - Dislocations
Background Story - Jiu Fen, Taiwan
As the gold died down with depleted resources in the 1980s, so did the commotion. The population dwindled but Jiu Fen already stands with an eclectic of culture over years of diversed ethnic influences. The fervor for Jiu Fen was revived once again after several renowned international films began to take shoot in this town, reviving reminiscence to the beauty of this village’s exquisite aura.
Today, Jiu Fen reflects its glory from the golden days. From the Japanese Colonisation period where people from all over the region flocked in to try their hands at fortune, the town is now a concoction of Japanese, Chinese and British architecture and cultural tinges. Also known as “Little Shanghai”, with much resemblance to the olden Shanghai era, the town is stepped with alleys and rows of shop houses that offer a wild variety of food, goodies, clothing, handicrafts, calligraphy, shoes, Chinese brushes and scrolls, jewelries, toys and souvenir of all sorts. There are also restaurants, street stalls and dessert shops that provide a plethora of gourmet indulgences.
Photo credits - Wunkai
The Heart of Town, Jiu Fen Old Street
Visit the heart of town, Jiu Fen Old Street and enjoy thoroughly the Jiu Fen lifestyle and culture. The street runs through most of the village with a multitude of food such as yam dishes, stinky toufu (a must-try!) and other local specialties such as peitou meatballs and mixed vegetables topped with peanut powder and ice cream! Red lanterns are predominately hung along the shop houses and it’s amazing just how so many things are cramped up in such a small area. Nonetheless, it brought about the strong flavor of bustling Old Street and the local authenticities it has to offer.
The scenery at Jiu Fen is also one that completes an overall sensory experience. There are several loggings and teahouses that oversee the village, bringing the beauty of Jiu Fen right before your eyes. Spend a leisure afternoon at a teahouse up in the mountains where you can savor and enjoy the fragrance of local tea complete with stunning views of mountains, rivers and seas. You can also witness traditional tea ceremonies and learn of the art of tea appreciation, the Chinese way.
Photo credits - Ernesto JT
Reminiscing Jiu Fen
Take a walk down memory lane at Jinguashi, home to the Gold Ecological Park. Over here, the Park preserves some of the area’s Japanese era architectures and houses a museum that tells the story of the town’s gold mining days. You can take a hike into the mine, which is now preserved for tourists to have a real-life experience of the good old mining era. Situated at the hill top, you might want to take your time to explore the splendid views of Jiu Fen, as well as the various flora and fauna found along the park. Nature enthusiasts can take a hike up Mount Jilong where air is especially fresh in the morning, providing a revitalizing and rejuvenating start to the day ahead. Or you can take a drive downhill along Keelung bay to enjoy the breeze and marvel at the beauty of mountain-sides merging into the sea.
Getting there
Less than 2 hours from the metropolis of Taipei, Jiu Fen provides the ideal weekend escapade not only popular amongst the locals, but also a place for tourists to seek an antiquated yet heartwarming experience. You can take a 45-minute train from Taipei Main Station to Rueifang Station and then catch a 15-minute bus ride from the main road directly in front of the station that heads towards Jiu Fen.
Touring in Taiwan
August 12, 2009 by Nik
Filed under Uniquely Far East
“Made in Taiwan” is probably the first image you have of this small Asian island. It’s an interesting place – 23 million people are squashed into an area slightly smaller than the size of the Netherlands, and while the island is one of the region’s top manufacturing spots, it’s not as if the entire island is covered in assembly lines and towering smoke stacks. Indeed, outside the capital of Taipei, you’ll find national parks and surreal sceneries abound.
Taipei 101. Photo credit - Fishtail Taipei.
Towering Taipei
You might not be very familiar with Taipei but surely you’ll recognize shots of Taipei 101, the towering skyscraper on the city’s skyline and the 2nd tallest building in the world (for now). Let’s be realistic – Taipei is a busy, bustling city, loud city, but it’s more than likely where you’ll start your journey so there are a number things not to miss. Of course, start off with a trip up to the observation tower in Taipei 101 for unbelievable, unblocked views.
There’s also an incredible number of fantastic buildings and museums to see in the city. I love the Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Halls — even if memorials are not your thing, the surrounding gardens, ceremonies, and the architecture itself is quite a sight. As for museums, there’s nearly 20 – this list covers the important ones, I’ll let you choose what strikes your fancy.
National Park Adventures
Far from the lights and sounds of big Taipei lies the Taiwanese countryside. It’s quiet and relatively off-the-beaten-path since many tourist can’t see past those “Made in Taiwan” signs. Here’s some highlights -
This heavenly place requires a 4 hour journey on a narrow-gauge railway 72km into the mountains. Once here in the hilltops, you can see some really spectacular views; check out the “Mystical Tree of Alishan” – its trunk is dead yet the tree still flowers in full bloom. Don’t miss sunrise at the top of the mountain.
Photo credit - Allen Hsu.
Located in the south of the island, this popular summer vacation spots boasts sandy white sand and a blue shoreline that is every bit as impressive as its Thai or Australian counterparts. Rent a bike to explore the surrounding valley plain, or dive off into the deep sea to appreciate the corals.
Photo credit - myhsu.
The Sun Moon Lake is geographically significant as the largest natural lake in Taiwan. This beautiful alpine lake is the perfect spot for a quiet mini-sabbatical or a few days getaway. Swimming in the lake is not permitted, but there is an annual 3-km Swimming Carnival that drew tens of thousands participants.
Photo credit - Harry Huang.
This is the world’s deepest marble canyon, and the perfect place for hikers to stretch their legs, a haven for outdoors enthusiasts. Taroko is engrossed in natural beauty, but it takes some planning to go there. If you do however, don’t miss exploring the picturesque Eternal Spring Shrine.
Photo credit - LightMatter.
If You Go
Citizens of most countries can enter Taiwan visa-free for short stays of less than a month; for mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau residents will need an entry permit. Further information is available on the (less than user-friendly) Bureau of Consular Affairs homepage.
The island has relatively decent air, train, and bus transport. If you just want some day trips from Taipei or want something a little more organised but not a full-on travel agent, check out the Taiwan Tour Bus. Be sure for trains and planes to make reservations in advance – things can be full, especially trains!
If you head further off field to some of the more rural suggestions, keep in mind that English is not widely spoken outside Taipei. A few basic Mandarin phrases are essential –a good phrasebook where you can point is helpful. Thankfully, the Taiwanese are super-friendly so no doubt a few smiles and patience will go a long way.
Do consider stopping by for one of the many festivals throughout the year, such as the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival or the Golden Horse Film Festival.
About the Author. Andy Hayes. Andy Hayes is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. When not crossing the world to have his next Asian travel adventures, he is hitting the walking trails near home. To get in touch or see Andy’s other travelogues, visit his website, Sharing Experiences.
101 Stories of Pride
January 19, 2009 by Nik
Filed under Feature Highlights, Uniquely Far East
The journey towards the top of Taipei 101, the current record holder as the world’s tallest skyscraper, begins with a high-speed elevator ride that ferries you up to the 89th floor in 37 seconds. As the sliding doors of the elevator parted ways, two flight of stairs welcome and lead you to the circular outdoor deck that sits on the 91st floor of Taipei 101.
Unveiled in 2004, Taipei 101 became an instant landmark that showcases the city's global ambition. Photo by bleaches at deviantart.
Go in the late afternoon to enjoy the warm embrace of the setting sun, and you’ll notice right away the new condominiums springing up in the east. Far in the south, mountains form tall dark silhouettes, enveloping the precipice of the city. Finally, in the west and north, you’ll find a bustling city center with numerous skyscrapers and endless throng of masses making their way through Taipei. One can’t help but notice an air of irresistible romanticism about gazing at Taipei and all its glory from more than 400 meters high above its urban heart.
When it was unveiled on New Year’s Eve in 2004, Taipei 101 was the city’s way of announcing to the world that it has arrived on the global scene.
It represented a metropolis of 6 million seeking its rightful place on the international stage, an instant landmark that’s become a showcase for the city’s global ambition. Various symbolisms highlight the proud heritage behind Taiwan, its oriental influence and the modernization that has taken place throughout the city.
A view of Taipei and its iconic Taipei 101 from Mount Elephant. Photo by jeffreynurhakim at deviantart.
The main tower features a series of eight segments of eight floors each, an obvious association to abundance, prosperity and good fortune. Its shaped like an Asian pagoda, while numerous motif of the ruyi - an ancient symbol associated with heavenly clouds - appear throughout the structure. The structure was engineered to be able to withstand gale winds of 60 mps, and the strongest earthquakes likely to occur in a 2,500 year cycle. This claim was tested when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake rocked Taipei in 2002. Construction was still ongoing, and the tremor was strong enough to topple two construction cranes from the 56th floor, then the highest. Five people were killed in the accident, but an inspection afterwards showed no structural damage.
As I enjoyed a lazy Sunday afternoon sipping authentic Viennese coffee in one of its numerous cafes, a group of Western tourists made their way up with their local guide. They turtled their way up, marveling at the spectacular architecture and snapping pictures here and there. This grandiose structure stood tall as a testament of how far Taipei have come from when the Nationalist government took control in 1949 – truly, an achievement all Taiwanese can be proud of.
