“Jin Bao Li Old Street at Jin Shan” was elected as one of the must go tourist spots in Taiwan. On the old street of Jin Bao Li, there are hot springs, one century old “Ci Hu Temple”, and a variety of traditional local dishes. The village representative, Mrs. You Bao Gui, a native of Jin Bao Li, said jokingly that among all of the traditional gourmet dishes, she enjoys the most “deep fried break stick” in the market, which goes wonderfully with the rice milk on the old street of Jin Bao Li. Now she is working as the “tourist ambassador” as a volunteer tour guide to bring all of the best from his memories to the visitors.
The fifty year old Mis. You Bao Gui, works as a staff leader in the Section of Civic Affair and Disaster Protection of Jin Shan Township District Office. She is a kind person and is nicknamed as “Sister You.” She indicated that when she was little what she liked the most to visit the Temple Fair. The two century old “Jin Bao Li Ci Hu Temple” and “Bao An Temple” established in the Qing Dynasty of Guan Xu Period, are two local religious centers. She recommends that all visitors should come to visit the temples as the first stop.
In addition to the temple, cherry blossoms in the Zhong Shan Park will bloom to the fullest in winter. It is a good place to visit. On the corner of the park, there is an ancient well, where villagers used to come to wash clothes from the urging natural spring water, and where a lot of conversations were made and a variety of information was exchanged.
By the park, a “Jin Bao Li Public Bath” stand near, where according to Sister Bao’s memories, at the days when no one had the ability to purchase electricity heater to boil hot water, her mother would take her sister and she to come to this bath to dip in the hot spring. At that time, each person would pay five cents. Now the public bath is free of charge to all visitors. The elderly love the natural spring here and many people would come to enjoy the hot spring every day.
The near-by Jin Bao Li Old Street is the place where villages come to purchase the goods and daily necessities of all kinds. Sister You said when she was little, she would come to the old street to buy clothes with her grandparents, and guests would say the new clothes would go to the elder children and the younger children would inherit the new clothes a few years later when they grew bigger. In ancient agricultural society, villagers were humble and honest. Though they did not have much money, they felt satisfied as long as they did not suffer from hunger.
“I love the deep fried bread stick the most in the market,” Sister You said. She used to run errands in Jin Bao Li village and she also missed the old flavored “Sweet Potato Buns.” As time changed quickly, the old street of Jin Bao Li has turned into a scenic spot; nevertheless, its wonderful delicious foods are kept for all the visitors to come and taste when enjoying the pleasure of hot spring in a nostalgic atmosphere.