Jinguashi, Mining town in Ruifang District, Taiwan.
Jinguashi is a former mining town built on a steep hillside near Ruifang in northern Taiwan. It has restored buildings, a park with information on rocks and mining equipment, and walking paths that wind through old mine sites.
The town began in the mid-1800s when gold and copper mining started in the region. It reached its peak under Japanese rule but rapidly declined after mining stopped following World War II.
The village preserves architecture from the Japanese mining era, particularly in its wooden buildings and narrow alleyways that reflect how mine workers lived daily. These structures tell the story of when tens of thousands of people inhabited this place.
The best way to reach it is by train to Ruifang Station, then by buses 788, 1062, 825, 826, or 856. Wear comfortable shoes as there are many stairs and steep paths throughout the area.
The Yin Yang Sea nearby displays two distinctly different water colors—one copper-toned and one milky—due to mineral deposits from past mining. This color separation formed through natural chemical processes in the mining areas.
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