Comparable to Pingxi and Jinguashi: A new attraction in Xinyi District featuring an old city mine shaft

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

Who would have thought that amidst the bustling Xinyi District of Taipei, there’s also a beautifully historic mine shaft as charming as Jinguashi? The abandoned old mine shaft “Hexing Coal Mine,” hidden near Beitai Cihui Temple, has been revitalized by the Taipei City Government and has emerged as a new highlight in Taipei. Now, those looking for an intellectual adventure in a mine shaft no longer need to travel all the way to the Jinguashi mining area — just hop on a U-bike for an easy ride to get there.

The “Hexing Coal Mine” site is located beside the old Pichi Stream in Taipei. In the early days, coal mining left behind piles of coal slag, resulting in relatively fragile geological conditions. After restoration by the Department of Urban Development, the area was integrated with the adjacent old mining zone for overall environmental improvement. By combining local natural landscapes with the cultural characteristics of the mine shaft, it offers residents a new leisure and recreational destination. As visitors enter the park, they can walk along the brick-red pavement and along the imagery of mine cart tracks into a “time tunnel.” Along the way, they can admire lifelike representations of mine carts exiting the shaft and a ceramic mural titled “The Life of Coal” that depicts the journey from coal formation to its final products. At the end, there is a “spiral staircase” where, if you’re lucky, you might even see many bats hanging upside down at the old mine’s slag discharge outlet.