Summary
Have you ever experienced staying in Jiufen? What is your impression of Jiufen? Young people may say it is “Spirited Away”, older people may say it is the “City of Sadness” directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien or a coal mine. Tourists may think of Jiufen Old Street or Jiufen Taro Balls. Whatever your impression of Jiufen is, have you ever tried to stop and slowly appreciate this secluded town nestled in the mountains, and see the difference between day and night, noise and silence? Perhaps it is because of this thought that my friends and I decided to stay in Jiufen for one night.
Although I am a native of Taipei and it only takes half a day to travel to Jiufen, spending a whole day there is not excessive. However, every time I visit Jiufen, I either avoid the bustling and crowded Old Street or just go up the mountain to eat some taro balls and then leave. I have never really explored Jiufen thoroughly. This time, by staying in Jiufen for one night, I had the opportunity to explore many corners of Jiufen that I had never been to before, which made the trip worthwhile.
The homestay we chose this time is called “Mountain Dwelling – The Home of Flip-flops”. I want to clarify that this article is not a sponsored post. I simply liked the overall feeling of the homestay and wanted to share my experience of staying in Jiufen. If you are interested after reading this article, you can check the relevant information on the booking website yourself.
“Mountain Dwelling – The Home of Flip-flops” is a homestay in Jiufen that has been renovated from an old house. The exterior of the homestay is not deliberately decorated in order to preserve the characteristics of the old buildings in Jiufen. Since there were five of us traveling together this time, we booked the entire accommodation space, which allowed us to enjoy the living room, dining table, kitchen, and outdoor space. It was a very pleasant accommodation experience.
The exterior of Mountain Dwelling – The Home of Flip-flops is simple and rustic, as it is a homestay renovated from an old house.
There are many songs from the 60s and 70s on the shelves of the homestay, which can be played on the sound system inside the homestay, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
Because it is a separate space, we were able to make good use of the space inside the house. If a few friends come together, you can first buy some late-night snacks and beer from the streets of Jiufen, and then return to the homestay to have a casual chat over drinks. Trying to slow down and stay quietly in the homestay also gives a sense of vacation away from the city.
The interior of the homestay is presented in a retro style, giving a feeling of being in an old house.
There is a separate kitchen space, including a gas stove and a microwave. However, because some of the cookware seemed to have not been used for a long time, there were some hygiene considerations.
Apart from the exterior, the interior of the homestay, according to the host, also tries to preserve the characteristics of the old house. Therefore, features such as brick walls, wooden stairs, and even the old tree inside the house, have only been reinforced and the structure of the house itself has not been changed much. Perhaps because of this, guests can feel a sense of relaxation and tranquility in this space.
There is a structure of an old tree inside the house, but it is not certain if it was originally part of the tree. However, overall, the design is quite good.
The second floor is a dormitory that can accommodate four people. Since there were three girls sleeping in this room that day, the overall space was sufficient.
The attic on the third floor is equipped with a very old bed. Two guys squeezed into this small space, which was okay. (My friend who is 180 cm tall said he didn’t hit the end of the bed.)
Both the second and third floors of the homestay have outdoor spaces. If you come here to stay in the autumn or spring, you can try to stay outdoors with your friends, enjoying the cool breeze, which is also a great experience. However, because we stayed during a hot season, even though there was a bit of wind that night, it was still quite stuffy. Coupled with the presence of mosquitoes outdoors, we decided not to stay outside.
From the outdoor window of the homestay, you can have a distant view of Keelung Island.
The bathroom is designed with a submerged style, and when the water level is full, it can be used as a bathtub for soaking.
The homestay’s caretaker arranges night activities, which basically involve walking around the end of the Old Street or places that are less frequented by tourists. For example, the mysterious cave in the movie “Spirited Away” or strolling on the light trail to enjoy the night view of Keelung’s coastline. These are the landscapes that cannot be experienced in Jiufen without staying overnight.
It is said that this is the cave in Jiufen that inspired the movie “Spirited Away”.
At night, the view of Jiufen’s mountain town and the night view of the North Coast are spectacular and beautiful.
For supper, we had the famous “Nurse’s Shop” braised dishes in Jiufen, paired with a few bottles of beer, which made a perfect late-night snack.
Compared to the night in Jiufen, the early morning is even more precious. If the weather is good, you can see the sunlight gradually peeking out from the mountains of Keelung, or take a leisurely stroll in the empty Jiufen Old Street in the early morning, experiencing a different side of Jiufen from the usual impression.
In the early morning, the faint light shines from the top of the Keelung Mountains.
Although the angle is similar to the night view, the early morning Jiufen is not as charming as the night.
The familiar Jiufen Old Street, without the hustle and bustle of tourists, is no different from a traditional market.
The Jiufen stone steps that tourists usually love, without the iconic red lanterns, may not be recognized as Jiufen.
This two-day-one-night trip to Jiufen was different from previous visits. We took it slow and enjoyed a more relaxed pace, which made the trip more memorable. Although Jiufen is not far from Taipei City, I highly recommend staying overnight to experience Jiufen in the most authentic way. I believe it will be a different experience.
