aeeble

The Rueisan-Line Mining Coal Preparation Plant is a key cultural and historical site along the Qing-Shan-Hai Railway, situated within the “dual-century core triangle” of Sandiaoling, Mudan, and Houtong. It is an indispensable part of northern Taiwan’s mining heritage. In years past, miners who came to Houtong to earn a living left countless moving stories, etched into the ruins of the preparation plant and making Houtong a settlement brimming with tales. “Maximize production, safety first.” Large-scale mining in Houtong began in the early Japanese colonial period, initially under the Japanese Mitsui zaibatsu. After Houtong Station opened in 1920, a preparation plant was built east of the station to boost coal output; it sorted and washed coal into different grades. The Houtong mines were later leased to Lee Chien-hsing, who founded “Rueisan-Line Mining Co.” At its peak, over 500 miners entered the pits each day, making it Taiwan’s largest coal company and the engine that powered Taiwan’s economic take-off. Restore the old to revive mining’s glory. The Rueisan-Line plant closed in 1990. After more than two decades of weathering and collapse, New Taipei City Government partnered with the Ministry of Culture to launch restoration. Master carpenters combined traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques, reviving the crumbling site in the spirit of “repairing the old to look old.” Completed in three years, the plant’s former splendor has re-emerged. Inside, a mining-history exhibition presents the memories of Houtong miners through different themes and perspectives. Multimedia projections and interactive light-and-sound technology offer visitors a more engaging, everyday glimpse into coal-mining culture.