Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
After a two-year restoration, the street now looks much as it did 100 years ago, and on
weekends there's a lively market atmosphere as the little shops operating from behind
dark-wood doors sell speciality snacks, tea and souvenirs. Street performers also work
the area, making this a fun venue to take in after the spiritual and aesthetic treasures of
Tzushr Temple.
As you walk the Old Street look for the diversity of styles in the shop facades: they in-
corporate late-Qing, Japanese and Western baroque elements. The mortar used for the
bricks is a combination of sticky rice and crushed seashells.
To reach the Old Street turn right as you exit the temple and walk up the alley to Min-
quan (Minchuan) St.
WORTH A TRIP
JUMING MUSEUM & JINBAOSHAN CEMETERY
Ju Ming (born 1938) is Taiwan's most famous living sculptor, having gained fame
here in the 1980s, and internationally a decade later. His works are instantly recog-
nisable, despite varying from giant stone abstractions and delicate wood pieces, to
a series of nativist works that includes sculptures of historical figures as well as
daily life scenes. Among the most popular of the artist's works are those in the 'Tai
Chi' series, which feature gigantic blocky stone monoliths in various martial arts
poses.
The majority of Ju Ming's works can be seen together at the
Juming Museum
(Zhūmíng Měishùguǎn;
www.juming.org.tw
; admission NT$250; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun)
, which lies
across a 15-hectare park in the hills above Jinshan. Most works are outdoors so
make sure to bring an umbrella or a hat to protect against sun or rain.
Just up the street from the museum is the vast
Jinbaoshan Cemetery
(Chin Pao
Shan, Jīn Bǎo Shān), which, odd as it may sound, is a sight not to be missed. This
wonderland for the underworld will literally make you feel envious of the deceased
for having one of the best living environments in Taiwan. There are well-tended gar-
dens, beautiful carvings by master artists (such as Ju Ming), a towering golden
columbarium (a building with niches for funeral urns to be stored), and row upon
row of intricately carved and decorated graves looking over a gorgeous stretch of
the northeast coastline and the East China Sea.
The most famous grave here is that of
Teresa Teng
, a silky voiced pop singer who
died tragically young in 1995 though not before achieving massive popularity
(which endures) in the Chinese-speaking world. Tourism shuttle buses stop just
across from her grave but you wouldn't miss it for the fresh flowers, pilgrims and
giant workable keyboard in front. Go ahead and step on the keys. We've seen kids
playing Für Elise on them.
