Spring Blossoms in Jiufen: Golden Blossoms at the Gold Ecological Park

Shortly after the Lunar New Year festivities, the footsteps of spring quietly entered the small valley of Jinguashi in northern Taiwan. Within the entire Gold Ecological Park, cherry blossoms and azaleas have burst into bloom, while numerous unnamed wildflowers also vie for attention, spreading across the slopes—red, purple, white—adding vibrant hues to the mountain town. Now is the perfect time to visit the Gold Museum to admire the cherry blossoms.

Thanks to the recent warm weather, the cherry blossom path from Jinci Square to the Gold Museum within the Gold Ecological Park is now covered with beautiful pink blossoms. Set against the distant emerald-green mountain scenery, they appear even more delicate and alluring, often captivating visitors who pause to admire the view. The park mainly features pink sakura (Showa cherry), with a few native Taiwanese pink-blossomed beni-shidare-zakura. Each variety has its own unique charm. The cherry trees are currently in full bloom, making it an ideal time for flower appreciation. Visitors are encouraged to take some time to stroll through the park and catch the gentle vibes of early spring.

Jinguashi and Jiufen were once both renowned mining areas in Taiwan, known as the "Hometown of Gold." As the gold veins dried up, the mining industry gradually faded into history. The remaining mining landscapes gained renewed attention in the late 1970s amid a wave of nostalgia. This led to the creation of the Gold Ecological Park, Taiwan’s first ecological museum concept site, which introduces and displays the local mining culture and the characteristics of gold, while also offering hands-on experiences of the mining process. For those wishing to admire the beauty of Japanese palace-style architecture, a visit to the Crown Prince’s Guesthouse is also recommended.

In addition to the culturally and naturally rich Gold Museum, if you walk further from the museum, you will see a pair of stone lanterns, with a torii gate in the distance marking the site of the former Gold Shrine. Built in 1933, this Japanese shrine was dedicated to three deities: Ōkuninushi-no-Mikoto, Kanayamahiko-no-Kami, and Hiradahiko-no-Kami, guardians of mining and mountains. Originally, it had complete temple structures including a shrine hall, worship hall, purification pavilion, and approach path, but unfortunately, most were destroyed after World War II. Today, only the torii gate, flagpole platform, stone lanterns, and remnants of pillars remain. The Gold Shrine is planted with dozens of cherry trees, and when the blossoms are in full bloom, they create a particularly colorful contrast against the shrine ruins.

The spring cherry blossoms of Jinguashi offer a different kind of rustic charm and mountain-town scenery, set against winding roads and the stunning landscape of mining pit ruins, making it perfect for a leisurely springtime stroll. For detailed exhibition information, transportation, and ticket details of the Gold Ecological Park, please visit the official website.

→ Click here: Return to the Attractions Homepage

→ Click here: Read More Travel News

Further Reading: The Magnificent Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) (Provided by Tripass Attractions)