{"id":3601,"date":"2012-01-03T20:20:15","date_gmt":"2012-01-03T12:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mytwogirls.net\/?p=3601"},"modified":"2014-06-18T14:22:52","modified_gmt":"2014-06-18T06:22:52","slug":"taiwan-2011-part-4-pingxi-railway-line-jinguashi-gold-ecology-park-sashimiya-%e5%b9%b3%e6%ba%aa%e7%b7%9a-%e9%87%91%e7%93%9c%e7%9f%b3%e9%bb%83%e9%87%91%e5%8d%9a%e7%89%a9%e5%9c%92%e5%8d%80","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/mytwogirls.net\/?p=3601","title":{"rendered":"Taiwan 2011 Part 4 – Pingxi Railway Line, Jinguashi Gold Ecology Park, Sashimiya (\u5e73\u6eaa\u7dda, \u91d1\u74dc\u77f3\u9ec3\u91d1\u535a\u7269\u5712\u5340, \u4e09\u56db\u5473\u5c4b)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Continues from here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2665Dec 5th – Rain\u2665<\/strong><\/span>
\nWe planned to do sight seeing today, taking the Pingxi (Pingshi) Railway Brunch Line<\/a> (\u5e73\u6eaa\u7dda\u9435\u8def<\/a>) which will bring us through sleepy mining towns which are famous for sky lanterns<\/a>. Alas it was raining! <\/p>\n

We thought since we’ll be taking the train, maybe we can still see some sights and with some luck, the rain might stop, so we stuck to our original plan.<\/p>\n

After breakfast (of ham and cheese sandwitch, the standard breakfast Windsor B&B offers), we took the bus from Jiufen to Ruifang station, bought ourselves a Pingxi Railway all day pass (\u5e73\u6eaa\u7dda\u4e00\u65e5\u9031\u904a\u5238<\/a>), which is TWD52 for adults and TWD26 for kids. The pass will allow us to hop on and off the train at the various stops along Pingxi Railway Line.<\/p>\n

Despite the rain, the spirit was high. \"Zaria<\/p>\n

We chose Qingtong (Chingtung, \u83c1\u6850), the last stop on the Pingxi Raiway Line as our first stop. <\/p>\n

The rain was quite heavy, so we only managed to walk around the station. Spotted a pagola hung with lots of bamboo wishes\"Bamboo<\/p>\n

We dropped by a restaurant across the station, thinking of grabbing a quick bite. However, there was only 1 person working there, and he took time to make the drinks as well as cooked our pasta, making us miss our train. We had to wait for more than an for the next train.<\/p>\n

In the rain, we really couldn’t do much. We had to kill time in the small station. \"Qingtong<\/p>\n

\"Qingtong<\/p>\n

Zara did drawings after drawings (she’s well prepared)\"Qingtong.<\/p>\n

It was pure time wasting. By the time the train arrived, it was turning dark. We decided to go to Shifen (Shrfen, \u5341\u4efd). Our last stop. The rain was even heavier, but since we saw some sky lantern upon arriving, we went to search for the location where they were releasing the lanterns.<\/p>\n

There were lots of shops along the rail way track providing such servies. You can purchase the lantern, write your wish on it, and then they will help you light it up so you can release it. We saw some Korean getting theirs done. \"Sky.<\/p>\n

\"Releasing<\/p>\n

3 of us getting back to the station (that was how we travelled the whole day)\"Walking<\/p>\n

\"Shifen<\/p>\n

We didn’t stop at Pingxi, and headed back to Ruifang for a simple roadside dinner (asked around and were told there was no restaurant near the Ruifang station), then took the bus back to our B&B in Jiufen.<\/p>\n

It was a wasted day in my opinion due to the rain. Hmphh!<\/p>\n

\u2665Dec 6th – Drizzle\u2665<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe rain has subsided to a drizzle, which was good news to us. As we planned to go to Jinguashi<\/a> (\u91d1\u74dc\u77f3) a small town notable for its historic gold and copper mines, about 10mins bus ride from Jiufen. <\/p>\n

After breakfast, we checked out and left our bags at the B&B and then took the bus to The Gold Ecological Park<\/a> (\u9ec3\u91d1\u535a\u7269\u5712\u5340<\/a>) at Jinguashi. <\/p>\n

The park has several attractions<\/a>. The first we went to was The Japanese Style Residence (\u56db\u9023\u68df) which housed Japanese officials during WW2. \"Play<\/p>\n

The Restaurant at the Park to is themed. It’s called the Miner’s Canteen. You can get Miner’s lunchbox here, which is pork rice in a tin box with a set of cutlery wrapped in a scarf. \"Miner's<\/p>\n

We had something Western. Nuggets and smiley fries for the girls.\"Zara<\/p>\n

Spagetti with a kind of watery pesto sauce (quite unlike our pesto) for Daddy.\"Spagetti<\/p>\n

Horrid testing sesame chicken mee-sua (wheat noodle) for me which I didn’t finish. \"Sesame<\/p>\n

To give visitors an experience of being in an actual mining tunnel and understand the working conditions underground, the old Benshan Tunnel No 5 (\u672c\u5c71\u4e94\u5751) was opened to public. We paid TWD50 to get a miner’s experience.<\/p>\n

First you put on the hygience cap,\"Putingthen the hardhat.<\/p>\n

Listened to some instructions then off we went to the tunnel.\"Getting<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

Then it was out for more adventure. \"\"<\/p>\n

We have our hands on Gold Panning (\u6dd8\u91d1\u9ad4\u9a57) as well for TWD100 per head. \"God<\/p>\n

\"God<\/p>\n

The Gold Ecological Park has huge grounds, and pretty scenic, with an old rail track serving the tunnels.\"Around<\/p>\n

(Little one trying to hold her breath when we wanted to take a photo of her)\"Around<\/p>\n

What we missed was entering the Museum Of Gold, which you can actually touch and try to lift a 220kg 999 pure gold ingot.\"Museum<\/p>\n

The surrounding area of Jinguashi is very hilly.\"Jinguashi\"<\/p>\n

There was a nice cafe around that area, but becasue it was quite far we gave it a miss.\"Cafe<\/p>\n

Instead we have dou-hua\/taufu fa (\u8c46\u82b1) instead at the park. \"Taufu<\/p>\n

It then started to rain again, by the time we got back to Jiufen, it was pouring. Our plans to go to Keelung (\u57fa\u9686) has to be changed. We headed back to Taipei instead.<\/p>\n

We decided to have a nice dinner, and selected a restaurant recommended by my guidebook.<\/p>\n

Upon arriving at the Zhongxiao Fuxing (\u5fe0\u5b5d\u5fa9\u8208) metro station (where the restaurant is located), the girls were so happy to see all the various art works at the station. <\/p>\n

3D art work showing all the famous Taiwan Snack.\"3D<\/p>\n

They were so attractive, Zaria requested photos to be taken.\"Taipei<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The restaurant Sashimiya<\/a>, better known by its Chinese name, \u4e09\u56db\u5473\u5c4b, was a good choice, as the whole family loves Japanese food. <\/p>\n

Here are some of the things we had. Chinese Yam (\u5c71\u85e5) chips.\"Chinese<\/p>\n

Girls love the chips!\"Zaria<\/p>\n

Fried prawn.\"Fried<\/p>\n

Grilled chicken wings (for the little one, a chicken fan)\"Grilled<\/p>\n

Grilled Onigiri\"Chinese<\/p>\n

We were back at Li Yuan Hotel for another 2 nights stay.<\/p>\n

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