Cherishing Jiufen's Past and Present

Rushing to arrive in Jiufen at dusk to witness the dazzling lights of the mountain town. However, upon arrival, you find Jiufen nowhere to be seen, as the usual crowds are absent, shops have long closed, and the lights are out. You lose your reference points and fumble in the dark for direction. Jiufen is no longer the scene you once loved. Over-commercialization has turned it into a gaudy spectacle, like a simple village girl dressed up flamboyantly. You chose to visit during the northeast monsoon because you knew from long ago that the rain could wash away its gaudy facade, revealing its weathered yet captivating essence. Gold gives birth to water; if rain is Jiufen's soul, it also reflects your wandering and unrestrained spirit. Quietly listening to the sound of wind and rain, watching Jiufen shrouded in mist, you think of Zheng Chouyu's poem: 'I am merely a passerby, not a returning person!'