Jiufen Old Street Walking Tour + Food Guide: Taipei Day Trip

If you’re looking for the best things to do in Taipei Taiwan, then taking a day trip out to Jiufen is worth it. The Jiufen Old Street Taipei Taiwan experience is epic. Also spelt Jioufen or Chiufen, it’s an historic gold-mining town. However, as a New Taipei City attraction, it's best known for the Jiufen Old Street tour, a narrow lantern-lit walk filled with restaurants, teahouses and shops. And as for its Jiufen Spirited Away comparison.

In his Jiufen review, travel vlogger Chris Stead takes you on a Jiufen walk from top to bottom.

If you're looking for the best Taipei day trip travel inspiration, here you go. Maybe a Jiufen Shifen day trip. This guide to Jiufen takes you on an Old Street tour, seeing the shops, night market, golden house, bubble tea and more, while trying the best food, enjoying a beer and seeing the famous Amei Tea House.

Plus, you'll get tips and tricks. The Jiufen Old Street food experience is amazing.

What this Jiufen guide will also show you how crowded it can get around places like the Amei Teahouse. Are you up for it? It also takes you through how to get to Jiufen from Taipei.

Jiufen history:
Jiufen’s historical significance comes from its origins as a remote Qing‑era village that once housed only nine families, giving the town its name “nine portions.” It later transformed into a booming gold‑mining settlement, especially during the Japanese occupation, shaping its architecture, teahouses and narrow hillside lanes. Today, Jiufen preserves this layered past through its traditional shops, nostalgic atmosphere and dramatic mountain‑seaside setting, offering a vivid window into Taiwan’s cultural heritage.

The best things to see and do in Jiufen:
Jiufen Old Street: food stalls, lantern alleys, traditional shops.
A‑Mei Teahouse: Iconic teahouse with classic Japanese‑era architecture
Shengping Theatre: Historic Japanese‑built cinema
Gold mining heritage sites: Reminders of Jiufen’s mining boom
Mountain and ocean viewpoints: Sweeping views over the northeast coast
Keelung Mountain Trail: For those looking for the best Taiwan hikes.

Despite the Jiufen Spirited Away inspiration rumours, the movie by Studio Ghibli, this has never been officially confirmed. Especially the Amei Tea House Taiwan. Jiufen night time is spectacular, especially the Jiufen lanterns, and now you know how to get there. Which for me was a Jiufen uber trip.

I hope you enjoyed this Jiufen walking tour and review.

#taiwantravel #jiufen #taiwanfood #taipei #nightmarket