The village, which has more cats than people, attracts tourists.

According toDaily Mail,Once a coal mining area, Houtong's residents began to leave as the industry declined. By the late 1990s, fewer than 100 people remained in Houtong.

However, this became a destination for stray cats from all over. Around 2008, locals began sharing more stories about the village's stray cats on social media.

From then on, Houtong unexpectedly became a "phenomenon," attracting animal-loving tourists.

Lonely PlanetHe said: "There are currently over 200 cats in Houtong. Thanks to them, the locals can make a living by opening shops, cafes, and restaurants to serve the tourists who flock there every weekend."

In Houtong, visitors are said to be able to find all sorts of exotic cats. They are present everywhere in the village. In 2013, the village renovated a pedestrian bridge so that the cats could easily cross.

Houtong "Cat Village" is highly rated with 4.3/5 stars based on the opinions of over 12,000 visitors.Google.

Chani Dominguez, a visitor who has been here before, described the village as "a paradise on earth for cat lovers." Another visitor, Paul Hermansen, said: "Cat lovers will want to stay here all day."

Because it's less than a 1.5-hour public transport ride from Taipei, Houtong has become a favorite day trip destination for both foreign tourists and locals.