Visiting Jinguashi (金瓜石) in Taipei - Alvinology

Visiting Jinguashi (金瓜石) in Taipei

Jinguashi
Jinguashi

Jinguashi(金瓜石) is a town in Taipei County, Taiwan, notable for its historic gold and copper mines. It also knows as Kinkaseki in Japanese.

Although the minerals have since been depleted, the town still attracts many visitors to its Gold Ecological Park, which opened in October 2004. Jinguashi was named a potential World Heritage site in 2002.

To get there, you can take a train from Taipei Main Station (台北車站) to Rueifang Station (瑞芳). After alighting from the train, walk about 2 minutes to the main road directly in front of the station; cross the road; and board one of the bus heading towards Jinguashi. If you are carrying heavy luggages, you may want to deposit them at the train station for a small fee (Rachel and I found that extremely helpful).

Here are some photos taken during our trip last year.

Creepy miner uncle who greeted us at the entrance
Creepy miner uncle who greeted us at the entrance
A mangy dog greeted us too
A mangy dog greeted us too
Lets head to the mines!
Let’s head to the mines!
Some dug out mineral rocks
Some dug out mineral rocks
Jinguashi police station
Jinguashi police station
Jinguashi is located on a hill top
Jinguashi is located on a hill top
The fresh air makes Rachel happy
The fresh air makes Rachel happy
The flowers are happy too
The flowers are happy too
Train tracks spotted
Train tracks spotted
Bridge spotted
Bridge spotted
nice leaves
nice leaves
nice flower and butterfly
nice flower and butterfly
Holiday villa for the Japanese prince last time
Holiday villa for the Japanese prince last time
Theres two!
There’s two!
Close-up of the villa - very nice hor?
Close-up of the villa – very nice hor?
Rachel wishes she owns a villa like this
Rachel wishes she owns a villa like this
Still daydreaming about her villa
Still daydreaming about her villa
Free chops for happy people
Free chops for happy people
cheery noticeboard
cheery noticeboard
Free tea satchels fresheners
Free tea satchels fresheners
preserved Japanese residential
preserved Japanese residential
inside the residence
inside the residence
yellow helmets for kids; white for adults
yellow helmets for kids; white for adults
Wax man miner
Wax man miner
Alvin the Gold Miner
Alvin the Gold Miner
Rachel the Gold Miner
Rachel the Gold Miner
Foremen briefing all of us
Foremen briefing all of us
Monday blues
Monday blues
Deeper into the mine
Deeper into the mine
Can tell she dont really like the job
Can tell she don’t really like the job
A colleague whos scare of loud noises
A colleague who’s scare of loud noises
Our two lazy colleagues, Ah Beng and Ah Seng chao kenging
Our two lazy colleagues, Ah Beng and Ah Seng chao kenging
Our hardworking colleagues, Ah Huat and Ah Chye keeping themselves busy
Our hardworking colleagues, Ah Huat and Ah Chye keeping themselves busy
Money very hard to earn...
Money very hard to earn…
Rusty old transportation tram
Rusty old transportation tram
I refuse to work OT!
“I refuse to work OT!”
Our colleague got caught stealing from the mine
Our colleague got caught stealing from the mine
Firewood
Mined rocks
Some pump or engine
Some pump or engine
Going into the Gold Museum
Going into the Gold Museum
they are figurines in the museum)
Hobbits mining (kidding: they are figurines in the museum)
More hobbits
More hobbits
Wheres Frodo?
Where’s Frodo?
Real giant gold bar that weighs a ton
Real giant gold bar that weighs a ton
Rachel and I are typical Singaporeans - everything must touch!
Rachel and I are typical Singaporeans – everything must touch!
Nice ancient gold plate
Nice ancient gold plate
WW2 POWs sent to work at the mines
WW2 POWs sent to work at the mines

At the end of the day, despite the sweltering hot weather, Rachel and I quite enjoyed ourselves at Jinguashi. We learn a fair bit about the gold mine’s history and the crappy working conditions early gold miners have to endure. 🙂

Technorati Tags: Jinguashi, 金瓜石, taipei, taiwan, kinkaseki, gold ecological park, potential world heritage site, taipei main station, rueifang station, 瑞芳, 台北車站, gold mining, gold miners, giant gold bar

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