Pingxi Mining Era and Sky Lantern Day Tour
HIGHLIGHTS
- • Descend into Pingxi's mining past at the XPX Taiwan Coal Mine Museum — one of Taiwan's most immersive underground heritage sites
- • Step inside a rare Japanese-era private historical lounge in Jingtong, open only to a small number of guests, for a seated tea ceremony and guided walk through its artifacts and history
- • Release your sky lantern at dusk the way mining families once did — not as a tourist ritual, but as a century-old signal that said: I made it home
- • Combine with our "Jiufen Night Tour" for a complete North coast adventure across Pingxi, Jiufen, and Yehliu
Pingxi is famous for its sky lanterns — but few visitors know why they were first lit. This tour follows the full arc of that story, from the coal mines that built this community to the lantern that once meant a miner had safely surfaced. Three stops. One coherent piece of history.
YOUR DAY
Chapter One: Underground Descend into the tunnels at XPX Taiwan Coal Mine Museum, where Pingxi's mining era comes alive. Your guide will walk you through the tools, the risks, and the community that grew around the mine shaft.
Chapter Two: The Miner's Table Sit down to a traditional miner's bento — the same humble, hearty lunch once packed for workers heading into the tunnels. Simple food, quietly meaningful.
Chapter Three: Inside the Lounge Enter a Japanese-era private historical lounge that stood at the heart of Jingtong's coal trade — not open to the general public. Begin with a dedicated tea ceremony, then move through the rooms with your guide, uncovering the artifacts, architecture, and stories left behind.
Chapter Four: The Lantern As dusk settles over the valley, release your sky lantern knowing what it once meant. A ritual of homecoming, carried forward.
A NOTE BEFORE YOU VISIT
This private historical lounge is a living piece of Pingxi's past — still standing, still breathing, and welcoming only a small number of guests each day. To keep it that way, we ask that you step in gently.
Shoes come off at the door (socks on, please), voices stay soft, and cameras stay handheld — tripods and selfie sticks are best left behind. Outside food, drinks, and smoking aren't permitted inside, and videography is reserved for those who've arranged it with us in advance.
Please note this experience is suited for guests aged 12 and above, and due to the site's original architecture, we're currently unable to accommodate mobility access.
Most of all — take your time, look closely, and let the space speak. That's really all we ask.
▴ Create and launch your sustainable sky lantern
▴ Explore a 600-square-meter private lounge in the 1940s, showcasing a harmonious blend of Japanese and Western architectural styles
▴ The interior hallway of the historical lounge Dark timber, paper screens, a garden beyond the glass — rooms that remember who walked here before you
▴ Tea ceremony preparation inside the lounge Leaves measured, water warmed — the unhurried rhythm of a tradition that asks you to slow down
ITINERARY
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09:30 Hotel pickup in Taipei
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10:30 XPX Taiwan Coal Mine Museum
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12:00 Lunch (at guests’ expense)
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14:00 Private historical lounge — Guided artifact & architecture tour
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15:00 Private historical lounge — Seated tea ceremony
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16:30 Jingtong old street & eco sky lantern release
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17:30 Drop off at your hotel in Taipei
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Meal :
Breakfast : X | Lunch : X | Dinner : X -
Duration :
8 hours -
Pick-up :
At your accommodation in Taipei city
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Drop-Off :
At your accommodation in Taipei city -
Group Size :
2-6 people -
Language :
English
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DETAILS
Inclusions
- •A professional English speaking tour guide
- •All transportation
- •Admission tickets to all activities on itinerary
- •Travel Insurance
Exclusions
- •Meals
- •Any optional activities not on itinerary and personal expenses
- •Gratuity
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations are permitted up to 5 days before departure with a full refund.
Cancellations made 3-5 days before departure will receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations made less than 3 days before departure are non-refundable.
There will be a 100% charge for no-shows. No-shows are defined as (1) Arriving 15 minutes late for Day Tours; (2) Arriving 1 hour late for Multi-day tours and custom tours.
* Please note that our private lounge is a heritage building and is reserved for guests aged 12 and above.
To preserve the centuries-old wooden floors, we kindly ask that all guests remove their shoes and wear socks upon entering.
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