Wow! It has been four days since we last blogged and we’re currently so busy with so many events that are happening this week and the following week that we haven’t even got time to really sit down and take a breather!
Well, with 3 more months to go before the end of the year, we believe many of you would also be in the midst of preparing your travel plans for the coming school holidays and hence, in this blog entry, we will be sharing about Jingtong, a place that we recently went during our recent trip to Taiwan.
Jingtong, also known as Jingtongkeng, was once the largest coal mine established by the Taiyang Mining Company. In the past, drawn by the flourishing mining industry, many people flocked to this area to seek work. However, Jingtong’s mining industry was dismantled after the government began to import cheap coal. Worse still, as there were no other industries to replace coal mining, Jingtong suffered a massive exodus. Today, the area still has remains and monuments of its industrial past. As attractions are concentrated and are easily accessible, tourists can easily follow road signs to relive the history of Jingtong.
A monument to remember the history of Jingtong.
Jingtong Old Street
Located in Pingxi District, northern Taiwan, Jingtong was originally a coal mining town. Today, it is specially well-known for its tourism trade with numerous souvenir shops and exhibits that depicts the history of the area and the coal mining industry.
Some of the unique traditional snacks and drinks that we came across at the old-fashioned grocery stores there.
A flavoured carbonated drink that requires you to pop a metal ball in order for the liquid to flow out.
These are flavoured ice-creams in the shape of an egg.
The souvenir store has a number of memorabilia that you could purchase and for us, we prefer having souvenirs in the form of a metal token.
Jingtong Train Station
Ranked as one of the Top 100 Historic Century-old Buildings in Taiwan, Jingtong Train Station is one of Taiwan’s four remaining wooden stations. Its simple, antique Japanese style that has been maintained since its opening attracts many tourists. The inside of the station contains well-preserved wooden benches, old telephone handsets, and vintage ticket gates from which tourists can buy an old-fashioned, card-like ticket as souvenirs. Stepping into such an atmospheric station is like reliving memories of an old movie. This is definitely a must-see for nostalgic railway fans.
How the inside of Jingtong Train Station looks like.
If you would like to board the train at Jingtong Train Station, here’s the train timings and prices for your reference.
The really colourful train at Jingtong Train Station.
Jingtong Train Station is a really charming place that provides good opportunities for photo-shoots!
If you wish to, you can also purchase a bamboo pole where you can write down your heartfelt wishes and hang it at Jingtong Train Station.
A closed-up photo of the wishes that were written on the bamboo poles.
Verdict?
To go or not to go?
We highly recommend that you INCLUDE Jingtong Old Street and Jingtong Railway Station in your itinerary if you’re travelling on a Free and Easy trip to Taiwan.
Personally, we could identify with the town’s unique charm and we really love the scenic place. In fact, some of the scenes for the movie, “You’re The Apple of My Eye” were shot there too. Truly, Jingtong station is definitely one of the most authentic and traditional Japanese-style train stations in the island of Taiwan and you shouldn’t miss it.
To get to Jingtong, you can either hire a private vehicle or alternatively, you can take the railway train that is bound for Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung on the Eastern Line from Taipei Main Station. Thereafter, get off at Badu or Ruifang Station and transfer to the Pingxi Line. If you prefer to visit more places in New Taipei, we highly recommend that you get a private driver but if you’re on a shoestring budget, then taking the train might probably be the best solution.
