Jiufen Laojie and its stepped lanes above Neu-Taipeh

Jiufen Laojie is the market core of Jiufen, in Ruifang District, Neu-Taipeh, Taiwan. Its lanes climb a hillside, with shops and teahouses packed close around the steps.

Jiufen Laojie on a hillside in Ruifang

Jiufen was a gold-mining settlement under the Qing Dynasty, and the town’s later growth left a dense street pattern on the slope. The place is linked to the mining past of Jiufen and to the former gold-mining town that gave it shape.

The street runs through a compact commercial area where roofs, balconies and signs gather above narrow passages. Jishan Street and Shuqi Road meet in the centre, and the stairway breaks the route into short climbs and turns.

Stairs, lanes and teahouses

The most distinctive feature is the way the street alternates between covered shopping lanes and exposed stone steps. The slope is constant, and the route stays broken into sections rather than forming one flat corridor.

Teahouses, snack stalls and souvenir shops line the route, while side paths lead away from the main line. The setting also appears in the New Taipei City travel pages as a mountain-city street with retro buildings and sloping fields.

Mining memory and film culture

Jiufen’s identity is tied to its gold-mining past and to the Japanese period that followed. The town later became known beyond Taiwan through A City of Sadness, which brought the old lanes into wider view.

The result is a street that carries several layers at once: mining settlement, hillside market and cinema backdrop. Its dense fronts and stairways keep those layers visible in one compact route.

Visiting Jiufen Laojie: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Jiufen Laojie lies in Jiufen, Ruifang District, Neu-Taipeh, on Taiwan’s north-eastern side. It is reached by road, with rail travellers changing at Ruifang Station.
• The terrain is steep and broken by steps. The main route includes narrow lanes, short ramps and stone stairways.
• The official language is Mandarin Chinese and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
• The street links shopping lanes, teahouses and side alleys in a compact grid. Jishan Street and Shuqi Road form the best-known crossing point.

Searching for Jiufen Laojie on social platforms

These links open searches for Jiufen Laojie on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Jiufen Laojie

Where is Jiufen Laojie?

Jiufen Laojie is in Jiufen, Ruifang District, Neu-Taipeh, Taiwan. The street sits on a hillside above the district’s lower roads.

What does a visit involve?

The route mixes stairs, narrow lanes and small fronts facing the street. Teahouses and snack stalls line the main passages.

What makes Jiufen Laojie distinctive?

Its hillside layout and tight commercial lanes reflect the old mining town. The crossing of Jishan Street and Shuqi Road gives the place its clearest shape.