Opened in 2004 in the old mining town of Jinguashi, this open-air “ecology museum” tells the story of the region’s gold and copper boom. Highlights include a 220kg solid-gold ingot you can actually touch, the Benshan Fifth Tunnel where you can step underground, and restored Japanese-era buildings — real context for any Jiufen-area day trip.
Opened in 2004 in the old mining town of Jinguashi, this open-air “ecology museum” tells the story of the region’s gold and copper boom. Highlights include a 220kg solid-gold ingot you can actually touch, the Benshan Fifth Tunnel where you can step underground, and restored Japanese-era buildings — real context for any Jiufen-area day trip.
Updated June 20, 2026
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Highlights亮點Jiufen is gorgeous, but the Gold Museum is what makes the area make sense. Jinguashi was a major gold- and copper-mining centre, and after the mines wound down the town languished until 2004, when the New Taipei City Government — with Taiwan Power Company and Taiwan Sugar Corporation — opened the Gold Museum to revive the area. It’s billed as Taiwan’s first ecology museum, meaning the whole hillside, not just one building, is the exhibit.
If you like travelling with context, it turns a pretty day trip into a story you’ll actually remember — and it’s a smart weather hedge when the hills are foggy.
The museum’s signature draw is a 220-kilogram ingot of 99.9% pure gold — and the unusual chance to actually reach out and touch it. It’s a crowd-pleaser and an easy way to grasp the scale of what came out of these hills.
Just as memorable is the Benshan Fifth Tunnel: a section of real mine you can walk into to feel the cramped, hot conditions miners endured. The tunnel is an “experience activity,” charged on top of the NT$80 museum admission.
Beyond the gold, the grounds preserve Japanese-era architecture from the colonial mining period, including the elegant Crown Prince Chalet and four joined Japanese-style residences, plus a gold-refining building and a gold-panning experience area. Wandering between them on the slopes is a big part of the appeal.
General admission is NT$80, payable by cash or EasyCard; many categories of visitor (New Taipei residents, seniors 65+, children 12 and under, students, and more) enter free with ID. The museum opens 09:30, closing at 17:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on weekends and holidays, and is closed the first Monday of each month.
From Taipei, ride the train to Ruifang Station, then transfer to a local bus heading up to Jinguashi and the Gold Museum (No. 8, Jinguang Road, Ruifang District).
Go earlier in the day for the exhibits and tunnel, then shift to Jiufen for atmosphere and snacks — keeping you out of the late-night crowd crush.
Quick answers to common planning questions.
Official pages and references for planning details.
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Tip: hours, prices, and seasonal schedules can change. When something matters (like a museum ticket or a special exhibition), check the official listing before you go.