The Gold Museum is built on the site of the Japanese-era Jinguashi gold mine. The park preserves a complete set of mining-settlement buildings, the Crown Prince Chalet, ore-processing plant ruins, and a tunnel system, making it one of the few places in Taiwan where large-scale industrial heritage can be visited. Administered by the New Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs, it offers gold-panning experiences and entry into Tunnel No. 5 (Benshan), and serves as an important on-site location for understanding Taiwan's mining history.
Highlights of Jinguashi Gold Museum
The core complex of buildings is spread across a hillside, with Japanese-style wooden staff dormitories, a red-brick ore-processing plant, and tunnel entrances as the main points of interest. The Crown Prince Chalet was built in 1922 as a temporary imperial residence for the Japanese Crown Prince (later Emperor Shōwa). The wooden structure is well preserved and has an interior exhibition of period furnishings; opening for interior visits follows a scheduled timetable — check official announcements.
Tunnel No. 5 is open for walking tours; the interior maintains a constantly cool and humid temperature, giving visitors a real sense of the working conditions miners faced. The gold-panning experience area provides gold-bearing ore and panning dishes — visitors can try the traditional panning process hands-on, suitable for all ages. The terrain is hilly; comfortable walking shoes are recommended as the paths have many slopes. Wheelchair users should check the accessible route in advance.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there & timing
- From Taiwan Railways Ruifang Station, take a Keelung Bus toward Jinguashi; check Keelung Bus official timetables for schedules, with extra buses on weekends.
- Opening hours and admission fees: check the New Taipei City Government Gold Museum official website. The museum may be closed on Mondays — confirm in advance for holidays.
Nearby connections
- Jinguashi and Jiufen are adjacent — about a 20–30 minute walk. After visiting the Gold Museum, walking downhill to Jiufen Old Street is an easy continuation.
- Ruifang District also has the 'Yin-Yang Sea' viewpoint (where iron-rich mine runoff turns the seawater rust-colored); it can be seen from the Jinguashi trail, and the color contrast is striking on clear days.
Sources: New Taipei City Government Gold Museum official website, Wikipedia entry for Gold Museum. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.