Mining Industry in Taiwan

Dispatches from Taiwan’s mostly derelict mining industry. Jade mining took place in eastern Taiwan prior to European contact but most mining was prohibited until the final years of the Qing dynasty era. Gold, copper, and coal mining exploded during the Japanese colonial era and continued after World War 2, but in recent decades most mining has become unprofitable or outlawed once more. Nowadays most mining consists of sand and gravel extraction, while several former mining towns have been reborn as tourist attractions.