The Hou Tong area in Taipei County used to be the center of coal mining industries before it went into decline in the 70s. But now the county government has turned it into a brand new museum zone, hoping to make it a tourist attraction while preserving its unique culture.

Most of the coal in Taiwan came from the Hou Tong area coal mines in the 60s and 70s.

In order to preserve a part of history, Taipei county government spent 5 years and NT$200 million and transformed the old Rei Shan coal mine into the hou Tong coal mine museum area.

The old warehouse is now the museum and the old coal processing factory is preserved too, which was one of its kind in Taiwan in the past, which also include the first elevator in Taiwan that was used to transfer coal to the surface.

The bridge that allowed the coal to transfer out is now renovated, which allows tourists to experience the life of a miner in the past.

The area is not just another cold museum as tourists can see how people lived in the past with schools, station and villages on each sides of the Keelung river banks.

The area reached its peak period during the 20s when coal mines started to pop up everywhere in the area after the area declined in coal production, many people had to look for jobs elsewhere.

Local business said that, it is booming again slowly with the establishment of the museum as they hope it would revive the area in the future.

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