![Jinguashi Jinguashi](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3239648698_76cbd311ec_o.jpg)
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](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3239649916_fcd923abb6_o.jpg)
![A mangy dog greeted us too A mangy dog greeted us too](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3309/3239648054_82397b2b59_o.jpg)
![Lets head to the mines! Lets head to the mines!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3238808517_aa61275285_o.jpg)
![Some dug out mineral rocks Some dug out mineral rocks](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3239648598_46150f9afe_o.jpg)
![Jinguashi police station Jinguashi police station](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3239647454_12a85b3b72_o.jpg)
![Jinguashi is located on a hill top Jinguashi is located on a hill top](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3239649414_3fd8cd948a_o.jpg)
![The fresh air makes Rachel happy The fresh air makes Rachel happy](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3238810295_fc40b5182d_o.jpg)
![The flowers are happy too The flowers are happy too](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3238809609_7107e9de0d_o.jpg)
![Train tracks spotted Train tracks spotted](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3238808245_5da18772e1_o.jpg)
![Bridge spotted Bridge spotted](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3239647512_e6b36e838f_o.jpg)
![nice leaves nice leaves](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3373/3238808089_8beb532783_o.jpg)
![nice flower and butterfly nice flower and butterfly](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3495/3239649338_7134510c0c_o.jpg)
![Holiday villa for the Japanese prince last time Holiday villa for the Japanese prince last time](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/3238810247_1a0ee6e9f4_o.jpg)
![Theres two! Theres two!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3238809823_7ff129d95c_o.jpg)
![Close-up of the villa - very nice hor? Close-up of the villa - very nice hor?](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3239649746_cc7205d808_o.jpg)
![Rachel wishes she owns a villa like this Rachel wishes she owns a villa like this](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3424/3239648760_ee2c2f50b2_o.jpg)
![Still daydreaming about her villa Still daydreaming about her villa](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3239648540_71f2d1bfd6_o.jpg)
![Free chops for happy people Free chops for happy people](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/3239647396_7aa6d024a7_o.jpg)
![cheery noticeboard cheery noticeboard](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/3238809201_839bb2c350_o.jpg)
![Free tea satchels fresheners Free tea satchels fresheners](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/3238808699_b6f0bd3f58_o.jpg)
![preserved Japanese residential preserved Japanese residential](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3238810327_858a6a7de1_o.jpg)
![inside the residence inside the residence](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3371/3238809977_26f6c057e4_o.jpg)
![yellow helmets for kids; white for adults yellow helmets for kids; white for adults](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3238810073_6c46e70545_o.jpg)
![Wax man miner Wax man miner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3239649500_5b719b40ea_o.jpg)
![Alvin the Gold Miner Alvin the Gold Miner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/3238810711_fd6cb644ca_o.jpg)
![Rachel the Gold Miner Rachel the Gold Miner](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3445/3238811201_a5b2507bdb_o.jpg)
![Foremen briefing all of us Foremen briefing all of us](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3239647116_31489b4771_o.jpg)
![Monday blues Monday blues](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3239647622_74d4a1aa96_o.jpg)
![Deeper into the mine Deeper into the mine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3239647278_c47ac6bc63_o.jpg)
![Can tell she dont really like the job Can tell she dont really like the job](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/3238808053_a2e77f200e_o.jpg)
![A colleague whos scare of loud noises A colleague whos scare of loud noises](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3239648154_b78644c9be_o.jpg)
![Our two lazy colleagues, Ah Beng and Ah Seng chao kenging Our two lazy colleagues, Ah Beng and Ah Seng chao kenging](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3238810373_f6668e4ac1_o.jpg)
![Our hardworking colleagues, Ah Huat and Ah Chye keeping themselves busy Our hardworking colleagues, Ah Huat and Ah Chye keeping themselves busy](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3239647784_8f8d66436c_o.jpg)
![Money very hard to earn... Money very hard to earn...](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3239647832_dda26e521d_o.jpg)
![Rusty old transportation tram Rusty old transportation tram](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3356/3238809657_7d86510060_o.jpg)
![I refuse to work OT! I refuse to work OT!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3238810809_1da5a5dc09_o.jpg)
![Our colleague got caught stealing from the mine Our colleague got caught stealing from the mine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3238811039_859542cd62_o.jpg)
![Mined rocks Firewood](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3238810023_6913548567_o.jpg)
![Some pump or engine Some pump or engine](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3239648282_7704b59198_o.jpg)
![Going into the Gold Museum Going into the Gold Museum](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3238809353_f8bcc40b77_o.jpg)
![they are figurines in the museum) they are figurines in the museum)](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3238809483_ef9c970819_o.jpg)
![More hobbits More hobbits](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/3239647592_b039924c08_o.jpg)
![Wheres Frodo? Wheres Frodo?](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/3239649292_fce9a4a7c3_o.jpg)
![Real giant gold bar that weighs a ton Real giant gold bar that weighs a ton](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3239648248_78abb849a5_o.jpg)
![Rachel and I are typical Singaporeans - everything must touch! Rachel and I are typical Singaporeans - everything must touch!](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3239648100_0198fa21d8_o.jpg)
![Nice ancient gold plate Nice ancient gold plate](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3239648972_fded7e47ae_o.jpg)
![WW2 POWs sent to work at the mines WW2 POWs sent to work at the mines](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3238809063_f0849d2714_o.jpg)
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
I am going Taiwan soon! Any places to recommend us to go to? xD
Wow! real great lifestyle!
Oh, so I see this was what we missed. Was at Rui Fang and Jiu Feng last mth but din hv enuf time to go visit Jinguashi.