Taiwan's Secret Realm - Shuinandong Smelter 黃金山城
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Shuinandong, together with Jinguashi and Jiufen, forms a trio of historic mining towns in the Ruifang District of New Taipei City. In the early 20th century, especially during the Japanese colonial era, this region was a major hub for gold and copper mining. Jinguashi was rich in gold deposits, while Shuinandong became the refining site for both gold and copper ore extracted from the surrounding mountains.
Although mining has ceased, the traces of that industrial era remain etched into the hills. Shuinandong’s most iconic structure, the 13-Level Smelter, once processed large volumes of ore. Today, the building is no longer open to the public for entry, but it has been preserved and transformed into a historic landmark through government planning. Visitors can view it from nearby trails and lookout points, especially at night when it is beautifully illuminated against the dark hillside. The smelter, now silent, stands like a glowing monument to Taiwan’s industrial past.
Nearby, the Yin Yang Sea, where yellow and blue waters meet due to mineral runoff, and the Golden Waterfall, colored by metal-rich springs, complete this surreal industrial landscape.
This ink is inspired by the fading heat of that era. Its smoky gray base, blended with warm gradients of red and yellow, reflects the glow of molten gold and copper, and the lingering memory of fire, metal, and smoke that once rose from the heart of the mountain.