Mountains: Jiu Fen

A view from the old mountain mining town Jiu Fen

One of my favorite aspects of Taiwan is the mountainous character of the land. Much of the island is covered in mountains. Some of them jutting up into the sky some thousands of feet and sporting a milder climate with evergreens and deciduous tree, even getting snow on the peaks during the winter. Most of the mountains are covered with lush greenery from top to bottom. As you look into the distance, as you can see in the picture above, it seems like there are layers upon layers of rolling mountains. They look as though they have all been carefully arranged so that they continually get shorter and shorter the farther out you look. As you look from left to right the land looks as though it is moving, spilling into the sea.

This picture was taken from the old mining town of Jiu Fen, in the North part of Taiwan. Though it no longer is a mining town, the locals have found a new resource to "dig" up. Can you guess? You may have known it before I asked since I was there involved in it's business--on the spending end. Yes, it's tourism. The town is fitted into the side of the mountain, almost dangling there on the edge. It's a stunning view as you drive up the mountain getting ever closer to a town that looks small from below but grows to reveal ever more stops and shops. From the top, you are welcomed to the awe inspiring vistas of mountainous land and glimmering sea. 

Looking down a valley on the other side of Jiu Fen (first and last photos are from the same side)

Same direction as first photo but with the soft highlighting of every layer through the mist.