Remains of the 13 Levels

The Remains of the 13 Levels (Chinese: 十三層遺址; pinyin: Shísān Céng Yízhǐ) is a former smelter plant in Lianxin Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is also called the Potala Palace of Mountain Mines.

Remains of the 13 Levels
十三層遺址
Taiwan
General information
TypeFormer smelter plant
LocationRuifang, New Taipei, Taiwan
Coordinates25°07′05.8″N 121°51′52.8″E

History

Originally built in 1933 by Japanese during their occupation,[1] the building used to be a copper and gold smelter plant called the Shuinandong Smelter that used to process refined ore from Jinguashi and Jiufen.[2] After the handover of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China in 1945, the refinery was taken over by the state-run company. In 1973, the copper and gold minerals from the area had been exhausted and subsequently the activity and company were shut down.[3]

During World War II between 1942 and 1945, the Japanese Empire sent approximately one thousand prisoners of war (POWs) to the gold mines surrounding the smelting plant. The POWs were from allied nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.[4] The Taiwan POW Memorial Park now stands in memory of the POWs that died in the harsh mining conditions.[5]

The site and the surrounding mining infrastructure are listed as potential world heritage sites.[4]

Architecture

The building has three long exhausts pipes running up the hillside, which released toxic exhaust gasses when it had been in operation. At a length of 2 km and a diameter of 2 meters, it is the world's longest pipe.[2]

The building has been featured in several music videos.[6]

The building was illuminated for the 2019 Moon Festival as a collaboration between the current owner, Taiwan Power Company, and two artists Chou Lien (周鍊) and Joyce Ho (何采柔).[1]

See also

References
  1. "Remains of 13 Levels in NE Taiwan to be illuminated starting on Moon Festival". Taiwan News. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  2. "Remains of the 13 Levels". New Taipei City Travel. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. Liao, George (4 March 2019). "New Taipei mayor plans to illuminate the Remains of the Thirteen Levels". Taiwan News. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. "Shuei-Jin-Jiou Mining Sites". Taiwan Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. "The Story of the Taiwan POW Camps and the men who were interned in them". Taiwan POW Memorial. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. "Remains of the 13 Levels". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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