Jiufen Visitor Center Introduction
The Jiufen Visitor Center is located on the east side of the Jiufen Police Station. Visitors can alight from the bus stop "Jiufen Police Station" and walk a few steps forward to reach the center. The governing authority of this visitor center is the New Taipei City Government's Tourism and Travel Department. The first floor serves as the tourist service area, while the upper floors are for office use and are not open to the public. The architecture of the visitor center is quite modern, featuring a simple and refreshing design. The first floor has glass walls and is embedded in square columns, providing a transparent interior and exterior visual that encourages travelers to come in and browse. The flooring on the first floor is made of washed pebbles, creating an image of being in a mining area. There are wooden benches both outside the glass wall and inside the service area for visitors to take a break. Behind the service desk is a large map in three languages, marking some major tourist attractions and their relative locations in the Shuinan, Jinguashi and Jiufen area. First-time visitors to the Shuinan and Jinguashi region are advised to come to the visitor center first, as it can save a lot of unnecessary searching and provide an overview of the area, along with valuable information. If travelers have other questions, such as not knowing where attractions are located, how to get there, inquiring about bus schedules, park opening dates and times, or handling any issues, the staff will do their best to assist promptly. Inside, several scale models of vintage light vehicles are displayed, each showcasing various minerals and historic mining tools from the Shuinan, Jinguashi and Jiufen area, functioning as a mini-museum. The wall posters summarize the development history of the Jiufen area in brief text in three languages. There is also a small service for stamping commemorative stamps on the table. The brochures displayed here are printed in various languages, offering detailed yet easy-to-understand introductions to different attractions, often accompanied by beautifully designed summary maps, making them one of the most frequently picked up printed materials by visitors. A large screen hangs from the ceiling, continuously playing introductions to important spots in the Shuinan and Jinguashi area. A newly added interactive Kiosk guide machine features a highly interactive system and 3D visual effects, allowing inquirers to quickly understand how to reach various major locations scattered throughout the Shuinan and Jinguashi areas. Another important service here is the on-site tour guide staff, some of whom are local or nearby residents volunteering to explain to tourists, such as Japanese-speaking volunteers who regularly report for duty on weekends.
