Jing Tong Mining Life Museum Introduction
Pingxi District thrived due to coal mining and declined after the cessation of coal extraction. The Jing Tong Mining Life Museum, renovated from the former Taiwan Railway employee dormitory, showcases the development history of Jing Tong's mining industry. Although all the mining sites in the area are now inactive, significant industrial relics remain, which have become unique local resources, such as Jing Tong Station, the washing plant, and the Pingxi Guesthouse, all of which were included in the Cultural Heritage Committee's 2001 list of Taiwan's Historical Sites. By integrating tourism resources, the museum allows visitors to gain a deeper understanding of local historical artifacts and community culture. Additionally, the local residents have long harbored a love for their hometown, dedicating themselves to research on coal mining and the Pingxi railway, resulting in various groups such as the Pingxi District Guiding Association and the Pingxi Charm Business Circle Association. They have organized activities like railway culture workshops, mining knowledge sessions, and geological landscape studies, actively promoting local culture. The establishment of the Jing Tong Mining Life Museum provides a space to collect and display the achievements of these local teams over the years, with plans to further expand by integrating lantern festival customs, ecological landscapes along the Keelung River, special geological features like waterfalls and potholes, and traditional dye industries, highlighting local characteristics. The convenient transportation provided by the Pingxi Branch Line railway will drive the development of local culture and tourism industries.
