The Realm of Cloud and Fog: Shuinandong
Located at the foot of Keelung Mountain, with the famous Yin Yang Sea and the remains of a thirteen-level refining and smelting plant nearby; Shuinandong is listed on the international tourist hot spot as Shui-Jin-Jiu (also known as water-gold-nine) along with two close-by attractions, Jinguashi and Jiufen. From the Shuinandong parking lot and through Liandongli Trail, visitors can get access to Shuinandong Village, also known as small Jiufen, to enjoy its beautiful of mountain and sea views.
Golden Waterfall
The Golden Waterfall is located by the bank of the Tzuchiang Bridge and Changren Mining Area, beneath the Benshan Sixth Mine entrance. Due to the abundant rainfall at the Jinguashi Mining Area, mineral sand has turned into deposits at the riverbed, and since there is also bacteria that is clinging and growing on the rocks, the water appears to be glowing in golden color. When the mountain spring water and rain are discharged from the mine entrance, due to the relatively large drop in the terrain layout, a miraculous sight of a “golden waterfall” can therefore be seen and is a popular site for wedding photo shoots.
Yin Yang Sea
Situated next to the waterfall is the Taiwan Metal Mining Company’s old mining site, or the so-called Thirteen Level, which is the music video shooting site for many of the Taiwanese singers. From the higher ground, one can overlook the Yin Yang Sea. This miraculous sight and extremely peculiar landscape is the result of the highly concentrated heavy metals contained in the water upstream. One can also look over the mountain village of Jinguashi in Keelung Mountain as well as the winding Jinshui Highway. It is a great scenic spot for photo opportunities and is also an extremely popular location for wedding photo shoots.
Heritage Site of the Thirteen Level
The Yin Yang Sea got its name from the drastic contrast between the golden seawater color inside the bay area and the ocean’s ordinary blue color out at the sea. The key factor that creates the miraculous view of a Yin Yang Sea is the merging of the river water in the Jinguashi mountain area as it exits to the sea. The water contains a fairly high amount of minerals, making the estuary to form the all-year-round scenery of half-golden and half-aquamarine colors, thereby giving its name the Yin Yang Sea.