Houtong Introduction
Houtong, famous for its adorable cats, is rich in coal seams that attracted many to mine for black gold, becoming a key player in Taiwan's coal industry. The glorious past has endowed the area with cultural depth, and Houtong still retains a wealth of mining relics, including mines, trolleys, coal transport bridges, miner dormitories, and the Ruishan Mining Company. Visitors can ride a trolley through the coal transport tunnels, experiencing the hardships of miners—an unforgettable unique experience. Did you know that Houtong once had the most advanced coal mining equipment? When you take the train passing through Houtong, you might be drawn to the large characters on the black exterior of the building that read "Coal Production for National Prosperity/Ruishan Mining Company." In the past, due to coal mining and its advantageous geographic location, Houtong possessed the most modern washing and coal production equipment of its time, and after the opening of the Yilan Line railway, it became a key supporting town for Taiwan's industrial fuel supply. The coal production factory with the characters "Coal Production for National Prosperity" on its exterior stands as the best testament to this. To explore Houtong's grandeur, you can visit the coal transport bridge, which allows you to overlook the entire town and the mining relics while also enjoying the stunning geological scenery of the Keelung River. At nightfall, the coal transport bridge, illuminated by lights, reflects beautifully in the Keelung River, making it a must-capture night scene for photographers visiting Houtong.
