aeeble

Qitang Old Street, located above the Gold Museum, was once the commercial hub for miners’ daily needs. During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwanese leased land from the Japanese mining company and built this settlement. Because it lies within Jinguashi’s Tongshan Borough, it is also called “Jinguashi Ginza” or “Jinguashi Old Street.” The houses climb the slope with the mountain’s contours, and a handful of residents still live here. Like Jiufen, it is a mountain town, yet compared with Jiufen Old Street it lacks heavy commercialization and tourist crowds, preserving the original look of a hillside settlement. Both streets owe their prosperity to mining; as the mines declined and people moved away, visitors can now admire unique Japanese-era architecture or wander the mountain lanes and savor the nostalgic atmosphere. A few shops—grocery stores, cafés—remain open along the street. Though the glory days are gone, a quiet stroll here offers a serenity quite different from Jiufen.