Golden101 Bed and Breakfast

We came mainly for the Teapot Mountain trail, and this place was very close. Outside, there’s a spot to sit and eat, with a lovely view of sunset and moonrise. When we visited it was cool and less humid, and all we heard were cicadas, the wind and the little water feature the landlady had set up. It felt peaceful and relaxing. Our room was clean and nice, with good AC and fans, a huge humidifier, and a patio facing the mountains. The host was attentive and helpful, and the owner has great taste in music, from Ella and Etta classics to indie music I couldn’t identify. You can borrow things like chargers and nail clippers for free, or buy useful items such as a rain jacket or ramen. The common area even has pachinko and video games. Breakfast was substantial, Lu rou fan with iced green tea, and it gave us good energy for the hike. No notes at all, it was perfect for us.

It’s up on a small mountain, with plenty of places to go for a morning hike. Being farther from the city means it’s quieter, a nice chance to relax away from crowds. A shop next door sells good, affordable food, and Xiao Hei lives outside the property. The three people running the place were very attentive. I once left my room card inside and locked myself out, but the landlady just smiled and told me to go have dinner, saying she’d help when I got back. It was a really hospitable response.

The quieter part of Jin Gua Shih suited us, with a view of the cliff and sea and mountains behind us. The room was clean and had thoughtful details like mosquito repellent and useful labels. Breakfast was excellent and got our day off to a good start. Dinner can be tricky, though, since there wasn’t anything open nearby. I’d stay again if I’m in the area.

I could happily sit on the sofa in the room at Golden 101 and look out the window for days. The view is breathtaking, and I can’t wait to come back to that room. Jinguashi is only a couple of minutes from Jiufen, so it’s easy to spend the afternoon on the famous Jiufen old street and then come back to a smaller, quieter place away from the crowds. The bus ride is just a couple of minutes. There’s also the 788 bus, I believe that was the number, but please confirm with the hotel. It stops at a few tourist spots, including a waterfall and beach, for photos and such. The hotel is close to the huge Gold Mining museum too. Breakfast was amazing. We stayed two nights and tried two different ones, each more delicious than the last. The staff were really friendly and had lots of information.