Practical Guide to Jiufen Old Street Tour九份老街導覽實務
Even though Studio Ghibli’s president, Toshio Suzuki, confirmed that “Spirited Away” was not filmed in Jiufen, it doesn’t diminish the beauty of Jiufen. I’ve visited Jiufen many times, and I still believe that this beautiful misunderstanding is not a misunderstanding at all.
即使，日本吉卜力工作室，社長 鈴木敏夫，證實神隱少女不是取景九份，依然不影響九份的美麗，來過九份多次，依然覺得這美麗的誤會，一點也不誤會。
Jiufen has its unique charm; every corner is worth savoring. I love its breathtaking seaside views, its tiered architecture, its serene solitude, its lively atmosphere, its stunning scenery, and its diverse cuisine.
九份有它獨特的味道，每一個角落都值得你細細品味，喜歡它的海天一色，喜歡它的階梯建築，喜歡它的寂靜孤獨，喜歡它的熱鬧氛圍，喜歡它的美景美食，喜歡它的多彩多姿。
Jiufen Old Street remains a must-visit destination for foreign tourists exploring the popular attractions of Taiwan’s northeast coast. Today, I am here to share practical tips for visiting Jiufen Old Street and releasing sky lanterns in Shifen, in the hope that it can be helpful to everyone.
九份老街依然是外國遊客，造訪台灣東北角熱門的必訪景點。今天我一樣要來分享九份老街和十分放天燈的實務操作，希望對大家能有所幫助。
A One-Day Trip to Jiufen and Pingxi Sky Lanterns 九份平溪天燈一日行程
So, for today’s itinerary, our first stop will take you to the Yin-Yang Sea at the northeast coast to witness the unique seascape and the stunning Golden Waterfall. Then, the second stop will bring you to the mountain town of Jiufen Old Street, where you can explore, take photos, and enjoy lunch at your preferred eatery along the old street. In the afternoon, we will head to Shifen Old Street, where you can engage in DIY activities to create your own sky lantern and release it into the sky. Finally, we’ll conclude this exciting day by returning you to your hotel.
所以我們今天的行程第一站會帶大家去東北角的陰陽海，看獨特的海景，還有黃金瀑布。然後第二站會帶大家去山城九份老街，大家可以在老街逛逛拍拍照享受自己想要吃的午餐，然後下午會帶大家到十份老街，DIY自己的天燈，然後放自己做的天燈到天上，最後結束精彩的一天送大家回到飯店。
Introduction to Major Taipei Attractions Along the Way 車上介紹沿路台北大景點
Civic Boulevard 市民大道
Citizen Boulevard is one of the major roads within Taipei City, Taiwan. It is divided into two sections: the elevated expressway and the surface road. The elevated expressway serves as an essential east-west corridor in Taipei, providing a rapid route from the eastern to the western parts of the city. However, it is notorious for heavy traffic congestion during rush hours.
市民大道是臺灣臺北市境內的主要道路之一，共分為平面道路與高架道路兩個部分：高架道路部分為臺北市東西向快速道路，為臺北市區重要的快速道路，可以快速地從台北市東邊到西邊，但上下班也是一定塞車的。
Taipei’s geography 台北地形
Taipei City is situated within the Taipei Basin, and the major rivers that flow through this basin include the Tamsui River, Keelung River, Dahan River, and Xindian River. The rivers within Taipei City fall within the Tamsui River basin, with the two main rivers flowing through the city being the Tamsui River and the Keelung River.
台北市位於台北盆地內，流經台北盆地的主要河流包括淡水河、基隆河、大漢溪及新店溪，台北市境內的河流屬於淡水河流域，流經台北市的兩大河流為淡水河和基隆河。
Datun Mountain Range 大屯山群
Alright, everyone, look to your left. That’s Datun Mountain, standing at an elevation of 1,092 meters. It’s a cone-shaped active volcano, currently the only active volcano within Taiwan’s borders, although it’s in a dormant state. The last eruption occurred approximately 6,000 years ago. Now, right next to it is the tallest peak, Qixing Mountain, reaching an elevation of 1,120 meters. It’s the highest mountain in Taipei City.
好的~大家看你的左手邊，那個是大屯山，海拔標高是 1,092 公尺，為一錐狀活火山，目前是台灣境內唯一的活火山，但現在是休眠狀態，上一次爆發大概在6000年前。那旁邊那個最高的山，是七星山，海拔1,120公尺，是台北市第一高的山岳。
Taipei 101 台北101
As the eleventh tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 hosts one of the most significant international events each year, the New Year’s Eve fireworks extravaganza.
世界第十一高樓，每年的跨年煙火表演，是最為重要的國際活動之一。
The Golden City of Jiufen is derived from the legend of the Golden Island九份黃金城來自黃金之島傳說
Everyone knows that Taiwan has another name, “Formosa,” which means a beautiful island.
大家都知道台灣有另一個名字叫”福爾摩沙”，意思是很美麗的島嶼。
Approximately a thousand years ago, there was a legend dating back to the Song Dynasty that Taiwan was a “Golden Island.” About 400 years ago, Portuguese explorers discovered gold at the mouth of the Liwu River in Hualien, naming that river the “River of Gold.” Later, the Dutch extensively explored the entire island, followed by intense gold prospecting activities by the Spanish, which resulted in a tragic incident where over two hundred gold prospectors lost their lives at the hands of indigenous people in Hualien. Afterward, for the next 200 years during the Qing Dynasty and beyond, no significant gold discoveries were made.
大約從1000年前從宋朝就傳說台灣是個「黃金之島」。葡萄牙人在400年前在花蓮的立霧溪口發現黃金，把那條河流命名為黃金之河。後來，荷蘭人勞師動眾全島走透透；接著西班牙人的探金活動更是慘烈，二百多名採金人在花蓮遭原住民出草而客死異鄉，接著清朝後的200年來也都沒有找到黃金。
Klook.comGold sand was discovered in the downstream Keelung River from Jiufen’s Golden City 九份黃金城下游基隆河發現沙金
In 1890, during the construction of a railway bridge near Keelung, Taiwan, experienced workers accidentally discovered traces of alluvial gold in the Keelung River. This discovery triggered a gold rush along the banks of the Keelung River. Subsequently, gold prospectors moved upstream and discovered the small Gold Melon Mine in the hills near Jiufen, followed by the larger Gold Melon Mine in the main mountain of Jinguashi. Thus began the illustrious history of gold mining in the Jin and Jiufen areas.
1890年，因為興築臺北、基隆間的鐵路，於七堵附近修築鐵橋時，有採金經驗的工人偶然發現基隆河有砂金的痕跡，就此帶動基隆河沿岸淘金熱潮，之後淘金者溯溪而上，發現九份山頂的小金瓜礦體，隨後又發現位於金瓜石本山的大金瓜礦體，金、九地區的採金歷史就此輝煌的展開。
Introduction to Keelung Mountain 基隆山介紹
Everyone, take a look ahead. That mountain right there is Keelung Mountain, standing at an elevation of 588 meters. It’s one of the landmarks of Jiufen. Keelung Mountain has a diverse and changing appearance. From this angle, it resembles a chicken coop, which is why it used to be called “Chicken Coop Mountain.” When viewed from the side, it looks like a reclining pregnant woman, earning it the nickname “Pregnant Maiden Mountain.” From another angle along Ruijin Road, it even resembles Mount Fuji, hence the title “Keelung Fuji.” Keelung Mountain is a conical extinct volcano.
大家看~前面那座山是基隆山，標高588公尺。是九份的地標之一。基隆山形貌多變，這個角度正看山形似雞籠，故舊時稱為「雞籠山」，而側看又似一位橫臥的孕婦，故又有「大肚美人山」之美名，從另一條瑞金公路的角度看又像富士山，故又有「基隆富士山」的稱號。基隆山為一座錐形死火山。
Shuihau Cave Yin-Yang Sea 水湳洞陰陽海
In the Water Noodle Cave area, on the deep blue sea surface, there often appears a vast expanse of golden area, with a clear contrast between the yellow and blue, making it very unique in terms of landscape. Because of the distinct boundary that has been present for many years, it is referred to as the “Yin-Yang Sea.”
水湳洞地區的海面，在湛藍的海面上，經常呈現一大片的金黃區域，黃藍 分明，對比強烈，在景觀上，非常具有獨特性，由於長年界線分明，因而被稱 為陰陽海。
The formation of the Yin-Yang Sea is a phenomenon resulting from geological and geographical interactions after mining activities. Due to the presence of water sources within the tunnels, even after the Taiwan Metal Mining Corporation ceased operations, sulfuric iron continues to be leached and dissolved, creating a flow of golden waterfalls that pass through the Inner Jiufen River and carry iron-rich minerals from the mining area into the Yin-Yang Sea. Additionally, the mining area also contains a significant amount of alum stone, which, when oxidized, combines with the sulfuric iron to create a layer of non-dispersible golden water, further accumulating within the bay and giving rise to the unique spectacle of the Yin-Yang Sea.
陰陽海形成原因，為採礦後，地質地理交互作用形成的現象，由於坑道內 的水源，於台金公司停工後，仍源源不絕地將硫化鐵沖刷溶解，由黃金瀑布流 經內九份溪，將礦區內的鐵質帶入陰陽海，由於礦區內亦富含明礬石，氧化後 的硫化鐵，形成不容於水的氧化鐵，在明礬的作用下，形成一層不易擴散的金 色海水，進而累積於海灣之內，形成陰陽海的奇觀。
Refinery (Thirteenth Floor) 選煉廠(十三層)
Alright, what we see up on the hill is the Water Noodle Cave Smelting Plant, built in 1933. It looks a bit like an abandoned ancient city, reminiscent of the Pompeii ruins, bearing witness to the once-thriving mining industry of the Gold Mountain City. During the Japanese colonial period, it was used for processing ore and producing crude copper, serving as a crucial facility for ore selection. After World War II, during the era of the Nationalist government, the site underwent renovations and expansion. A new metallurgical plant was added, dividing the complex into an ore selection plant and a smelting facility.
好的~我們現在看到山上這是，1933年興建的水湳洞選煉廠，好像一座荒廢的龐貝古城，見證了昔日黃金山城規模龐大的礦產事業。在日治時期是處理礦砂、生產粗銅的製煉，是為選礦而建的重要設施。戰後國民政府時期現地整修擴建之後，又新建煉金廠，便分成選廠和煉場。
This complex is constructed along the natural slope of the hill, commonly known as the “Thirteen Levels.”
該建築群依山坡地勢而建，也就是俗稱的「十三層」。
The ore extracted from both open-pit and underground mining in the Jinguashi mining area was transported via a cable car system to the highest floor of the smelting plant. Initially, there were a total of 18 floors. The ore went through various processing stages on different floors to extract gold and silver minerals, which were then sent to a precious metals refinery for further smelting.
從金瓜石礦區露天與坑內開採的礦石，透過索道系統運送到選煉廠最高樓層，最早實際共有18個樓層，經過各個樓層廠區的流程粹取出金銀礦物，再送到貴金屬煉廠冶煉。
The parking lot we’re currently at used to be part of the complex and served as a copper settling pond. However, it was damaged by a typhoon and later converted into a parking lot.
我們現在停的停車場，以前也是其中的一部分，是沉澱銅池，後來因為被颱風吹壞，所以改建成停車場。
Golden Waterfall 黃金瀑布
In the Jiufen area, frequent rainfall causes the “iron sulfide minerals” found in the rocks to dissolve into the ground. This dissolved material then gathers with the abundant water sources, flowing downstream. In the areas it passes through, it undergoes oxidation and forms a thick layer of iron rust sediment. As a result, the water in the Golden Waterfall contains harmful heavy metals, making it unsuitable for recreational activities and not safe for drinking.
九份地區因為常下雨，讓礦石裡所含的「硫化鐵礦物」隨著雨水融入了地層中，隨著充沛的水源匯集流出，在流經的地方氧化，蓋上一層厚厚的鐵鏽沉澱。所以黃金瀑布裡的水，含有對人有害的重金屬，所以這裡的水不要玩，也不能喝喔。
Bao Shi Shan Trail 報時山棧道
The Bao Shi Shan Trail, with a total length of just 166 meters, offers an easy stroll to reach the observation deck. From there, you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the stunning Yin Yang Sea. Bao Shi Shan, also known as Shui Luo Shan, stands at an elevation of 260 meters. During the Japanese colonial period, it had an alarm system that would sound at regular intervals, which is why it got the name “Bao Shi Shan,” meaning “Time-Telling Mountain.”
報時山棧道，全長才166公尺，很輕鬆就能到達觀景台，欣賞無死角的陰陽海美景。報時山又叫水螺山，海拔260公尺，在日治時代設有警報器會定時鳴放因此叫報時山。
The “Morning Sun Pavilion” along the way is a great spot to watch the sunrise, and the observation deck provides a 360-degree panoramic view, including Keelung Mountain, Wuer Tea Pot Mountain, the Yin Yang Sea, the Thirteen Levels, Jinguashi, and Jinshui Road, among other places.
這條步道超級好走，景觀更是棒。其中的「朝日亭」是欣賞日出的好地方，觀景台更可看到360度的無敵景觀，包括基隆山、無耳茶壺山、陰陽海、十三層遺址、金瓜石、金水公路等地。
smokestack 煙道
Alright, everyone, take a close look at the hillside over there. You’ll see three black concrete pipes running along the slope, connecting to the mountain’s rear. These were used in the past to release toxic fumes generated during the copper refining process into a smokestack located in the uninhabited area behind the mountain.
好的~大家仔細看那邊的山坡上，有三條黑色水泥管，沿著山坡，連接到山後方。這是過去為了將煉銅時所產生的毒廢氣排放到後山無人居住的排煙道。
The smokestacks are approximately two meters high and one and a half meters wide, and each of them stretches for about one kilometer in length. Sometimes, additional ventilation equipment was installed along the way to assist with the exhaust. It can be said that these are the world’s longest chimneys.
煙道高約兩公尺，寬一公尺半，每座煙道長約1公里的距離，有時中間還需要加裝抽風設備，以協助排放廢氣，可以說是世界最長的煙囪。
Klook.comFunicular Railway 斜坡索道
Alright, everyone, right next to this ruin is the inclined cable car system, which was a crucial transportation method during the mining operations in the past. This cable car could transport both ore and people downhill.
好的~大家看，這個廢墟旁就是斜坡索道，是當年採擴的時候很重要的交通工具，這索道可以運擴產也可載人下山。
Mysterious Tunnel 神秘隧道
Alright, everyone, I’m taking you to a hidden gem! Have any of you seen a movie called “Spirited Away”? It’s directed by the famous Mr. Hayao Miyazaki. This mysterious tunnel looks a lot like a scene from “Spirited Away.”
好的~帶大家去一個隱藏景點! 大家有有看過一部電影，叫做神隱少女嗎? 導演是很有名的宮崎駿先生，這個神秘隧道很像神隱少女這部電影中的一個場景。
This young girl and her parents walked through a tunnel and arrived in the world of gods. Her parents ate the food of the gods, which resulted in them turning into pigs. She had to find a way to save her parents and return to the real world. That’s the story.
這位少女和他的家人走過一個隧道後，就到了神的世界，她的父母偷吃神的食物，結果她的父母變成豬，而她要想辦法救回她的父母，回到現實世界的故事。
Don’t worry! When we walk through this tunnel later, we’ll only become younger, not turn into pigs.
放心! 這個隧道，我們待會走過去，只會變年輕，不會變成豬的。
Later, when we reach the middle of the tunnel, I’ll take photos for everyone, calling it the “Shadow Tunnel” – just like this. That way, everyone can become social media sensations and share the pictures on their platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
待會~大家走到隧道中間時，我會幫大家拍照片，叫影子隧道，像這樣子。 讓大家都可以變成網紅，分享在大家的自媒體上，IG、FB。
Origin of the Name Jiufen 九份地名來由
Alright, does everyone know why it’s called Jiufen? It’s because the name “Jiufen” in Chinese pronunciation can also mean “nine portions.” Legend has it that in the early days, there were only nine households living here. So, whenever they had to transport supplies from the harbor to the shore, they divided them into nine portions, and that’s how the place got its name.
好的~大家知道為何九份要叫做九份嗎? 因為「九份」這個名字，在中文的發音，也可是是九份東西的意思，傳說是因為這裡早期只有9戶人家居住，所以每一次要從港口運送物資補給上岸時，都要分成9份，所以就變成這裡的名字。
However, according to scholarly research, it is believed that before Jiufen became a hub for the gold mining industry, its primary industry was camphor extraction and processing. In this region, there were reportedly 90 camphor kilns, with each group of 10 kilns referred to as one “份,” totaling nine such groups. This is likely the more accurate origin of the name “Jiufen.”
但經過學者考證，認為九份在金礦業興盛前，是以採樟煮腦為業，之前這個區域有90口樟腦灶，而10口灶為1「份」故共有9份，才應該是比較正確九份地名的由來。
Jiufen Old Street 九份老街
Alright, this is the entrance to Jiufen Old Street. Please remember this 7-11 convenience store. It’s currently 12:00 PM. Later, I will take you through the old street, introduce some snacks along the way, and finally, we’ll head to Ah Mei Teahouse. You’ll have free time until 1:20 PM to explore, grab lunch, and enjoy the area on your own. Let’s meet back here at 1:20 PM.
好的~這裡是九份老街的入口，請大家記得這個7-11便利超商，現在是12點，待會我會先帶大家走老街，沿路跟大家介紹一些小吃，最後會帶大家到阿妹茶樓後，讓大家自由活動到下午1點20分，大家可以自由去逛逛，然後吃午餐，下午1點20分我們在這裡集合喔。
Fish balls, braised pork rice, big sausage wrapped in small sausage, peanut spring roll ice cream, red yeast rice meatball, salty grass mochi, taro balls.
魚丸、滷肉飯、大腸包小腸、花生春捲冰淇淋、紅糟肉圓、草仔粿、芋圓、
魚丸伯、阿信的店(伴手禮)、九份街角美食(傳統小吃)、九份老麵店、花生捲冰淇淋、金枝紅糟肉圓、阿蘭草仔粿、賴阿婆芋圓、阿柑姨芋圓(海景)、阿妹茶樓(喝茶)
Shifen Old Street 十分老街
Alright, we’ll be heading to Shifen Old Street later. This area is located in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. Pingxi is a remarkably beautiful mountain town and a famous attraction along Taiwan’s Pingxi Line railway. During the Japanese colonial period, coal mines were discovered here, leading to approximately 60 years of what is known as the “Black Gold Era.”
好的~我們待會要到十分老街，這裡屬於新北市平溪區，平溪是一個相當美麗的山城，也是台灣鐵路平溪線的著名景點，日據時期因為在這裡發現煤礦，所以開啟了為期約60年的「黑金歲月」。
During this period, to transport the coal from Pingxi, the Pingxi Line railway was constructed. One unique feature of Shifen Old Street is that the old street is connected to the train tracks. So, you can experience the novelty of “passing in front of the train” and enjoy the fun of strolling along the railway tracks.
在這段期間，為了將煤礦運出平溪，而興建了平溪線鐵路。十分老街的特色在於老街和火車鐵軌是相連的，所以大家可以體驗「火車門前過」的新奇感受，以及走在鐵軌旁逛街的趣味。
“The Origin of Sky Lanterns” 天燈的由來
Alright, later on, I’ll take you to make your own sky lantern and release it. Sky lanterns have a historical significance here. In the past, this remote mountainous area was prone to bandit attacks, and villagers would hide in safe locations in the mountains. After the bandits left, they would release sky lanterns to signal that it was safe for everyone to return home. Over time, this tradition of releasing sky lanterns evolved into a local custom and became a symbol of blessings in this area.
好的~待會我會帶大家去做自己的天燈，然後放自己做的天燈。天燈，為早期居民因為這裡是偏僻山區，那個時候會有盜匪來搶奪村民，村民為了保護自己，會躲在山中安全的地方，等盜匪離開後，就會施放天燈，通報大家可以回家。之後放天燈的儀式就一直保留下來，成為這個地方的習俗，變成一種祈福的象徵。
Sky Lantern DIY 天燈DIY
So, later on, we will let everyone experience making your own sky lanterns and then personally lighting and releasing them into the sky. We’ll pair up into groups of two, but if you’re alone, that’s okay too. We will have our sky lantern master to guide everyone step by step in making the lanterns. Afterward, you can write any wishes you have on the lantern – whether it’s for your family, career, education, health, or wealth – and send these wishes up into the sky through the lantern. All your wishes will come true.
所以待會會讓大家體驗自己動手做天燈，然後親自把天燈點燃釋放到空中，待會我們2個人1組，若只有1個人的也沒關係，我們會請我們天燈大師來教大家做天燈，一個步驟一個步驟地教大家，接著大家可以在天燈上寫上所有你想寫的祝福，家庭、事業、學業、健康、財富，都可以，把這些願望透過天燈送到天上，都會願望實現。
The pronunciation of “天燈” in Taiwanese is “Tiān Dīng,” which means prosperity at home. Generally, sky lanterns come in five different colors: red symbolizes health, purple represents wisdom, orange signifies love, pink symbolizes safety, and yellow represents wealth.
天燈用台灣話的發音，是『添丁』的音，意思是家裡能興盛，一般天燈會有五種顏色，紅色代表健康、紫色代表智慧、橘色代表愛情、粉紅色代表平安、黃色代表財富。」
In fact, many people have concerns about releasing sky lanterns as they can potentially impact the environment. Currently, in many areas, after sky lanterns are released, nearby residents volunteer to help collect them. Each lantern collected can be exchanged for 8 New Taiwan Dollars, contributing to environmental efforts.
其實釋放天燈很多人會擔心，會對周遭的環境產生影響，目前十分地區的天燈在施放完後，都會有附近的居民去幫忙回收，撿一個天燈可以換新台幣8塊，為環境盡一份心力。
Sustainable Sky Lanterns 永續天燈
We are creating sustainable sky lanterns that can burn completely in the sky without leaving any debris in the forests. Instead of using wire frames, we use paper pulp, allowing the entire lantern to burn safely at high altitudes. Additionally, we commit to allocating a portion of our proceeds to tree planting initiatives, allowing us to preserve our planet while experiencing this cultural tradition. Let’s release these lanterns together and turn our wishes into stardust!
親手製作可以在天空中完全燃燒的永續天燈，用紙漿取代鐵絲支架，整顆天燈可以完全在高空燃燒，不落入山林間，另外會提撥一定比例金額種樹，讓我們在體驗文化的同時也能愛護地球，一起施放將願望化為星塵的天燈吧！
Sky Lantern DIY Steps 天燈DIY步驟
On the desktop are materials for making sky lanterns, including 4 diamond-shaped papers, a calligraphy brush for writing, colored pigments, and glue.
桌面上放的是做天燈的材料，有4張菱形紙，以及書寫用的毛筆、顏料劑和膠水。
For the diamond-shaped paper part, start by overlapping 2 sheets of paper with a 1-2 centimeter gap between them, then apply glue to the exposed edges.
菱形紙部分先將2張紙做交疊並間格1~2公分，然後膠水黏在露出邊的地方。
Fold the side with glue applied onto the other overlapping diamond-shaped paper.
將塗好膠水的一邊反摺黏至另一張交疊的菱形紙。
After sticking all four sides together, the final step is to attach the circular support base to the bottom of the sky lantern.
黏好4面後，最後是天燈底部黏上圓形支架底部的工作。
Once it’s properly glued, you can attach it to the frame and write down the wishes everyone wants to make. Remember, there are four sides, so write on one side and then switch to the other.
黏好的，就可以夾在架上，寫上大家想要許的願望囉，記得有四面喔，寫完一面再換另一面。
Certainly! where’s your phone. I can help you to take photos or record videos to capture the process of making the sky lanterns.
好的! 把你的手機給我，我可以幫你拍照或錄影，幫你把做天燈的過程記錄起來。
Klook.comConclusion 結論
The one-day trip to release sky lanterns in Jiufen and Shifen is a lot of fun. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate! You’re welcome to join us for a stroll in Jiufen and Shifen.
九份平溪放天燈一日遊的行程非常好玩，若有興趣的朋友不要客氣，可以一起來九份十分走走逛逛喔。
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