hazardous to health
ed. 2026/2/24
Another relic from the golden age is the Lile Copper Refinery. Some buildings can still be seen from the road, but much of it has been demolished.
The surrounding environment contrasts sharply with the pollution caused. The company operated at a time when environmental awareness was low.
For a long time, it was the starting point for hikes to Stegosaurus Ridge and other locations. Today, the entrance is guarded, and hikers look for ways to bypass the company, partly through the Banping River estuary below.
The area is now announced as a soil pollution remediation site (better: control area). The soil contains high concentrations of arsenic.
Lile Copper Refinery (禮樂煉銅廠) was an electrolytic copper refining plant in New Taipei City. It was completed in 1980 by the Taiwan Metal Mining Corporation. In 1984, due to operational losses, management of the plant was transferred to the Taiwan Power Company. It was designed for an annual output of 50,000 metric tons of electrolytic copper and 175,000 metric tons of sulfuric acid. Taimin Company had a weak capital base—two-thirds of the construction funds for the Lile plant were financed through bank loans. Combined with high interest burdens, the global oil crisis, economic recession, and falling international prices of gold and copper, the company began to suffer losses. By 1984, its liabilities exceeded its assets. On January 15, 1990, Tank No. 3 of the sulfuric acid storage facility leaked, triggering local protests and compensation claims. Later that year, Taipower decided to shut down the Lile Copper Refinery.
(Lile from above, soon to be demolished)
(Jingua Museum)
For a long time, the company was used to be the former entrance to the well-known Stegosaurus Ridge. Today, the entrance is guarded, and hikers look for ways to bypass the company, partly through the Banping River estuary below. It can be bypassed legally via a long turnaround. Not without reason, the Stegosaurus Ridge is considered one of the most beautiful trails in northern Taiwan. After a bit of climbing, you end up slightly above the company — I would estimate no more than 500 meters as the crow flies. What a beautiful area.
You have to cross this creek, and here are the remains of the company.
From there, the path continues uphill via steps, and you reach a tunnel. There used to be a better connection here, but it has narrowed due to deposits.
Now a beautiful trail runs along the valley, seen here from the opposite side.
Because of my injury, I had to turn back; friends kindly provided me with a few photos.
And: Another relict
Jiufen and Ruifang are areas with a changing history — sometimes poor, sometimes prosperous. Their economic significance as producers of copper, coal, and gold has long been lost. Today, most residents make their living from tourism and fishing. This hall stands as a testament to the old days of copper and gold mining and processing. According to Spectral Codex, one of the best sites, it is the old Taijin theater, built for the miners.
