New Taipei Travel: Rock formations of Northern Coast - Elephant Rock

Sad Update:

Travel Date: 2018/11/10

Today's weather isn't good, it has been rainy since the morning. I hope this doesn't ruin our trip. I have chosen six places to visit: Golden Waterfall, Remains of 13 Levels, Yin Yang Sea, Elephant Trunk Rock, Helping Island Park, and the Fairy Cave and Buddha's Hand Cave.

It's our second time visiting Golden Waterfall and Remains of 13 Levels. This time, we are not traveling alone; a nice guy from Slovakia has joined us. I don't often have the chance to meet other foreigners, so it's pretty nice. I hope this trip is really interesting for him.

I was amazed after visiting Yehliu Geopark three months ago, so I wanted to see Elephant Trunk Rock this time. The Northern Coast of Taiwan is truly beautiful, with its many rock formations and algae-covered volcanic stones. We have already seen Golden Waterfall and Yin Yang Sea today. Despite the rain, today is a really nice day.

Elephant Trunk Rock (象鼻岩)

One of the most famous rock formations in New Taipei is Elephant Trunk Rock. It's a really nice place to visit, and the sea around it looks beautiful. There is a short trail from the parking area, and you need to climb a little before you can see this view. Today, it was rainy, so the ground was slippery, making it a little difficult to climb.

On the way to this rock, you can also see other rock formations, like mushroom rocks. Why do the stones have this shape? A few months each year, the place is under the influence of monsoon and wave erosion. The rocks decompose due to direct contact with the atmosphere, a process called weathering. You can also see Keelung Islet in the sea.

The view from Elephant Trunk Rock is really nice, but you should be careful when walking there. If the weather is rainy, the stones can be slippery, and you could fall into the sea. Also, don't wear slippers when coming to this place! I have seen other foreigners wearing slippers, and that's really not a smart idea.

This place is really crowded with people.

The Elephant Trunk Rock is located in the village called Shen-ao. The village has a sandstone terrain, mostly composed of a seaside rocky area and hillsides. If you walk to the other side of the harbor, you can also see a huge sandstone.

In the harbor, you will see many fishing boats and some stalls selling seafood.

We also wanted to visit Heping Island Park (和平島海濱公園). During the Spanish occupation, castles, churches, and fortresses were built here for business trades with China and Japan. San Salvador Castle is the only one in Keelung. Before World War II, the island was called Sheliao Island and was under military control until the 1960s. In Heping Island Park, you can also see the unique landscape of sea-eroded rocks. The entrance fee is 80 NTD for adults, but we decided not to go inside due to the rainy weather.

See aslo: Yehliu Geopark

Address:

224新北市瑞芳區深澳岬角 象鼻岩景觀區

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New Taipei Travel: Golden Waterfall of Jinguashi Mining Area

Travel Date: 2018/11/10

Today's weather isn't good, it has been rainy since the morning. I hope this doesn't ruin our trip. I have chosen six places to visit: Golden Waterfall, Remains of 13 Levels, Yin Yang Sea, Elephant Trunk Rock, Helping Island Park, and the Fairy Cave and Buddha's Hand Cave.

It's our second time visiting Golden Waterfall and Remains of 13 Levels. This time, we are not traveling alone; a nice guy from Slovakia has joined us. I don't often have the chance to meet other foreigners, so it's pretty nice. I hope this trip is really interesting for him.

Golden Waterfall (黃金瀑布)

The special golden color of the water can be seen at Golden Waterfall. Due to the rich rainfall, minerals are washed out of the stones, causing the water to appear yellow as it falls into the river and eventually into the sea. The color of the waterfall is not the result of mining, but rather it has existed long before the mining period. The color is natural and caused by heavy metals in the ground. The water has a beautiful golden color when illuminated by sunlight, but it is toxic and touching it is not recommended. Golden Waterfall is not very big, but it is a truly beautiful place to visit. Going near the water or taking soil from the area is not allowed.

Yin Yang Sea (陰陽海)

From this place, you can also take a look at Yin Yang Sea. Located on the Northern Coast, Yin Yang Sea is definitely a unique landscape. The name comes from the contrast between the yellowish-brown water and the natural blue color of the sea. Initially, people thought the yellow color of the water was due to pollution from the Taijin Company. However, this copper company stopped operations a few years ago, yet the sea still maintains its distinct colors. The mysterious color of the sea has been explained through geological studies.

Yin Yang Sea is formed naturally due to the high concentration of minerals. The Jinguashi area, rich in iron, copper, and pyrite deposits, results in underground water taking on the color of these minerals. When a large amount of water is discharged into the sea, the yellowish-brown color becomes visible on the surface, although it does not persist at great depths.

Remains of the Thirteen Levels (十三層遺址) 

Near this area, you can also see the Remains of the Thirteen Levels, also known as the Shuinandong Smelter (水湳洞精煉廠). It is a Japanese-era copper smelting refinery that is now one of the abandoned places in Taiwan.

The Shuinandong Smelter was built in 1933 and operated by war prisoners during the Japanese occupation. It was the largest smelter in Asia at that time.

The area was rich in gold and copper, but the output began to decline in the 1970s, leading to the abandonment of the site.

The smelter's construction is built on a hillside and actually has 18 levels. Additionally, it has one of the world's longest concrete pipeline ventilation systems, measuring over 1000 meters in length.

You can read more about this place in my another blog post.

See also: Remains of Thirteen Levels

Address:

1. Golden Waterfall: 224新北市瑞芳區金水公路黃金瀑布
2. Yin and Yang Sea: 224新北市瑞芳區濓新里陰陽海
3. Remains of Thirteen Levels: 224新北市瑞芳區水湳洞選煉廠遺址

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Taipei Travel: Houtong Cat's Village ~ Charming Felines in Taiwanese Mountainous Village

Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村)

There is something for cat lovers to see in Taiwan - the Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村). We had a really great time here. I love cats, and I really miss my pets that I had to leave in Poland. Unfortunately, I can't keep any cats or dogs now, which makes me upset, so it's a happier experience for me to visit this place.

The Houtong Village is surrounded by hills and has a beautiful river. Houtong is a small coal mining town that was built during the Japanese era. The village attracted over 6,000 workers and produced the highest amount of coal in Taiwan. However, in 1990, with the end of the coal industry, many people left this place, and the population of the village dwindled to less than 100 people.

In 2008, a cat lover began to care for abandoned cats in Houtong. After posting pictures online, Houtong once again became a tourist destination. Some people say that the number of cats here is 200+. You can find them sleeping anywhere, on rooftops, in flower pots, and even inside shops. Most of the cats are strays and wild but have become accustomed to people. And don't worry, they are looked after by a volunteer team with veterinary care.

You can find many shops around with food, drinks, and cat-themed souvenirs. Many times you will see signs not to feed or tease the cats, although many people still feed them and play with them when they get the chance. On weekends, Houtong is really full of tourists.

You can also visit the old mine. Ruisan Mine was built in 1940 and was the largest coal mine in Taiwan. The mine is 100 meters underground and 4 kilometers deep. You can ride inside the original diesel car and visit the museum with old photos and mining relics.

According to news in 2019, the number of cats has risen to about 50 more, totaling nearly 300 cats in Houtong. According to locals, it has become a magnet for people wanting to abandon their pets.

The village is just crazy about cats, with everything cat-related. There are cat decorations, music consisting of "meow," and you will find ceramic cats, cat-themed notepads, phone covers, socks, temporary tattoos, fridge magnets, and many more cat-themed items! 

Address: 

224新北市瑞芳區猴硐貓村

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Taipei Travel: The Remains of 13 Levels ~ Exploring Jinguashi Mining Area's Rich History

The Northern Coast of Taiwan is full of interesting places. Today, we are visiting the Remains of the Thirteen Levels (十三層遺址), also known as the Shuinandong Smelter (水湳洞精煉廠). It is located in the Jinguashi mining area in the Ruifang District of New Taipei. This Japanese-era copper smelting refinery is now one of the abandoned places in Taiwan. It's just a short walk from the Golden Waterfall, which is another interesting place to see.

Remains of the Thirteen Levels (水湳洞選煉廠遺址)

In 1905, the mining directory of the Jinguashi mine discovered gold, sulfur, arsenic, and copper ore in the area. That same year, a factory was established here to process gold and copper ore. By 1907, the Jinguashi mine produced 47 metric tons of copper and gained worldwide fame. The development of the Shuiyudong settlement is closely related to gold and copper ores. The employee buildings were built on the hillside opposite the Jiufen River, with the buildings divided into four and six households.

After actively mining the Jinguashi gold mine, the Japanese discovered sulfur-arsenic copper in 1920 and converted the mine into a copper mining and refinery operation. The Shuinandong Smelter was completed in 1933 and operated by war prisoners during the Japanese occupation. The smelter was built on a hillside and actually has 18 levels. It was the largest smelter in Asia at that time. In 1945, it was taken over by the Taiwan Gold and Copper Mining Bureau and converted into Taiwan Metal Mining in 1955.

This area was rich in gold and copper, but production began to decline in the 1970s. After 1987, the business ended, and soon this place became abandoned. In 2007, the site was registered as a historic building. The Remains of the Thirteen Levels is the largest site in the former Jinguashi area, which used to produce 50,000 tons of copper per year.

This place also boasts one of the world's longest concrete pipeline ventilation systems. These pipes are built along the hillside, with each pipe measuring about 1 km long. These large pipes can be easily seen from afar. In the past, it was necessary for copper smelting to discharge a large amount of copper smoke, which is highly toxic. This concrete pipeline ventilation system is a witness to the development of Taiwan's mining industry. In 2008, it was recognized as a cultural landscape.

See also: Golden Waterfall

Golden Waterfall (黃金瀑布)

Near this place, you can also see the Golden Waterfall (黃金瀑布). Due to abundant rainfall, minerals are washed out of the stones, causing the water to turn yellow and flow into the river and then into the sea. The color of the waterfall existed long before the mining period and is a natural occurrence caused by heavy metals in the ground. The water has a beautiful golden color when the sunlight hits it, but touching it isn't advisable due to its toxicity.

Yin Yang Sea (陰陽海)

The water from this area also flows into the sea, creating a unique landscape called Yin Yang Sea (陰陽海). Located on the Northern Coast, the Yin Yang Sea is truly a special sight. The name was given due to the contrast between the yellowish-brown water and the natural blue color of the sea. Initially, people used to think that the yellow color was a result of pollution from the Taijin Company. However, even after the copper company stopped operating a few years ago, the sea's colors remained the same. Geological studies have helped explain this mysterious color of the sea.

Address:

1. Remains of Thirteen Levels: 224新北市瑞芳區水湳洞選煉廠遺址
2. Golden Waterfall: 224新北市瑞芳區金水公路黃金瀑布

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Taipei Travel: Jiufen ~ Discovering the Charms of Taiwan's Historic Mining Town

Picture source: https://goo.gl/images/5TLYKd

We drove the scooter for a long time today, and it's almost getting dark. Before heading back home, my husband took me to Jiufen, which is one of the most popular places near Taipei.

I had never seen an old street before, but these kinds of places seem very crowded. Sometimes it was difficult to pass by and go to another place on these very narrow streets. I particularly liked the view of the many lanterns hanging up along the streets.

Jiufen village used to be the center of gold mining, with operations starting in 1892. During the Japanese era, Jiufen, Jinguashi, and Wudankeng were the three most important "golden mountains." In 1903-1904, the amount of gold produced in these three areas was comparable to the amount produced in Japan. Jiufen was under the management of Taiyang Mining during the Japanese occupation until the end of the war. Gold mining resumed in 1945 but started to decline after 1957. After gold mining officially ended in 1971, many miners shifted their focus to coal mining.

The name "Jiufen" means "nine portions." Legend has it that nine families lived in this village. Whenever one family went shopping, they would divide what they bought and share it among the nine families since the shops were far away.

Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)

Jiufen Old Street (九份老街) is the most popular street in Jiufen. It used to be called the "dark street" in the past because it was a gathering place for people at night. One of the oldest shops here is a tea house with over 100 years of historical architecture. Another street in the area, called Chigasaki Road, has over 300 stone steps and is lined with many tea houses. On this road, you will also see the Shengping Theatre building, which was the first cinema in Taiwan.

Jiufen Old Street is really small and extremely crowded. You can find a wide variety of food and souvenir shops here, and enjoy the nice view. The streets form a small maze with plenty of shops, and there are many tiny alleys connecting the main roads.

Around the streets, you can see many lanterns, which look the best after dark. The village is located on hills, allowing you to enjoy views of the mountains and the sea. Unfortunately, it's getting dark soon, and since we arrived here by scooter, we have to head home before all those lanterns light up the darkness.

See also: Jinguashi Mining Area

See also: History of Pingxi

 

Address: 

224新北市瑞芳區基山街九份老街

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