Very dangerous (risk of collapse, hornets, dogs, sakes)
These mines are a unique hobby that fascinates me. They are a monument to history and the hard work of early Taiwanese people, especially women. The project is not yet finished but is under time pressure because the factories are set to be demolished.
The first time I saw the already abandoned cableways on Road 3, I didn’t pay much attention to them. In 2024, I encountered this beauty for the first time, and my interest was sparked. My first attempt failed at the entrance, but giving up was not an option!
A few weeks later, I returned with my son, and we were able to visit the old accommodations near the entrance. (More on that in another post.)
From here, the layout of the facility and its geographical location were easier to recognize.
I then spent a long time studying maps—there was simply no accessible entrance. My son and I rode around the area on a scooter, but no matter where we went, we found nothing. The roads were unsuitable even for scooters, and a slip left me with a week of pain and wounds. We met a woman whose body was marked by injuries. We bought drinks, and I asked her about the company. She told us about her work there. That will be in the next post.
So, I turned to the internet. It reminded me of a bat cave I had last visited in 2012 on the opposite valley of the ridge, and I recalled a path leading to it. Bingo—I found it.
The path was overgrown, and a bit of knife work was necessary.
It is a beautiful trail
The trail was not easily recognizable, but it led to a road that passed through the old mining area. From the shape, it is clear that these are mining areas that nature has been reclaiming for years. Now, all that was needed was a bit of sense of direction.
And here, I reached the facility for the first time but had to turn back.
A few weeks later, I came back with my son, and the path was damaged again. It was time for him to learn. Not a big deal, he is a Amei.
This time, we made it into the facilities. (That will be the next post.) There, we saw the towers and cable cars. Now, a combination of daring risk-taking and suboptimal masculinity gave birth to a new idea.
We searched for access, but this time, we didn’t find it. Weeks later, we came back with friends and… success!
It is not finished! Now, there was still one task left for Mr. X: to go down into the lower hall. There’s even a lower entrance, though it requires a bit of climbing. Due to certain external factors, however, he had to give up quickly.
(Somewhat steep)
(here is our beauty)
(a little bit climbing AND:)
(Copyright Claudius Petzold)
