Jin Shan “Mystery Coast” and Old Street Meal Experience

“Let’s go and visit a mystery place by Jin Shan coastline, and have stir fry dishes on the Old Street, but we have to be there early, or those dishes will be gone!” I was asked. A mystery place? What kind of eating place would that be and will stop serving when we get there late? All these questions came to my mind while my stomach started making noises..

Mystery Coast

Three of us drove on the north-east corner coastline of Taiwan overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean and Taiwan Strait. It was a cloudy day otherwise the coastline would be so gorgeous! We parked the car on a fishermen village. We walked on several stairs, passed the breakwater, and then came to the entrance of the mysterious place. There is a huge rock protruding out to the sea; however, a tall, narrow hole pierces this huge rock. Only one to two persons can walk through the hole at the same time. It names “One line hole” (一線洞).

Outside the hole is the astonished rock coastal scenery. You can see plenty green algae on the junction of the rocks and sea. The rock surfaces have orange-brown color textures, together with the green algae, ocean, and cliff colors form a beautiful natural painting. I was astonished by its beauty. This place has not attracted too many tourists, so it still has the simplicity nature although it still offers the tremendous coastline scenery.

Among all these colorful rock textures, Kristen named one of the pieces- “Kissing lips”. That is one of the most artistic artwork the Mother Nature created!

The name of this coastline is “Mystery Coast” (神秘海岸). During the martial law era, Taiwan’s coastline belonged to the military controlled areas. Public could not enter or get closer, can’t take pictures or do the painting here either. Therefore, it kept the mystery feeling.

Old Street Meal Experience

We arrived at Jin Bao Li Old Street shortly after the coast strolling. The former name of Jin Shan Township was “Jin Bao Li” (金包里). It was a name given by the aboriginals and then changed to Jin Shan in 1920. It belongs to Taipei County. “Jin Bao Li Old Street” is also known as “Jin Shan Old Street” where the originated place of the northern coastline is and also the only old street. This street has a 200 year history!

Here is the oldest building on this street. Currently, it still sells a variety of rice in the traditional way.

Jin Shan is also famous with its sweet potatoes. They are soft, sweet and large. Strolling on the street, baked sweet potatoes, ice-roasted sweet potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato biscuit can be seen everywhere. The annual sweet potatoes festival in August has been a fun event and attracted lots of visitors.

Street vendors are also selling many of the traditional snacks, cakes, as well as taro, bamboo shoots, yams and other characteristics of agricultural products.

This street was very packed especially during lunch time. We finally slowly walked through the crowd and reached to the Kuang An Temple (廣安宮) where the most popular stir fry dishes serve in town.

How are we going to order? Where are we sitting? I was told that the best way was to find a table first before we picked up the dishes. There were no menus, and no ordering. We just picked up the hot stir fry dishes that we liked in the kitchen outside the temple. Grabbed the dishes fast, or they would be taken! I saw people holding their steaming hot dishes on the street; walking through the crowd, and finding their tables which became an interesting scene.

This boy was just too hungry for our dishes!

Almost all the stores around Kuang An Temple are the seating areas; however, all tables were taken. Standing by a table and waiting for them to finish could be the only way to get a table.

Jin Shan Duck Meat is one of the popular dishes here. They are tender, juicy and delicious! As you already knew, “grab the dish fast, or they would be taken!”

It is very interesting in seeing that the meat dishes are selling just right outside the temple!

Another must eat dessert on the old street is “Jin Shan shredded ice”. Lots of varieties of flavors to select, not too sweet and with lower calories so don’t miss the shredded ice while you are in town.

Beside the beautiful coastline and local delicacies, hot springs is another attraction of Jin Shan’s. Jin Shan Hot Springs contains four kinds of springs- "sulfur spring, carbonated spring, iron spring, salt spring,” It became the world's rarely seen hot spring area.

Next to the Jin Shan Hot Spring Public Bath, a running hot spring laundry area offers the old time clothes washing experience.

Spending a day in the mystery coast and having stir fry dishes outside the temple in Jin Shan Old Street offer you a plenty of surprises and a unique experience! You may find precious surprises and capture them for a valuable memory!

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