AUGUST 27, 2017
After exploring the city of Taipei, it was time to explore the countryside. Before coming to Taiwan we were already thinking on where to go. There are lots of places to go to in Taiwan and we did not have enough time. Well, I really am into culture when I travel and I was reading reviews of Jiufen which got me really interested. I wanted to see the old streets of Taiwan. It got more interesting since it was paired up with Pingxi, which is also an old town and we get to experience lantern making.
Summer leading the pack
13 Devils viewpoint ... i'm not part of the 13
Old Brewery
It was a Sunday morning when we were met by our guide Summer at the hotel lobby. Summer was really perky and happy with her job. She was a happy person. We were a group and all in all we were 7 in a very comfortable mini-bus. We travelled about an hour and a half to the first destination. While on the road Summer explained a lot of things to us and how Taiwan became Taiwan.
Near Jiufen we stopped at a view point where you can see the coastline and it was really beautiful. Water was blue and there were ruins where I was told it used to be a brewery and there was also a cable car house in ruins as well where you can have wonderful pictures taken. Jiufen actually is a mining village where they mine for gold. So I guess it used to be very much into the trading scene where people would go and buy gold or trade for gold. There are even cable cars which goes directly to the shore but it's already gone and in ruins already.
At some point we were able to go inside a tunnel where miners used to go and believed to have some powers or magic when you go inside.
Going to the main area of Jiufen reminded me of being in The mountainous region of the Philippines. Typical mining village with small streets and plenty of stairs. If you are not into stairs then make sure you get to have plenty of exercise when coming here. I like the town, it really makes you feel you are back in time. You get to go in the small alleyways with lots of merchandise left and right. Food, gifts, Clothes, Tea. It's all around you. Take note that this is a main tourist area so expect to have tons of tourists walking around.
You actually start from the top of the village. The driver dropped us off there so we don't have to worry going up the stairs. It's all going down. If you like something and want to buy it, do buy it because once you go down you wont be able to want to go up. Steps are uneven so you really need to be careful. Slippers are not advised since you'll be prone to tripping.
I love looking at the old buildings. It makes you feel like you are in another time. There are plenty of Tea Houses around where they can have some tea ceremony then you could buy the tea itself and the Tea Cups being used. Hungry? No problem since there are plenty of food stalls from Ice Cream, Dimsum to the popular Stinky Tofu. There are restaurants as well in the area. We ate at a restaurant where it's popular because of the view it offers. It did not disappoint really because view was spectacular. It was a little bit expensive though and menu is fixed but overall the experience was okay.
We were to meet at the old theater at the very bottom. It was a quaint plaza where you can just hang around. The theater was was still functioning and they show some films. May be about the area? I went inside but did not really have the chance to watch whatever is to be shown. I suggest to really go down from the top and explore Jiufen until the very bottom. It was quite tiring but it was really worth it.
So our next stop is the town of Pingxi. Pingxi is another old town 40 minutes away from Jiufen and is another tourist area. In Pingxi, they have this yearly lantern festival where hundreds or thousands of lanterns are being flown. They say that you have to write down your wish on those lanterns and let it fly. Colorful lanterns lit up by an oil soaked towel in a burner then it flies for about 10-15 minutes. Tourists have the chance to make their own lanterns and have it flown. That is what we did in Pingxi. There are areas where they teach you how to make a lantern. It was a little bit complicated and you would need lots of paste. Also, you should have a heavy hand or else you'll be ripping the paper. Once papers were glued, the instructor would paste or tape them on the wooden ring for it to form a round balloon. From there you have to dry it a little bit and while it is being dried up, you can already write what you want or wish for. After all the drying up and the writing of wishes, then you proceed to the site where they fly the lantern. Shops are located near the railroad so that's where they set-up the lantern for it to fly. Take a few pics with it before letting it go. The thing is that there's always a train passing by every 20 minutes. So when you start hearing the train best thing to do is to get out of the way or els you'll be a part of the Pingxi experience. I have not asked if there were any accidents that happened in the area but i'm sure that there were accidents that happened.
Letting the lantern go and seeing it fly was such a wonderful feeling especially if you were a part of making the lantern. There's a yearly festival for this but what we did was just for the experience of it and it felt good. What more if you were experiencing the festival itself and seeing thousands of lanterns fly all at the same time. I'd love to see that. After all that, we walked around the town a little bit and even went to a hanging bridge then went back to the city.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice to see old towns and being able to experience a yearly tradition. Even if the weather was not cooperating, it was hot and humid and then it rained in the afternoon on our way home, we still had a good time. I would love to have spent more time in the town of Jiufen and see all the small alleyways and visited the small food stalls but we had to follow our schedule. Anyway, there is always a next time for everything. It was definitely a worth-it day. Summer was really a wonderful tour guide. The weather really went well with her name. Hehehe. Her perkiness added to the enjoyment of the experience.
TOUR OPERATOR: https://www.mytaiwantour.com
Near Jiufen we stopped at a view point where you can see the coastline and it was really beautiful. Water was blue and there were ruins where I was told it used to be a brewery and there was also a cable car house in ruins as well where you can have wonderful pictures taken. Jiufen actually is a mining village where they mine for gold. So I guess it used to be very much into the trading scene where people would go and buy gold or trade for gold. There are even cable cars which goes directly to the shore but it's already gone and in ruins already.
King Kong Mountain
Waterfall of Gold
Breathtaking scenery. Old cable car station.
Making this quick photo before I this thing collapse.
Amazing View from the Old Cable Car Station
Groupie at the Waterfall.
At some point we were able to go inside a tunnel where miners used to go and believed to have some powers or magic when you go inside.
Going to the main area of Jiufen reminded me of being in The mountainous region of the Philippines. Typical mining village with small streets and plenty of stairs. If you are not into stairs then make sure you get to have plenty of exercise when coming here. I like the town, it really makes you feel you are back in time. You get to go in the small alleyways with lots of merchandise left and right. Food, gifts, Clothes, Tea. It's all around you. Take note that this is a main tourist area so expect to have tons of tourists walking around.
Tourist packed Jiufen
Having my pic taken in the busy streets of Jiufen
You actually start from the top of the village. The driver dropped us off there so we don't have to worry going up the stairs. It's all going down. If you like something and want to buy it, do buy it because once you go down you wont be able to want to go up. Steps are uneven so you really need to be careful. Slippers are not advised since you'll be prone to tripping.
Small alleys with stores and food stalls left and right
I love looking at the old buildings. It makes you feel like you are in another time. There are plenty of Tea Houses around where they can have some tea ceremony then you could buy the tea itself and the Tea Cups being used. Hungry? No problem since there are plenty of food stalls from Ice Cream, Dimsum to the popular Stinky Tofu. There are restaurants as well in the area. We ate at a restaurant where it's popular because of the view it offers. It did not disappoint really because view was spectacular. It was a little bit expensive though and menu is fixed but overall the experience was okay.
Lots of Tea Houses to Explore
Dimsum and Noodles everywhere
Very crowded
Nice view from the restaurant where we ate
Set menu. Tofu, Fish, Chicken, Salad and unlimited rice
We were to meet at the old theater at the very bottom. It was a quaint plaza where you can just hang around. The theater was was still functioning and they show some films. May be about the area? I went inside but did not really have the chance to watch whatever is to be shown. I suggest to really go down from the top and explore Jiufen until the very bottom. It was quite tiring but it was really worth it.
Old Plaza with hanging lanterns. Very nice during night time.
Old theater which is still functioning.
Stairs everywhere. Make sure you don't leave anything at the top.
So our next stop is the town of Pingxi. Pingxi is another old town 40 minutes away from Jiufen and is another tourist area. In Pingxi, they have this yearly lantern festival where hundreds or thousands of lanterns are being flown. They say that you have to write down your wish on those lanterns and let it fly. Colorful lanterns lit up by an oil soaked towel in a burner then it flies for about 10-15 minutes. Tourists have the chance to make their own lanterns and have it flown. That is what we did in Pingxi. There are areas where they teach you how to make a lantern. It was a little bit complicated and you would need lots of paste. Also, you should have a heavy hand or else you'll be ripping the paper. Once papers were glued, the instructor would paste or tape them on the wooden ring for it to form a round balloon. From there you have to dry it a little bit and while it is being dried up, you can already write what you want or wish for. After all the drying up and the writing of wishes, then you proceed to the site where they fly the lantern. Shops are located near the railroad so that's where they set-up the lantern for it to fly. Take a few pics with it before letting it go. The thing is that there's always a train passing by every 20 minutes. So when you start hearing the train best thing to do is to get out of the way or els you'll be a part of the Pingxi experience. I have not asked if there were any accidents that happened in the area but i'm sure that there were accidents that happened.
Pingxi
Lantern Making by the Master Lantern Maker
It's our turn to make the lanterns.
Railroad where you fly the lantern.
Here is our lantern.
Write down what you wish for.
Video of our lantern flying.
Hanging Bridge at Pingxi.
YouTube Video of our Jiufen and Pingxi experience.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice to see old towns and being able to experience a yearly tradition. Even if the weather was not cooperating, it was hot and humid and then it rained in the afternoon on our way home, we still had a good time. I would love to have spent more time in the town of Jiufen and see all the small alleyways and visited the small food stalls but we had to follow our schedule. Anyway, there is always a next time for everything. It was definitely a worth-it day. Summer was really a wonderful tour guide. The weather really went well with her name. Hehehe. Her perkiness added to the enjoyment of the experience.
TOUR OPERATOR: https://www.mytaiwantour.com
Comments
Post a Comment