There’s a place near Taipei called the Houtong Cat Village, and it’s basically exactly what it sounds like. Do you want to see a whole bunch of cats? Because they’ve got a whole bunch of cats.
It’s actually a former mining community; though the mine was active for decades, it shut down in 1990. Most of the human population left; those that remain help care for the many, many cats.
This is a must-visit for anyone who likes cats. Aside from the fact that they’re everywhere, there are also several cat-themed gift shops where you can buy any number of cute souvenirs.
If you cross the bridge to the other side of the village, you can see the destroyed remnants of the mining operation, including a very small but informative mining-themed museum (well, “museum” might be overstating it — it’s basically one room with a model of the old mine, some mining facts, and a bit of history. But it’s free and it’s informative, so it’s worth a visit).
This side of the tracks also has a handful of restaurants and shops; I didn’t eat here, but there’s enough variety that if you’re hungry, you can probably find something that strikes your fancy.
Plus, it’s a fairly scenic area, so it’s definitely worth wandering around a bit and taking it all in.
How to find it: It’s extremely easy to get here from Taipei — just take the train all the way to Houtong Station, and it’s right there.