View source for Remains of the 13 Levels

{{Short description|Former factory in Ruifang, New Taipei, Taiwan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Remains of the 13 Levels
| native_name         = 十三層遺址
| native_name_lang    = zh
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| image               = File:Ruin of the Shuei-Nan-Dong Gold-Copper Ore Processing Plant - Kochunhuang.jpg
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| building_type       = former [[Smelting|smelter plant]]
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| location            = [[Ruifang District|Ruifang]], [[New Taipei City]], [[Taiwan]]
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| coordinates         = {{coord|25|07|05.8|N|121|51|52.8|E|type:landmark_region:TW|display=inline,title}}
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The '''Remains of the 13 Levels''' ({{zh|t=十三層遺址|s=十三层遗址|first=t|p=Shísān Céng Yízhǐ}}) is a former [[Smelting|smelter plant]] in Lianxin Village, [[Ruifang District]], [[New Taipei City]], [[Taiwan]]. It is also called the '''Potala Palace of Mountain Mines'''.
==History==
Originally built in 1933 by Japanese during their occupation,<ref name="taiwannews.com.tw">{{cite web|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3767968|title=Remains of 13 Levels in NE Taiwan to be illuminated starting on Moon Festival|website=Taiwan News|accessdate=30 May 2020}}</ref> the building used to be a [[copper]] and [[gold]] smelter plant called the '''Shuinandong Smelter''' that used to process refined ore from [[Jinguashi]] and [[Jiufen]].<ref name="ntpc.gov.tw">{{cite web|url=https://tour.ntpc.gov.tw/en-us/Attraction/Detail?wnd_id=60&id=111576|title=Remains of the 13 Levels|website=New Taipei City Travel|accessdate=5 March 2019}}</ref> After the [[Retrocession of Taiwan|handover of Taiwan from Japan]] to the [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]] in 1945, the refinery was taken over by the state-run company. In 1973, the copper and gold minerals from the area had been exhausted and subsequently the activity and company were shut down.<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Liao|date=4 March 2019|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3650489|title=New Taipei mayor plans to illuminate the Remains of the Thirteen Levels|publisher=Taiwan News|accessdate=5 March 2019}}</ref>
During World War II between 1942 and 1945, the Japanese Empire sent approximately one thousand prisoners of war (POWs) to the gold mines surrounding the smelting plant. The POWs were from allied nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.<ref name="Shuei-Jin-Jiou Mining Sites">{{cite web|url=https://www.moc.gov.tw/en/information_130_75053.html|title=Shuei-Jin-Jiou Mining Sites|website=Taiwan Ministry of Culture|accessdate=30 May 2020}}</ref> The [[Taiwan POW Memorial Park]] now stands in memory of the POWs that died in the harsh mining conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powtaiwan.org/|title=The Story of the Taiwan POW Camps and the men who were interned in them|website=Taiwan POW Memorial|accessdate=30 May 2020}}</ref>
The site and the surrounding mining infrastructure are listed as potential world heritage sites.<ref name="Shuei-Jin-Jiou Mining Sites"/>
==Architecture==
The building has three long exhaust pipes running up the hillside, which released toxic exhaust gasses when it was in operation. At a length of 2&nbsp;km and a diameter of 2 meters, it is the world's longest pipe.<ref name="ntpc.gov.tw"/>
==Popular culture==
The building has been featured in several [[music videos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/taiwan/attractions/remains-of-the-13-levels/a/poi-sig/1357867/357504|title=Remains of the 13 Levels|website=Lonely Planet|accessdate=5 March 2019}}</ref>
[[File:點亮水湳洞選煉廠遺址.jpg|thumb|The building under illuminations]]
The building was illuminated for the 2019 Moon Festival as a collaboration between the current owner, Taiwan Power Company, and two artists Chou Lien (周鍊) and Joyce Ho (何采柔).<ref name="taiwannews.com.tw"/>
==See also==
* [[Mining in Taiwan]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|13 Levels, Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in New Taipei]]
[[Category:Industrial buildings in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Mining in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in New Taipei]]