Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the most popular activities on the street is snacking. Some distinctive snacks to
look for include
yùyuán
(taro balls),
yúwán
(fish balls),
cǎozǐ gāo
(herbal cakes) and
hēitáng gāo
(molasses cake).
Jishan St begins just to the right of the 7-Eleven on the main road.
Jilongshan
MOUNTAIN
(Jīlóngshān)
You just can't miss this emerald colossus for the way it dominates the sky-
line. At only 588m, Jilongshan may read like a rather puny giant, but it rises up so fast
and steep, it's dizzying to stare at from below. You can climb the peak in about 40
minutes. The trailhead is up the main road from the 7-Eleven.
Fushan Temple
TAOIST TEMPLE
(Fúshāngōng)
This Earth God (Tudigong) temple is an interesting blend of Japanese,
Chinese and Western elements. The outside features two old toro shrines, while the in-
terior sports a beautiful post-and-beam structure (made without nails), intricately carved
stone pillars and panels, including one over the main altar with nude Western angels.
The Earth God has one of the lowest rankings in the Chinese pantheon, but, not sur-
prisingly in these old mining towns, he is among the most exalted. In the 1930s, miners
crowded the 200-year-old Fushan Temple daily, praying to the god to point them to a rich
vein that would make them gentlemen overnight. After a decision to expand the temple
caused panic ('What if it damages the efficacious feng shui?'), a larger structure was
simply constructed over the original, giving Fushan the nickname 'the temple within a
temple'. Alas, the damage appeared to have been done in any case (some claim that other
gods were jealous to see Tudigong raised so high), and many blame the building of the
larger temple for the decline of Jiufen not a decade later.
To reach the temple, walk up the main road to the top of the hill where the road splits.
Left will take you to Jinguashi and right will take you to Fushan Temple in about 1km.
Jiufen Kite Museum
MUSEUM
(Jiǔfèn Fēngzhēng Bówùguǎn;
www.cfkite.com.tw
;
20 Kungwei Lane; admission NT$100;
10am-5pm)
This quirky private collection can seem underwhelming at first, but then it
dawns on you: these things can really fly! Its collection ranges from the tiniest butterfly-
shaped kites to a 3m-long phoenix with a fox in its mouth. Some kites even have musical
instruments built into them so they drum or whistle when in the air.
The museum, which is located in a B&B down the main street about 300m to 400m
from the 7-Eleven, is generally only opened to guests but if you show up and they aren't
