Taipei: Temple Art, Mining and Distinctive Routes

Mining history, temple art and routes along railway lines shape very different travel experiences. The Remains of the 13 Levels were built in 1933 during the Japanese occupation as a facility for processing and extracting precious metals. Museums and preserved sites also offer insight into the history of mining.

Mining History and Its Legacy

The Gold Museum presents mining culture and the history of gold extraction. Visitors can also take the BenShanWuKeng Tunnel Experience through the mine tunnels. The Gold Museum grounds also include the Crown Prince Chalet, with its preserved Japanese architecture and garden. The exhibition, tunnel experience and chalet offer different perspectives on mining history.

Houtong preserves traces of its mining past, including tunnels, mine carts, a coal transport bridge, miners’ housing and relics of the Ruisan Mining Company. The Ruisan Coal Preparation Plant features an exhibition on mining history that shares miners’ historical memories through multimedia and interactive light and sound technology. Material relics and a multimedia exhibition thus offer different ways of presenting history.

Temple Art, Old Streets and Craftsmanship

The Sanxia Qingshui Zushi Temple was founded in 1769. Its stone and wood carvings reflect the work of artisans and contemporary artists from various schools. Sanxia Old Street also features distinctive architecture, including red-brick arcades and Baroque-style buildings. The street is also known for its horn bread.

The Sanxia History Museum displays old documents and antiques relating to the history of Sanxia’s industries, the Qingshui Zushi Temple and Sanxia Old Street. The Sanxia Dye House offers another way to explore a craft, with courses and DIY activities in indigo dyeing. On Pingxi Old Street, meanwhile, old homes line the hillside and both sides of the railway. Local Taiwanese street food is also available there.

Railway Lines, Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The Pingxi Line is 12.9 kilometers long and runs from Sandiaoling Station to Jingtong. A different kind of route is the 三貂岭生态友善隧道: a 3.19-kilometer cycling path created from disused railway tunnels on the Yilan Line. Their different lengths and modes of travel make them distinct options for planning a trip.

Keelung Mountain is 588 meters high and is one of Taiwan’s 100 Small Peaks. The Keelung Mountain Hiking Trail leads visitors from the areas of Shuinandong, Jinguashi and Jiufen to the summit. At Shifen Waterfall, visitors can walk from the Shifen Visitor Center across Siguangtan Bridge to the potholes and Yanjingdong Waterfall. These routes lead to different destinations, from a mountain summit to geological formations and a waterfall.

The tidal platform at Yehliu Geopark is an important ecological conservation area. The park offers paid guided tours, which must be reserved 14 days in advance. Keep this deadline in mind when planning a tour.

Waterfronts, Bridges and Local Cuisine

The 165-meter-long Lover’s Bridge at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf connects the waterfront promenade with the tourist fish market. In Houtong, Houtong Cat Bridge is a pedestrian overpass connecting the Cat Village with Coal Mine Park and providing access to Houtong Station. The two bridges therefore serve different navigation and connection purposes.

From Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf, visitors can take a ferry to Bali or Tamsui Old Street and enjoy the Blue Highway along the way. Check the ferry schedule before planning your trip. Tamsui Old Street has traditional bakeries and local dishes such as A Gei, fish balls and fried fish crackers. Together with the Taiwanese street food on Pingxi Old Street, these places also offer culinary highlights.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Beitou, Nangang, Taipei, Shenkeng, Sindian, Neihu District, Wenshan District, Taichung City.

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