Mine坑Mining Site Introduction
Located in Gongguan Kaikuang Village, it is the birthplace of oil in Taiwan. The earliest discovery of oil in Taiwan was in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing era (1813), at the site of the "Chuhuangkang No. 1 Well," which is about eighty meters in front of the main entrance of Chuhuangkang. This was the first well drilled by the Japanese, and due to the rich oil sources in Chuhuangkang, the Japanese drilled a total of 99 wells. The name "Chuhuangkang" originated because the local people discovered a sulfur-colored liquid gushing from the ground, mistakenly thinking it was sulfur, thus naming the place "Chuhuangkang." Chuhuangkang is the earliest and most important oil mining site in Taiwan. Geologically, it belongs to an anticlinal structure, with the central part being the highest and the two wings sloping outward, where oil and gas are trapped within the anticlinal structure and extracted via oil wells. The two wings of the Chuhuangkang anticlinal structure are composed of alternating layers of different soft and hard sandstones and shales. The geological structure, strata, and paleobiological studies in this area make it a typical region in Taiwan and a must-visit place for geology enthusiasts! The China National Petroleum Corporation has marked the geological strata of the Houlung River Valley in the southern part of this township along the roadside, making it a great location for field geological education. The mining site in Chuhuangkang is brilliantly illuminated at night and is known for its beautiful scenery, earning it the nickname "Night Hong Kong."
