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Houtong was known as the “monkey hole” in the early days, because there were lots of monkeys living in the surrounding mountains.
Houtong cat village is also known as Houtong Cat Street, the local cats are not afraid of people for long-term contracting with tourists. But because of the hot day, most cats hide in the shade, while after dark they will come out in groups.
A hand-drawn map, two unique Taiwan railway tickets took us into the cat's paradise.
On the Houtong station stop sign, there is a small logo clearly described the Houtong outlines: cats, miners, monkeys, as well as the miners crossing a stream bridge.
The mining industry has become the history of the Houtong, and the cats become the main theme of this small mountain village, even the benches on the station platform are also marked with the imprint of the cat by the local indigenous people.
The flower beds painted with cat are fastened on each pillar outbound, holding a few pieces of casual flowers to welcome the guests who come for the cats from afar.
A “kitten” lazily lay on the window sill leading to the exit of the channel.
Here, the cat reminds the guests security is the most important.
The cats also walk into the station to remind you that “I’m here”,“I am very timid, don’t take the dogs here”…
The famous star of the villagers “black nose” conductor will always stand at the station port to welcome every friends coming for the cats.
The station is very small, only a shop, filled with the souvenirs of the cat.
Even the cartoon image of Taiwan Railway Administration has been draw a few whiskers, as cute as cat like.
A heavy table beside the shop is designed to prepare for guests to write postcards, but star cats have “occupied” here.
There are even lots of pieces of lovely seals preparing for tourists in the store.
You can free to cover any of seal you need to record the carrier, postcards, travel brochures, maps and even the arm.
This little boy was also personally completed all the records under the help of his Mummy.
The cat village is on the other side of the station. After coming out from the train station, there are clear instructions to the direction. In the cat village, almost every cat has its own name, of which there are four star cats.
The “Four kings” sit on a tourist train leading guests to the cat village.
Everywhere is the cute cat on the footbridge acrossing the railway.
Walk into the cat village, people will feel as if walked into the cat's paradise, and everywhere you can see their home.
They can lay idle in the roadside stone steps and fall asleep.
Even was shot by tourists not far away, the cats won’t look at the tourists, they would go on sleeping after turning around.
The village is very quiet, and the flower-filled trails intricate distribution between the cottages.
The cats are the owner here. They will jump out and look up and down every unfamiliar face like aborigines.
