Taiwan: Day 7 Gold Museum 黄金博物馆 & Jiufen Old Street 九份老街

~~100th post~~

Continue from previous post -- Day 7 travelogue. -->
Taiwan Gold Museum (黄金博物馆)~ Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)

Gold Museum (黄金博物馆) is located in the mountainous town of Jinguashi (金瓜石) in Ruifang Township (瑞芳). With plenty of historical, humanities and natural heritage, the park is the first ecology museum in Taiwan, specially emphasis on heritage preservation, sustainable development. Old buildings are reuse as well as localized operations aimed at promoting regional development. ~~(Information from this website)

Gold Museum is located in the gold ecological park. It was opened during 2004 as one of the Taiwan's first museum planned as an eco-museum. The aim is to combine community power and preserve the precious natural resources, mining relics, landscape, historical memories and cultural property of Jinguashi. The Gold Museum is housed in the former offices of the Taiwan Metal Mining Corp.

The 1st floor displays the journey of discovering gold, Benshan Tunnels, old mining equipments, mining transport system and a brief introduction to the WWII Japanese Allied prisoners' camp. The 2nd floor uses gold and the main theme displaying gold characteristics, art works made of gold, and a world record, 220kg, 999 pure gold giant for visitors to see and feel.  There's even a billboard beside the giant gold piece stating "If you can lift me, carry me home!" ~~ (Information from TravelKing)

The Gold Museum (黄金博物馆)

The map of the gold ecological park.

Gold building. Sounds grand right. XD

One of the Benshan Tunnels (Where mining took place)

Once you stepped into the museum, you will see a huge wall coated with gold.
(So difficult to read the words on the golden wall!)

Mining process!

Look at the miniature! Look so cute and it really could tell us story. Awwww......

Gigantic 220kg Gold! 

It was drizzling after our visit to Gold Museum. We have to walk under umbrella around the ecological park, to visit more spots. 

From the ecological park, you can view this huge bronze sculpture of Guan Gong (关公) from far.

Japanese garden in the gold ecological park -- where the prince stay in the olden days.

The pond

The bedroom.

** Opening hours of Gold Museum:  (Mon-Thurs) 9.30am - 5pm; (Fri-Sun) 9.30am - 6pm

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Next Stop: Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)

Jiufen (Chiufen; 九份) village used to be the center of gold mining. This small village is located within hills, next to the mountains, and facing the ocean. Due to its special location, it is well known for its foggy weather condition which creates a romantic atmosphere.

The name Jiufen comes from a legend where 9 families used to live in this village. Before the development of Jiufen, there was a lack of transportation which made trips to the market inconvenient for the people. Therefore, whenever one family goes grocery shopping at the market, they would be divided what they have bought into 9 pieces for each of the families. Jiufen literally means "9 pieces or 9 shares" in Mandarin. 

Today, Jiufen features an old street that is full of local snack vendors and special accessories stores. Various foods such as "Yu Yuan" (Taro balls; 芋圆), Fried meat balls (肉丸), Steamed taro cakes, and herbal rice cakes, are the Jiufen's specialties. In addition, Chinese tea houses are very popular in this area too! ~~ (Information from TravelKing)

This is my second time in Jiufen and I still haven't get bored with the food, weather and scenery! When we reached Jiufen, it was still drizzling. T.T More fogs........

Jiufen has very nice scenery, but food here attracts me more!

At the Jiufen Old Street! LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF FOOD VENDORS!!! *scream*

Our first try -- Chessy Milk Stick (3 for NTD 100)

It is crispy on the outside and has very milky filling. Not bad not bad.

2nd stall - Peanut Ice Cream Wrap (花生冰淇淋卷) 
I've tried once during my first visit and I miss it so muchie! MUST TRY if you come to Jiufen Old Street, especially for nuts-lover like me =D

Close up! You can choose with or without vege (香菜).

The stall! Aww! I miss it again. *slurpsss*

3rd stall: Lai A Po Taro Balls (赖阿婆芋圆)
You can choose red bean soup or green bean soup or a mixed.

There are 2 famous taro ball stalls in Jiufen Old Street. This Lai A Po Yu Yuan (赖阿婆芋圆) stall is located in the middle of the old street. The other one is further up, along the stair case (near the entrance of a highschool). Don't worry, I've tried both stalls during this visit. Photos will be up next. =)

Close up of the taro balls. Actually they have sweet potato balls, sesame balls too! XD

Min Min and I. (I miss my long hair now)
The taro balls are good, but the mixed soup (综合汤) is too diluted. Tsk Tsk.. 

Before we try out the other Taro Ball stall, we decided to walk around to digest a bit. 

We walked straight from the Lai A Po stall and reached an end. Here is where you can take a look at the Jishan Street's scenery. 

The scenery without the signboard.

Due to time constraint, we decided to head to the A Gan Yi Taro Ball (阿甘姨芋圆) Stall.
We made a U turn at the scenic spot and turned right to the Staircase Street (楼梯街).

Directing us to the Taro ball stalls. =D

There is a high school up the staircase. Spot the taro balls stall? (on our right!)
Su Su and I while waiting for Lip Lip to get a bowl of taro balls.

Got it! Thanks Lip Lip!
One bowl to be shared by 4 person! (Too full to have one for myself) The taroballs and soup is better, compared to previous stall. Take note take note. Next time don't waste my stomach space on that stall again. XD

After we had our taro balls, we walked down the staircase street to the car park.
Along the way, we met up with uncle driver and he showed us the famous A Mei Tea House (阿妹茶楼). 

This Tea House is an inspirational model for Hayao Miyazaki's (宫崎骏) film -- Spirited Away (千与千寻/神隐少女). Are you anime fans? Are you Miyazaki's fans? Any idea about this tea house?? For me, answers to all questions are NO. I watched "Spirited Away" when I was young and have no clue about this tea house. Oooppsss!!

But I believe many Japanese knows about this. There is a huge crowd of Japanese around this tea house, looking very fascinated by the tea house. Well, I think the decoration and design of this tea house is kinda unique. Hmm... Maybe I should go in there and high tea for once! 

The blogger at the famous Staircase street, but views are blocked by umbrellas. *faint*

Just to show that I was in Jiufen! This is a police station actually XD

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Jiufen was our last tourist spot and we headed back to Taipei city. We requested uncle driver to bring us to souvenir shops so that we can buy heaps of biscuits without worrying about how to send them back to our hostel. 

Uncle brought us to 2 shops -- >
1) Kong Kee (港记) for green bean cake (绿豆糕)/pineapple tarts (凤梨酥)
** green bean cake is very awesome! But it can only stay 24 hours outside freezer. A bit challenging for us to take it back but we made it! Hohoho....
2) Vigor (维格) for Sun Cake (太阳饼).
** Their Sun Cake has milk flavour so it tastes nice. I bought it back during my previous trip too! 

After shopping, we ended our trip with uncle driver. T________T He is such a kind man, and energetic too! I miss talking to him in the car and he taught me a lot about Taiwan. 

Bye uncle!! Till we meet again!!
(IGNORE LIP LIP!!)

As promised, I am going to introduce and promote uncle driver to my fellow readers and friends!!

Name: Mr Hsieh 谢源兴 (We called him Mr Hsieh (In chinese 谢先生)

Contact: +886-928-926-928 / +886-918-926-928

Email: sayys6928@gmail.com

You can contact him to discuss about your trip. He will make suggestions and quote you a nice price! He is on whatsapp and LINE (if I'm not wrong) -- Yes, he is 60+ and he is very up to date ok! haha.. If you ever going on a trip with him, tell him Xin Rou miss him! XD