To all the world, the mountain town of Jiufen looks as though it has been plucked out of an old Chinese storybook. With red lanterns lining steep alleyways and atmospheric tea houses serving tea in the traditional way, the charm of yesteryear is vividly alive in this former mining town
“Look! (It’s) Over there!”, I heard an excited voice behind me. It was a boy and he kept pointing her finger to a nearby bush. A few seconds later, a black-white shape leaped out. Its yellow eyes seemed to notice us but showed no interest to interact. After a while, the figure gently walked away, swinging its tail back and forth. That was my first encounter with the citizen of Houtong, a place that is often dubbed the Cat Village.