Taiwan’s Jiufen
Taiwan, at one time annexed by Japan, is a unique island whose culture has its roots in many countries. Even today, the older generation speak both Japanese and Chinese, and Japanese influences remain in some areas’ architecture. It’s little wonder, then, that Miyazaki sought the place out as a source of inspiration for the uncanny, other-worldly, setting for his story to take place in.
Lined with food stalls, the streets of the mysterious town Chihiro and her family stumble upon at the beginning of the film are believed to be based on Jiufen’s own downtown areas. The numerous red paper lanterns and long, winding alleys are though to have been sketched by Miyazaki during a trip to the island while Spirited Away was still in early development stages.
The enormous bathhouse, whose furnaces are manned by the spider-like character Kamaji, stands as the centrepiece for the movie, and is perhaps most remembered for its grand stature and ornate decoration. Like many of the buildings in the film, the bathhouse is strictly speaking neither Japanese nor Chinese in its design, but has an unworldly feel to it, at once majestic yet familiar.
There is also a video for those that't can't go and experience it them self:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DOLApTZTcU
Source: http://en.rocketnews24.com/…/%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91-taiw…/
~Nina
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