Jiufen, situated in the hills overlooking a small harbor on Taiwan’s northeastern coast. Once a prosperous town famous for its gold mining industry, Jiufen was abandoned by the 1970s and nearly forgotten, but is now a mecca for artists and writers as well as the inspiration for films like A City of Sadness and Spirited Away. Follow your guide down narrow cobbled streets past stone walls and tea houses that provide a picture of the town during Japanese occupation. If you would like to try the local fare (own expense), Jiufen Old Street offers plentiful food stalls as well as souvenirs and tea shops that stretch through the entire town. Walk down the long, narrow street that brims with traditional crafts and delicious snacks such as sweet taro balls, rice cakes and grilled squid.