Dear readers, I hope you haven’t missed me too dearly! I wish everyone a lovely 2025 and hope you enjoyed your holiday season as much as I did. The Year of the Snake begins on Wednesday for those who follow the Chinese lunar calendar, marking a significant and joyous event, especially across Greater China. This week I wanted to share a few photos and thoughts with you from my trip at the beginning of January to the village of Jiufen, known for its teahouses, and Houtong, known as the ‘cat village’ to locals. As promised, weekly posts will return starting February 10th when I begin covering my trip to another part of the Greater China region which will be revealed at the end of this post, enjoy!
When I got out of my taxi in Jiufen, I immediately felt transported back in time. Jiufen is an enchanting mountain village, once a bustling gold and coal mining town, now instead captivating visitors with its narrow cobblestone streets, vibrant red lanterns, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. A highlight of my visit was the beautifully preserved Shengping Theater, a relic of Jiufen’s prosperous past where visitors can glimpse the golden age of Taiwanese cinema. However, I couldn’t leave without visiting one of the iconic teahouses that dot the winding alleys. I selected the A-Mei Teahouse, perched on the hillside and offering breathtaking vistas alongside tutorials on how to enjoy tea the traditional way. Fun fact: its distinctive architecture is said to have inspired the bathhouse in the beloved animated film, Spirited Away.
Trading teahouses for feline charm, I then journeyed to Houtong, another former coal mining town, that has reinvented itself as a haven for cat lovers. The Houtong Cat Village, nestled amidst the remnants of the industry that once defined it, is a delightful maze of winding alleyways and stairways where hundreds of friendly felines roam freely. These furry residents are undoubtedly the stars of the show, lazing in sunbeams, playfully chasing insects, and captivating visitors with their purrs and meows. Beyond the charm of the Cat Village, Houtong also has its wonderfully named Pit Mining Leisure Park which offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s coal mining past. For the equivalent of just a few USD, I was able to ride on an old mine train through the tunnels and also practice my skills on some old mining machinery. While I found Houtong’s blend of history, nature, and feline companionship unforgettable, ultimately I decided that I much prefer life in the city to life in the coal mines.
Finally, I’m excited to announce that when weekly posts return starting February 10th, I will be covering my trip to Hong Kong & Macao! This will mark the first time that I cover a destination outside of Taiwan on this blog, so I am absolutely thrilled to begin this next chapter. Stay tuned because my first post will cover the 30+ hour journey that I have to take to get from my home in Georgia in the US back to Asia (including a transcontinental fight on Spirit, so you know it’ll be good!). Thanks for reading y’all!
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