Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office

Taipei City’s Xinyi District is full of skyscrapers and few people know that there is actually an old abandoned mine hidden beside Northern Taiwan Cihui Temple, which can be reached by travelling along Songren Road to Lane 150 of Section 5, Xinyi Road, and then into the alley beside the Combined Logistics Technical Training Centre. During the Japanese colonial period, it was called “Hexing Coal Mine”. After an overall environmental improvement by the Geotechnical Engineering Office, Public Works Department of Taipei City Government, the place has now been brought to light again. It is as if a new place of attraction is created, making one feel like having come to the famous Jinguashi mining area. Residents of Taipei City no longer need to travel far for a mining experience.
Huang Li-Yuan, director of the Office, said that “Hexing Coal Mine” is situated beside Jiupi Creek of Taipei City. In the early days, a large amount of cinders were stacked from coal mining, making the geological conditions relatively weak, and Jiupi Creek was announced by the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, as a potential debris flow torrent. To safeguard the safety of the residents and to achieve the objective of disaster prevention and mitigation, the Office managed to secure funding for remediation. The project includes revamping the overall environment of the old mining area beside Jiupi Creek to provide the residents with a new recreational place.
Huang Tian-Jing, head of Mud/Rockslide Control Section of the Office, said that Jiupi Creek remediation uses ecological engineering methods, such as masonry revetment, wood pile check dam, live staking, wattle fence, etc., and makes full use of natural materials, which are not only highly permeable and safe, but can also reduce the environmental impact. Different mudslide remediation methods were adopted based on different conditions; hence, they also serve as outdoor teaching materials for mudslide remediation. In addition, to combine the project with the environmental reform of “Hexing Coal Mine” old mining area, the local natural landscape was integrated with the characteristics of mining culture to create a regional marketing highlight. Upon entering the park, the public may walk along the red brick flooring and mine cart track-like path into the “time tunnel”. Along the way, one will see the replica scene of a mine cart coming out of the mine, and the ceramic mural painting, “Life of Coal”, describing the process of coal mining. At the end of the tunnel is a “spiral staircase”, and if you are lucky, you may even see bats hanging upside down at the cinder notch of the old mine. A the entrance of “Hexing Coal Mine” stands “Miner Pangolin”, welcoming your arrival, and inviting you to reminisce about the hard work of the miners in the olden days.
Quan Hong-Qiang, village head of Liuhe Village, Xinyi District, said with the closure of “Hexing Coal Mine” and decline of coal industry, the surrounding environment became neglected. With the funding by the Office on the remediation of Jiupi Creek and the reconstruction of “Hexing Coal Mine”, residents now have a safer living environment, and the area has also become an excellent place for education and entertainment, filled with a historical and cultural atmosphere. The public no longer needs to travel all the way to Pingxi or Jinguashi to learn about the culture and history of mining, as Taipei City’s Xingyi District has just the right place.
Mr. Hong, a local resident, said that he is grateful that the Office adopts an ecological approach for mudslide remediation. Today, the overall environment has both ecological and aesthetic values, and the residents feel safer after Jiupi Creek’s remediation. In addition, as most ancestors of the local residents used to work in “Hexing Coal Mine”, the reconstruction of the mine has brought back their memories. You are sincerely invited to visit this new attraction of Xinyi District.

Walking along the track-like path and learning about the local culture and history can bring visitors back to the Japanese colonial period. The explanatory facilities on coal mining and installations along the way make one feel the past has come back to life. The public may spend their holidays visiting “Hexing Coal Mine” and experience the unique culture of the old mining area in Xinyi District.

Visitors may reach Hexing Coal Mine via the track path and spiral staircase, as if it can lead you all the way to the sky!!	Visitors may reach Hexing Coal Mine via the track path and spiral staircase, as if it can lead you all the way to the sky!
The educational ceramic mural painting, “Life of Coal”, describes the origin, extraction and processing of coal	Miner Pangolin awaits your arrival at the entrance of Hexing Coal Mine. Visitors can ride in the mine cart and take a picture with him.
The fading plaque tells the history of Hexing Coal Mine.	The vivid figures of miners inside the coal mine take you back to the coal mining days in olden times
The old coal mine has now become the highlight of Xinyi District, allowing the public to experience Taiwan’s mining culture even in Taipei City	Wood pile check dam remediation provides safety as well as aesthetic and ecological values
The handmade kiln-fired travel guide provides the public with detailed information

Direction:

1. YouBike:
   Rent a YouBike from MRT Taipei 101 or Xiangshan Station, ride along Songren Road to Wuxing Street, turn left and ride along Alley 401, Lane 150, Section 5, Xinyi Road, to Combined Logistics Technical Training Centre, and then turn left to the end of Alley 471, Lane 150, Section 5, Xinyi Road.
2. By Car:

Drive along Songren Road to Wuxing Street, turn left and drive along Alley 401, Lane 150, Section 5, Xinyi Road, to Combined Logistics Technical Training Centre, and then turn left to the end of Alley 471, Lane 150, Section 5, Xinyi Road.