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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]