Jiufen Old Street and Gold Museum

Summary

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a superb hall and museum with a cultural center featuring traditional architecture around it.
Jiufen Old Street is the most famous old street in Taiwan, which thrived during the gold rush.

The giant gate at the entrance is magnificent and has witnessed countless historical moments in Taiwan.
The giant temple-like building beside it houses a theater hall and concert hall, and I was surprised by the impossibly large scale of this traditional-looking building. Although it is beautiful, there is still a large core building hidden inside that does not undermine its original functionality.
The iconic hall is at the center of the park, and there is a tall statue of Chiang Kai-shek in the middle.

Taiwan's freedom of speech was not acknowledged for a long time, and there were multiple attempts to change this situation.
Especially, the burned house of intentional self-immolation at the permanent exhibition was convincing and reminded me of student activism in post-war Japan.
It was the first time I learned that there was violent conflict in Taiwan seeking freedom during the post-war period.

This artwork uses the latest technology, but the inspiration came from ancient artwork.

There were many watercolor paintings, but I felt like they tended to use thick and dark colors.

Some of them looked like games but featured unique and artistic objects.
The use of generative AI for artwork was cool, and I especially liked the mosaic-like artifact generated using it.

The Madame statue of Chiang Kai-shek was so realistic that I could feel his characteristics.

Japan was once referred to as the country of gold, but this mine produced more gold than Japanese mines.
Not only do they have a rich cultural heritage, but they are also covered with vines, making this place Ghibli-like and beautiful.
There are multiple museums on the premises, and we can enter all of them with general admission.
The artwork along the way was also impressive.

It’s nothing special for Japanese people, but it was astonishing that this fragile Japanese house has been maintained for such a long period.

I liked the 3D model of the path of the mine and the explanation of the mining procedures.

The museum displayed the system and life in the mine, along with many beautiful minerals from this place.

This place used to be as lively as Ginza. There are so many souvenir shops and restaurants.

It’s the icon of Jiufen Old Street, and you can take the most photogenic pictures here.
It seems like the peak of the mountain, but actually, you need to climb down.
The historical buildings along the way are already beautiful, and there is even a flat space suitable for taking pictures next to the teahouse.

It closes as early as 5:30 PM, but you can still take pictures from the train when crossing the bridge.

It was my first time trying stinky tofu, but it was not as stinky as I thought.
Taro mochi is a little bit different from tapioca and something between a potato ball and mochi.
Peanuts ice cream is made using peanut candy, ice cream, and crepe. The crepe and ice cream are soft, and the peanuts add fragrance and a crispy texture.
Taiwanese fried chicken is big and looks even bigger in a bento box.

Japan still has many pre-war heritage sites, but they are not preserved well and not utilized as tourist destinations.
I felt the memorial hall was functioning as a museum about the nation. I think we should have more opportunities to understand the establishment of this country and should be able to know what this country is aiming for.
It was a little surprising that the memorial hall features some individuals' art, especially since I liked that they are showcasing innovative works with technology-based art.