Ruifang

district in New Taipei City

Ruifang or Rueifang (็‘ž่Šณๅ€) is a district of New Taipei. The area was previously an important mining area but now relies more heavily on tourism.

Understand

During the Japanese colonial period, the Ruifang area was important for its coal and gold mines.

Ruifang is also the site of the popular hillside town of Jiufen which is discussed in more detail in its own article.

Get in

By rail

The district is connected to the TRA network via 4 stations:

Ruifang TRA station
  • ๐ŸŒ Ruifang (็‘ž่Šณ่ปŠ็ซ™), 82 Sec 3 Mingdeng Rd. The primary rail station for the area. The station itself was first opened in 1915. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Houtong (็Œด็ก่ปŠ็ซ™). The station sits atop what was once the largest coal mine in Taiwan. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Sijiaoting (ๅ››่…ณไบญ่ปŠ็ซ™). (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Sandiaoling (ไธ‰่ฒ‚ๅถบ่ปŠ็ซ™). The station is the only station in Taiwan not connected to a public road. (updated Jul 2019)

By road

Ruifang is accessible via the * Provincial Highway 62 (ๅฐ62็ทš). (updated Jul 2019) which connects it to Keelung.

Get around

See

Historical sites

  • ๐ŸŒ Remains of the 13 Levels (ๅไธ‰ๅฑค้บๅ€). The building used to be a copper and gold smelter plant called the Shuinandong Smelter that used to process refined ore from Jinguashi and Jiufen. The facility was shut down after the minerals in the area were exhausted. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Taiyang Gold Mine Office (ๅฐ้™ฝ็คฆๆฅญไบ‹ๅ‹™ๆ‰€). The former office of the Taiyang Mining Company, the building has since been repurposed to give visitors an insight into the gold mining industry of the past. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Sijiaoting Fort (ๅ››่…ณไบญ็ ฒๅฐ). The ruins of an old fort near the border with Keelung. (updated Jul 2019)

Culture

  • ๐ŸŒ Bitoujiao Lighthouse (้ผป้ ญ่ง’็‡ˆๅก”). The lighthouse was built by the Japanese in 1897. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Houtong Cat Village (็Œด็ก่ฒ“ๆ‘). Formerly a prosperous coal-mining town, the village was on the verge of disappearing until some local residents started a project to care for local stray cats which gained much attention throughout Taiwan, making the settlement famous for its large cat population. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Jinguashi (้‡‘็“œ็Ÿณ). A small village which is near the Gold Ecological Park and the Jinguashi Mine, which is one of the largest gold mines in the world. The area was previously used by the Japanese as an internment camp. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Jinguashi Shrine (้‡‘็“œ็Ÿณ็ฅž็คพ้บๅ€). A small shrine atop a hill. There are quite a few steps to get to the top. (updated Jul 2019)

Museums

  • ๐ŸŒ New Taipei City Gold Museum (ๆ–ฐๅŒ—ๅธ‚็ซ‹้ปƒ้‡‘ๅš็‰ฉ้คจ). Formerly known as the Gold Ecological Park, the site is an open-air museum consisting of a number of buildings and facilities to document the history of the gold mining industry in Taiwan. The museum is accessible by bus from Ruifang Station. (updated Jul 2019)

Temples

Lungyen Temple

Parks and nature

Golden waterfall
  • ๐ŸŒ Golden Waterfall (้ปƒ้‡‘็€‘ๅธƒ). A stepped series of waterfalls known for its unique golden-brown colour. The water of the waterfall contains high level of toxins due to its proximity to the nearby gold mining area. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Shen'ao Elephant Trunk Rock (ๆทฑๆพณๅฒฌ่ง’่ฑก้ผปๅฒฉ), โ˜ +886 2 2960 3456. A rocky outcropping near the sea that resembles an elephant's trunk. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Nanya Rock (ๅ—้›…ๅฅ‡็Ÿณ), โ˜ +886 2 2499 1210. A rockpool area with a variety of fish species and interesting coloured rock formations. (updated Jul 2019)

Do

  • ๐ŸŒ Shen'ao Fishing Port (ๆทฑๆพณๆผๆธฏ). A fishing port with views of both Jinguashi and Jiufen. The area is popular for its seafood restaurants, as well as its views. (updated Jul 2019)

Arts and culture

  • ๐ŸŒ Shengping Theater (ๆ˜‡ๅนณๆˆฒ้™ข). The original theatre on this site was constructed in 1916, and the current building was completed in 1961. The theatre has frequent showings of films, traditional opera performances, among others. (updated Jul 2019)

Hiking

  • ๐ŸŒ Jinzibei Historical Trail (้‡‘ๅญ—็ข‘ๅค้“), โ˜ +886 2 2497 2250. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Bitoujiao Trail (้ผป้ ญ่ง’ๆญฅ้“), Bitou Road, โ˜ +886 2 2499 1210. (updated Jul 2019)
  • ๐ŸŒ Teapot Mountain Trail (็„ก่€ณ่Œถๅฃบๅฑฑ็™ปๅฑฑๆญฅ้“). (updated Jul 2019)

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Connect

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