Golden falls
Mineral colours.
lumoplank — CC0 · Kemgung YAMSAUM OOI — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kemgung YAMSAUM OOI — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small stepped waterfall on a mountainside near Jinguashi, a village known for gold and copper mines since the Japanese era. Its water runs over rocks stained gold, orange and copper, so the falls seem to pour gold. The colour comes from rainwater seeping through the old mine rocks, picking up iron and copper and depositing them on the stone. Because the water is acidic and heavy with minerals, touching or drinking it is forbidden, and the falls are viewed from a roadside platform. Nearby is the two-coloured Yin Yang Sea in Shuinandong bay, where yellow mineral water meets the blue ocean in a clear line, the ruins of the old copper smelter stepped up the mountain, and the Gold Museum in Jinguashi, where you can enter an old mine tunnel. The site is free, reached by bus from Jiufen and easily combined with it. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
Mineral colours.
Two-tone water.
A mine tunnel.
Jinguashi-Shuinandong road, a few kilometres from Jiufen
Rainwater seeps through old mine rock, picks up iron and copper and leaves them on the stone in golden tones.
