Taiwan POW Memorial and Peace Park

Northern Taiwan


Only a single gatepost remains of the Kinkaseki camp where 1000 British and allied soldiers were imprisoned and forced to work in the neighbouring copper mine during WWII. Now a park, there are statues and a wall engraved with all the prisoners' names; at least 10% of them died here.

It's one bus stop after the Gold Ecological Park when coming from Jiufen.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Northern Taiwan attractions

1. Gold Ecological Park

0.17 MILES

Jinguashi's big draw is this Japanese-era mining-complex-turned-tourist-park, where hillside paths connect 1930s offices, workshops and dormitories, and…

2. Golden Waterfall

0.51 MILES

The cascades at this popular tourist stop have stained the rocks a honeycomb yellow due to the pyrite (fool's gold) deposits picked up by the water as it…

3. Remains of the 13 Levels

0.65 MILES

Just across from the Golden Waterfall, on a sea-facing bluff, are the remains of a massive copper-smelting refinery (十三層; Shísāncéng) whose 13 levels…

4. Fushan Temple

0.76 MILES

Blending Japanese, Chinese and European decorative motifs (note the angels over the altar), 200-year-old Fushan Temple was where the region's miners would…

5. Jishan Street

0.84 MILES

Countless snack stalls and souvenir shops line the narrow 'old street' threading through Jiufen, a mining town so prosperous it became known as 'Little…

6. Nanya Peculiar Rocks

2.24 MILES

This quirky section of coastline has an eroded swirl of rock that genuinely looks like a striped ice-cream cone. The odd shapes and colours were formed by…

7. Cat Village

2.56 MILES

Cross the 'cat bridge' out of the train station to hang out with Houtong's feline divas, who are well used to being doted on by tourists. Similar to Japan…

8. Shifen Waterfall Park

6.24 MILES

Taiwan's 'Little Niagara' can be glimpsed as you chug past on the Pingxi Branch Rail Line, but to get up close to the country's widest, if by no means…