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Historic mining town in north Taiwan
Photo: vixyao, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Jinguashi (金瓜石) is a village in the Ruifang District of eastern New Taipei City, Taiwan. The area became famous for its gold mines, and is considered a potential World Heritage Site by the Taiwan Bureau of Cultural Heritage. It is on the slope between the coast and Teapot Mountain, so the local scenery is exceptionally beautiful. The Jinguashi mining site is an open-air museum, but many of the attractions are ticketed. It is near to Jiufen, and makes a good day-trip from Taipei.
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金瓜石神社遺址
The Jinguashi Shinto Shrine, also called the “Mountain God Shrine,” is dedicated to the three deities of “ôkuninushinomikoto, kaneyamahikonomikoto and sarutahikonomikoto. In 1933, after the Japan Mining Company took over the management of Jinguashi mine, it commemorated the event by building a Shinto shrine half way up the mountain below Siping lane. The original shrine included a main hall, prayer hall and pavilion for worshipers to wash their hands. There were also two walkways along the stairs, at either side of which were 3 torii (gate), 5 flag platforms and 1 bronze bull. During the Japanese era large-scale religious ceremonies and rituals were held here every year. Unfortunately, the buildings were damaged in the post-war period and today all that is left are 2 torii (gate), a few stone lanterns and the shrine’s original foundation, beams and pillars. The shrine is a short walk uphill from the Gold Museum.
From Ruifang train station, you can take a 1062 or 856 bus from the nearby Resident Square. NT$25, with Easycards accepted. Buses run from 08:30 until 15:00 with one bus about every 30 minutes.
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The Jinguashi site is an open-air museum. You can walk around for free, including up to the Shinto shrine, but most exhibits require a fee to enter.
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