The epicenter of the 921 earthquake that shook all of Taiwan: marvel at the surreal tilted house, the instant landslide, and the barrier lakes—geological wonders that reveal nature’s incomparable power. Vast volumes of collapsed rock and soil blocked two valleys, creating two natural dammed lakes now named Zezihkeng Lake and Jiucai Lake. After the disaster, the drastically altered landscape turned Jiufen’er Mountain into a living textbook on seismic activity. Though a tourist spot, every visitor leaves with a visceral sense of nature’s might and mercilessness.
◎Tilted House
A house belonging to local resident Mr. Zhu was tilted by surface slippage. Inside, the inner ear’s balance system clashes with normal visual cues and gravity, causing slight dizziness. Locals attribute the effect to a special magnetic field and call it the “Magnetic-Field House.”
◎Barrier Lakes
Rockfall and debris from the quake dammed Jiucai Creek and Zezihkeng Creek, forming two barrier lakes whose ecosystems are steadily taking shape.
◎Blast Point
The quake blasted a huge crater, as though an explosion had erupted beneath the ground.