Introduction
On this website, we will introduce Lost Places in Taiwan. Since 2004, I have explored various regions of Taiwan, including many indigenous areas. Numerous Lost Places can only be reached after multi-day hikes, while some are nearly impossible to find. Others have disappeared entirely.
You will see simple Lost Places that are easy to visit, ones I have only been to once or twice myself. These include old houses, especially Ghost Houses. Others are abandoned factories or schools.
The final section features Lost Places with unique characteristics that make them worth further exploration. One such place is a large mining facility in Guanxi, which I discovered only after weeks of searching. Here, I plan to conduct further research and interview former employees.
Of particular importance to me are the indigenous areas in Nanao.
Latest posts
Secondary Shafts
2026/8/30 dangerous (snakes, traps, collapse) In addition to the large open mining areas and the more than 600 km of interconnected mine shafts, there were numerous smaller mines. Some may extend only a few metres into the hillside, while others can run for several hundred metres. They were often quite small and, in some cases, uncomfortably cramped. We have been inside shafts like these, but we had little desire to crawl through the dampness on our hands and knees. Judging from the footprints, it seems that someone has recently been trying to get in. Here the passage splits. This tunnel leads
Mine No. 16
In process The Jialuopai coalfield near Neiwan has, with a few exceptions, largely fallen into oblivion. I think this is where a new project begins: searching for the remains of a mine that still exist deep in the mountains. Today, I only explored the first trail. There must have been large villages further down the mountain. Here are some pictures: I then spoke with an elderly Atayal woman who was still able to explain quite a few things to me. I will probably have to ask a hunter to act as my guide. The trail is very steep and crossed by
The Queen reclaims what is hers
ed. 2026/8/23 still in process dangerous (traps, snakes) Humans have done nature a great deal of wrong. They not only destroy themselves in the process—probably not a great loss to nature—they alter it, destroy it, and poison it. But whatever happens, nature ultimately wins and reclaims what belongs to it. This description may sound less idealized or theatrical to many Indigenous people in Taiwan. Nature, spirits, ancestors, and souls are interconnected. (Snap traps, probably the most cruel form of hunting in Taiwan, and frowned upon by traditional Indigenous hunters) What today looks like a naturally formed landscape around Jiufen is actually
A little shaft
2026/8/12 dangerous (snakes) Although, by name, it may have been the smaller counterpart to Dacukeng, the settlement of XiaocuKeng must nevertheless have covered a considerable area, with numerous fields. Here, the first substantial walls and terraces appear. Small remnants of walls indicate that houses once stood here. The present-day center of the settlement is still at least another 200 meters away. Along the way, further overgrown terraces can be seen. I can no longer determine whether these were fields or the sites of houses. This small mining settlement was formed after the discovery of gold deposits. It was located along the
History of mining area around Jinguashi and Houtong
in process It is actually quite remarkable how little well-organized information can be found about the Shuinandong Smelter and its surroundings. While bits and pieces are scattered across various websites, comprehensive and coherent background information is surprisingly rare. I’ve already covered parts of the story elsewhere, but here I have tried to present everything in a more structured and accessible way. I’ll simply include a selection of photographs without any particular order, allowing them to speak for themselves. General Description Today, it is difficult to imagine what this area once looked like. Stretching between the Pacific Ocean, Jinguashi, Jiufen, Dacukeng, and
A borrowed life
2026/7/22 (in process) High risk (unstable, overgrown, poisonous snakes like habu, green viper) Remark: The old photographs are now preserved in the temple. Dacukeng and the movie This post weaves together the story of a little-known village, the search for long-forgotten mines, and the acclaimed Taiwanese film A Borrowed Life, whose story unfolds in this remarkable setting. The quest to rediscover the vanished mines has only just begun, promising further insights into the area’s forgotten past. The village appears unassuming, yet it is a place of great historical significance and the gateway to countless adventures. “A borrowed life (Dosang)” is the
History and nature
Few people realize that the Alishan Forest Railway once had an extensive network with numerous branch lines. Today, almost nothing remains of most of these branches, with the Mianyue Line being the notable exception. Hidden beside the road, this tunnel esides the highway No. 18 has survived, although the railway tracks that once led to it have long since disappeared. One of the most beautiful, yet lesser-known, trails is the 石山引水道. It is neither abandoned nor closed, but it offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of Alishan. It was originally a branch line of the Japanese-built railway used to transport
Rotten Yangmei II
My report on my adopted hometown continues. The title is pure clickbait, of course. What you see here is a former motel. It actually seems to have been quite nice in its day. What purpose do Taiwanese motels serve? Traditionally, they provided a retreat for newly married couples who were still living with their parents or in-laws. Every now and then, they wanted a little privacy to consummate their marriage without the risk of constant supervision from an overbearing mother-in-law. Motels are also notorious as venues for extramarital adventures. Oh, and of course they can serve as accommodation during a vacation.
Horse Head
Oil was first discovered in Taiwan at the Chuhuangkeng Oilfield in Gongguan Township, Miaoli County. Oil extraction has been carried out there since 1877. During the Japanese colonial period, development became much more advanced, and approximately 98 oil wells were drilled. The site of Taiwan’s first oil well has since been transformed into the Taiwan Oil Field Exhibition Hall. (drill head) At the lower end of the site, directly beside the road, you will find the museum, which provides an excellent introduction to the history of Taiwan’s oil industry and drilling technology. Further uphill, several former residential and office buildings have
Administrative ping-pong
Longyan Elementary School (龍岩國小遺址) is located on a series of gently rolling hills on Qiongjiao Mountain in Dalin Township, Chiayi County. In 2007. It was closed due to a declining number of students. The school building itself is still structurally well preserved. However, the interior has deteriorated significantly due to decay, and parts of it have been affected by vandalism. The school follows a traditional design, with two or three building wings surrounding a large central courtyard. The Longyan Community Development Association was reluctant to see their alma mater abandoned and has worked to transform the school into a tourist attraction
The transition
It was more by coincidence that Mr. X found these buildings. It is a connected complex consisting of several hotels. In the past, it must have been quite an attractive place. Today, however, it has been completely left to decay. This is related to the general development of domestic tourism and the trouble during transition in Taiwan. The rain was too heavy, and everything downstairs was so dirty that Mr. X did not feel like going inside. The lower complex is a large hotel, while the upper section is more resort-like, with a swimming pool. It must once have been a
The garbage indicator
As the post goes on, you will understand this sentence. This post does not feature spectacular photos or semi-suicidal actions, but rather shows what such a search is actually like. It usually begins with looking from a distance for unnatural ridgelines, changes in vegetation, or flat terraces. Can you see them? (View from Silent Hill) This depression runs from the entrance of Tunnel No. 6 (in the direction of view) toward an old railway tunnel. Remains of rails can still be seen at both locations. On the left-hand side are large concrete blocks, presumably the remains of collapsed houses. In the
Addicted to Cement?
I could already see this beauty from an elevated road. As someone addicted to cement, of course I became curious — but it took a while before I found access. This is the outer area visible from the road. You can climb into it a little, but it is terribly unstable. And there I saw the beauty. But I had to look for another way and passed an old garage. Obviously, the company has been closed for ages. The entrance shows neither a name nor a warning sign. Inside, everything is heavily overgrown. Somehow romantic, snakes are mating. Like in Goethe’s
The structure of mines
2026/5/31 very dangerous (collapse, snakes, green frogs, get lost, heavy metal contamination, please read the explanation at the end of this text) After a tour of the smelter, I went to the Gold Museum and took a photo of this diagram. It looked quite confusing and hard to understand. Then I had everything translated and discussed it with Professor ChatGPT. As the professor himself points out, I should verify everything—which I do. So far, the professor has been right. (Jinguashi Museum) The Secret of Mine Numbering Here the translation of the text above: Mining in the deposit proceeds from the top
In the backyard
in process (very dangerous, snakes, hornets, risk of collapse, toxic inside the flues, arsenic) I am morbidly fascinated by the mines, tunnels, and flues behind the Shuinandong Smelter. From the funicular railway or Liukeng Slope Ropeway (六坑斜坡索道), it’s not that hard to find some tunnels, old buildings, and mines. You can already get a first overview using Google Maps. The rest is basically old-fashioned legwork and a bit of effort with a machete. It started off quite nicely, with a few tracks—some well preserved, others less so. (Thanks to the Jinguashi Museum) Along the sides, you can make out the remains
From a lost place to a theme park
still in process At first, I thought it was an aircraft graveyard, since the planes are definitely decommissioned. The owner cleared things up for me in a very interesting 90-minute conversation. It’s a very large site in Guanyin that is privately owned. The owner used to fence it off, but that didn’t really stop people, so he eventually gave up—now it’s only monitored by cameras. He doesn’t mind visitors. He just asks that people check in with him first. If he has time, he’ll even show them around the aircraft. However, he’s had trouble with drunk visitors. He does take legal
A Journey Back in Time to Taichung’s Amusement Parks
Encore Garden Encore Garden (亞哥花園), located in the Dakeng Scenic Area of Beitun District, Taichung, is a now-closed amusement park and was Taiwan’s first European-style garden-themed amusement park. It was once one of the major recreational destinations in Taiwan and ranked among the top ten privately operated amusement parks for many years. (The entrance today) The park was known for its wide variety of flowers and exotic trees, as well as Taiwan’s only nighttime water dance show and water-screen movie at the time. It also featured amusement rides and live theater performances, including singing and dancing. Encore Garden was founded in
Striking
edit: 2026/7/22 toxic (arsenic), snakes in the higher levels, unstable ground, green frogs with very low tolerance One of Taiwan’s most well-known landmarks is the Thirteen Levels, a large site on the northern coast. It is already noticeable from the road, but can actually be seen from many different viewpoints. The area consists of two parts. In the evening, they are illuminated with floodlights. From the road, on the right, there are several workshops and processing facilities—you can still smell strong chemicals there. On the left are the Thirteen Levels, named after the fact that the facilities were once arranged across
Not lost yet — but perhaps soon.
My last visit left me feeling sad. I used to come to this brick factory often with my children. About seven years ago, production was shut down and the site was turned into a demonstration factory. One of the owners hoped it could survive as an industrial museum. However, visitor numbers were too low, and there was no government support. During the last earthquake, the long kiln was partially destroyed. Now the owner will likely have to sell the factory in the coming months. The front part is still well preserved, while the rear section is more suited for the adventurous.
Cement—and more and more cement!
ed. 2026/7/11 This is a very good place to get an introduction to cement production. Located on the way to Ali Mountain, it makes for a nice stop for families. Children can easily understand how cement is made here—well, maybe not in every single area. Reminder: During my recent visits, it was evident that many entrances and structures were heavily corroded by rust. Climbing up has become risky. The owner is also cordoning off more and more areas. (Packing station, cement silo, clinker silo) You can spot the cement silos from far away. It’s a former cement factory that has now
Mei Li (Mylee) and Nack Suk Cao
Ah, I think this sublime love tragedy of modern film history has come to an end, some years before. It certainly won’t be shown in this cinema ((中壢新明戲院)) anymore. Here, fortune favored the diligent—or perhaps the stubborn. I passed by several times, and it seemed impossible to get in. Until one day, a door to the second floor was open. I talked the Vietnamese migrant worker into letting me in. The structure of the cinema is still recognizable. Not everything is exactly safe, of course. The cinema was on the second floor; the third floor was probably a market hall. The
Pursued … Cursed …Haunted…
still in process Hospitals are closely connected with Taiwanese culture, but also with fear. Similar feelings exist in Western culture as well—after all, hospitals are often an inspiring source for horror movie ideas—but this sentiment is even stronger in Taiwan. This post also offers a glimpse into Taiwanese folk beliefs and the ways they still shape daily life. Taiwanese people tend to avoid places where people have died, especially if the death was unnatural. There is a fear of provoking the anger of the deceased soul or spirit. As a result, no Taiwanese person would normally visit cemeteries or abandoned hospitals—it
Kindheitserinnerung/Nieces
It is difficult to generate profits with swimming pools because the costs are quite high. This is especially true for traditional pools with long swimming lanes and only limited spa facilities. My nieces learned how to swim at this pool. Unfortunately, the stray dogs there are not very friendly. When we were in the process of adopting my daughter, she went to a swimming pool for the very first time. She just sat on the edge and cried because she was so scared.
They cannot leave
ed. 2026/4/10 in process Taiwan is a wealthy country that can offer a decent standard of living to many people. Unfortunately, not to everyone. Some places are deeply saddening. Among these sad places are the decaying shopping malls. Most of them were built during the first wave of rapid economic growth in Taiwan. They all share the same story: the buildings aged, new centers were constructed, the area became less attractive, and investment in the properties declined. As a result, fires broke out, accidents increased, and wealthier tenants moved away. It is usually a vicious cycle. People from more vulnerable social
Lose Yourself in the View
ed. 2026/3/1 It’s not really a vanished or enchanted place. The road and the ruins at its end are considered an excursion destination, even if the beginning of the road is somewhat steep. On the way up, you can see the endless concrete plants—some modern, others decaying. This is where the stone used to be delivered. Along the way, you can repeatedly see the pylons of the cable car. A few kilometers further uphill, you encounter the first non-human beauty: the turning station of a cable car. A few photos to get pleasantly lost in. Lets interrupt for some explanations: Anpingkeng
Taichung: Between Decay and Modernity, a Jewel of Ugliness
ed. 2026/5/10 Once again, pure clickbait — but I genuinely love Taichung. It is both the most modern city and the most decayed one. And I love it for exactly that. (Modern architecture, as Taichung likes to present itself) Taichung is home to Taiwan’s most famous truly haunted building (or ghost house, the Chien-Yueh Building, 千越大樓). This ugliness—or beauty, which is really a philosophical question—lies just two minutes from the main railway station. After all, the building has even made it into the Taiwan Cultural Memory Bank. Originally operating as the Chien-Yueh Department Store, it once housed Taichung’s first ice-skating rink
Yongda Coal Mine
2026/1/18 For approximately twenty years, I have been hiking in the Wuliaojiang area. Until now, I had passed by without paying attention to the beauty that reveals itself further on. This is actually quite remarkable, especially given how well preserved the mine remains are. Yongda Coal Mine (永達煤礦礦坑口遺跡) is located in Sanxia District, New Taipei City, and was first established on 9 August 1919 by Lin Kaijun. Several structures can still be found along the sides of the site. The history is short. 1942, the mining area was expanded to 235,040 ping. After trial excavations had confirmed workable seams, preparations were
Unstable
(very dangerous, risk of collapse) Puli Guanyin Bridge (觀音吊橋) is a beautiful place that gives an idea of how remote Puli once was. There is surprisingly little information available about this bridge and the surrounding area. I first saw this beautiful bridge two years ago, but because I had an injured leg, I didn’t dare to cross it. This time, however, I had to try. The connection to the road has already broken away, which makes everything very unstable. I spent some time on the bridge; at the beginning it was still quite okay. But the closer I got to the
Little Switzerland is bankrupt
Deep in the mountains of Xizhi stands a castle known as Swiss Villa (瑞士花園廣場) that has been abandoned for more than 20 years, along with an entire row of dilapidated townhouses. The scene is bleak and unsettling. Yet the villa community itself consists of 189 households, and many people still live there today.It is probably the most well-known and easily accessible “ghost house” area in New Taipei City. Even now, one can sense how many hopes and expectations were once invested in this formerly very expensive community. The architecture evokes a strange mix of fake Switzerland, Baroque elements, and a Black
Der Fisch ist nicht mehr frisch
Unfortunately, I can no longer find any information about this aquarium in the outskirts of Kaohsiung. It’s an impressive building. What a pity. It was not difficult at all. A large hole in the door has become the place where one may now collect a formal invitation to enter. When I stepped inside, my leg was still badly injured, an open wound making it hard for me to move properly. I could not enter easily. Heavy rain was falling. Water dripped everywhere, and everything seemed rusted.Dear friends of decay, please forgive my timidity. (Please pick up your invitation) New visit Since