Cycling from Keelung Nuannuan to Pingxi: Mountain Town Coal Mining Culture on the Outskirts of Taipei

Nuannuan to Pingxi: A Cycling Time Journey Through the Coal-Mining Mountain Town

The hilly terrain northeast of the Taipei Basin was once Taiwan’s most important coal-mining region. Starting from Nuannuan in Keelung and crossing the mountain ridges into Pingxi Township, this route preserves the historical memory of Taiwan’s coal-mining industrial era. Mine shafts, miner settlements, narrow-gauge railways, and the unique sky lantern culture together form a rich picture of Taiwan’s modern history.

Route Basic Information

Nuannuan: The Starting Point of Streams and Tea

Nuannuan is the source area of the Keelung River. The streams are clear, and tea is grown on the hillsides along both banks—a typical agricultural settlement in the hills of northern Taiwan. Near Nuannuan Railway Station, several traditional noodle shops and breakfast stalls make for a good place to refuel before setting off.

Riding upstream along the Keelung River from Nuannuan, the road gradually enters the valley. Steep cliffs rise on both sides, the streams babble below, and the air is filled with negative ions, leaving you feeling incredibly refreshed.

The Imprint of Mining Culture

Along the route, you can see the entrances of former mine shafts, mining heritage sites, and miner dormitories. These historical relics record the life of Taiwan’s mining industry during its heyday:

• Houtong Miner Culture Museum: Showcases the history of Taiwan’s coal-mining industry, with well-preserved mining equipment
• Miner Dormitory Complex: Some dormitories have been renovated into bed-and-breakfasts or cafés, preserving the architectural style of the mining era
• Coal Washing Plant Ruins: A large-scale industrial building, now abandoned, but retaining its complete industrial aesthetics

Pingxi Sky Lantern Culture

Pingxi Township is famous throughout Taiwan for its sky lantern (Kongming lantern) culture. The annual Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held around the Lantern Festival, attracts tens of thousands of participants and is one of Taiwan’s most distinctive traditional celebrations. To this day, the Pingxi Old Street still has many sky lantern shops selling lanterns year-round, allowing visitors to experience the romance of releasing a sky lantern at any time.

Releasing a sky lantern carries a beautiful meaning: every lantern that soars into the sky carries the wishes and blessings of the person who released it. After riding to Pingxi, buying a lantern and setting it free in the valley is an unforgettable travel memory.

Jingtong: The Terminal Station of the Pingxi Line

Jingtong is the terminal station of the Pingxi railway branch line. It preserves a complete old wooden station building, and the vintage waiting shelter and railway facilities on the platform make you feel as if time has stood still. Jingtong Old Street is not long, but it is full of warmth and hospitality, with several humble eateries serving piping-hot Taiwanese snacks.

Return Transportation Planning

From Jingtong, you can take the Pingxi branch line (TRA) to easily return to Ruifang, then transfer to the TRA back to Taipei. Bicycles can be placed in the luggage area of the passenger cars (during off-peak hours). This “one-way ride, railway return” approach is the easiest and most enjoyable way to experience this route.

Best Riding Seasons

• Autumn/Winter (Oct–Feb): Cool weather, but the northeast coast is rainy in winter, so rain gear is essential
• Spring (Mar–May): Less rainfall, fresh green mountain forests—the most comfortable riding season
• Around the Lantern Festival: Crowded during the Sky Lantern Festival, but the festive atmosphere is rich

Related Reading

• Keelung Nuannuan to Pingxi Route: A Unique Riding Experience Through Northern Taiwan’s Mining Landscape
• Pingxi, Jingtong, and Shifen Old Streets: A Bicycle Day Trip
• Keelung Qidu to Nuannuan Bike Path: A Complete Guide to Riding the Northern Taiwan Valley Greenway
• Mist and Rails in the Sky Lantern Mountain Town: Riding to Shifen Waterfall, Encountering Pingxi’s Rain and Light