The foundation of growth and prosperity – though not necessarily for nature
Cement is the backbone of our economic growth, but at the same time, it is a major polluter when it comes to the climate. Anyone traveling from Suao to Hualien will see cement mining everywhere: the long conveyor belts and the massive silos. In general, you can walk into these areas; only the actual facilities […]
Mines in Miaoli
edited: 2026/7/12 Very dangerous (risk of collapse, snakes) Gongguan Tianyi Mine Gongguan Tianyi Mine (公館添益煤礦) is a forgotten mine in Miaoli, not shown on maps, with no signs or labels. I got the information from a Taiwanese postman. It is actually located close to a major road, but no one would ever drive into the […]
Guofu Mining Site in Hualien
Unfortunately, not much remains of the old mining area. At the entrance of the Sakura Trail, you can still see two large buildings where the rock was once loaded onto trucks. These solid structures are still in good condition, though heavily overgrown. From inside, you can look up and still see the holes in the […]
Cyborg 2025
ed. 12/2025 Very dangerous (risk of collapse, snakes), visitors not welcome This is an abandoned lumber and plywood factory in Nantou that reflects a chapter of Taiwan’s industrial history. Today, it serves as a parking lot and is partially accessible. Parking lot When walking through the vast, abandoned factory halls, it evokes the atmosphere of […]
The Sound of Rust – In the Building and in the System
Dangerous (unstable, corroded) Lockdowns during the Covid crisis, the disappearance of Chinese tourists, and the general struggles of Taiwan’s tourism industry are mirrored in the “International Wellness Travel” (新天堂國際養生行旅) project on the outskirts of Hualien. Here, “rust” speaks on more than one level. From the roadside, the unfinished hotel already reveals its fate: a vast […]
Not lost but no memories and records
ed. 12/2025 I went back in again and did more detailed research, and I also found buildings that have not previously been mentioned online. My impression was that this is a KMT training center, because there is a strong emphasis on Chinese culture, but there is also a church. On the Jinshi Trail near Hukou […]
Chiayi Tobacco Factory
The Chiayi Tobacco Factory(嘉義菸葉廠) is located in Bao’an Village, West District, Chiayi City. It is bordered by Ziyou Road to the north, Beixing Street to the south, You’ai Road to the east, and Beian Road to the west. The complex is one of the most completely preserved tobacco factories in Taiwan and holds significant historical […]
A refuge
Last update: 2025/9/1 Near the Tongjing Village is a Cave System. The residents of the village put up fierce resistance against the Japanese, protected by the cliffs near the Emei River, the terrain was easily defensible. They constructed a long tunnel system and stationed troops there. The Americans also attempted to destroy the bunker facilities […]
Death can dance – here
Waste has always been a part of our industrial development and history. Here my report about a traditional business in Taiwan or a bit of end-of-the-world feeling: You see them less and less often in my community — the private garbage collectors. They are often elderly or disabled people who go around with bags or […]
Good Golden Old Times or the GoldGoldTheater – 金金戲院
Very dangerous (risk of collapse) Memories, memories, memories – the golden age of cinema. Located in Yingge, the Jinjin was founded in 1985 with a capital of 2 million NTD and formally closed in 2007. It occupies the 3rd to 5th floors of what is now a completely abandoned high-rise building. Apart from its decayed […]