Jiufen

Why go

The late-Qing gold discoveries turned a small mountain village into a busy town, and mining expanded under Japanese rule. Closely packed buildings still convey the constraints of that slope. Jiufen rewards a slower look at its street layout and old inns rather than a visit based only on its popular image.

What to look for

• Houses stacked close together on the mountainside
• Lanes shaped by the steep terrain
• Surviving buildings from the Japanese mining era

Useful to know

• Wear shoes suited to steps and sloping lanes.
• Allow time to climb through the settlement instead of planning it as a quick level stroll.