Jiufen Goldore Museum, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwán
Visitors to the Gold Museum in Jinguashi can try their hand at panning gold right outside the Benshan No. 5 Tunnel, where gold miners toiled between 1897 and 1972. They can also visit a stretch of the tunnel to get a taste of mining work, augmented with a display of wax figures and explosion sound effects.
The museum grounds, spread over a wide area and featuring numerous facilities, constitute the former business area and Japanese quarters of the Jinguashi gold and copper mine district in New Taipei City’s Ruifang District. Jinguashi and its better-known neighbor Jiufen, after long thriving as industry towns, suffered after the closure of their mines in the 1970s and ’80s. Both have since turned to tourism. Compared with the endless stream of visitors in Jiufen, however, Jinguashi is much quieter and retains a raw charm, as if frozen in time.
Epic Taiwan Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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