I've been to Jioufen. It is my grandparents and my father's hometown. The origins of nine names of the place, it is that the traffic in the past is inconvenient, the goods and materials must be transported from the seaport under the mountain here such as article for daily use, rice goods, fishs goods because initial to have nine household live while being local, so goods and materials goods to transport to mountain must be divided into nine, therefore gain the name. Want to probe into the humanity of nine and gold melon stone and industry development in the past, must mention holding and complexion money industry for the moment. Since the Guang Xu Year of Qing Dynasty, quarry people of the Jin Dynasty is it find gold dust to take on Keelung River state of being middling, find nine shares of mountain later, found and hid the abundant mineral ore of gold at last, then caused the upsurge of panning gold ore out, nine and gold melon stone have golden age of stone begin here. After the nightfall, old street bring brilliantly illuminated, playing and singing every night, lively and outstanding.The region from Peaceful Island(和平島早期稱為社寮島) of today to Eight Buckets(八斗子)take the seashore to look at afar, the room light is sparkling like the star in great numbers on the mountain. Therefore, there is good name of small Shanghai , small Hong Kong.
Jiufen used to the center of gold mining. It is located within the hill in northeast of Taiwan. My grandpa was a miner and he has mining in Jioufen. The village once was gold mining activities, Jiufen fades. Later, several movies chose to shoot here and the movies won international acknowledgerment. Now, there are many unigue teahouses in Jiufen. I drank tea and enjoued the scenery.
I recolled the famous director Wu Nien-Jen hug me and feed me some pastry when I was a child. His father and my grandpa were sworn brothers. His sister and my father is classmates. These teahouses are best stops during visit to this mountain village. Also, there is the beautiful ocean view of Keelung outer sea. The most prosperous shopping district is Jinshan Street. Along Jinshan Street, there are shops vending the most famous country snack of Jioufen, yam dish, taros dish and various local dishes. There are some
historical items well served. The trip to Jiufen is full of fun and delight.
Good luck in the year ahead!
