University Students Reflect on Life Values Through Former Miners' Oral Histories in Houtong

A group of National Taiwan University students recently participated in a field course at the Houtong Coal Mine Museum in New Taipei City. Through the oral histories and guided tours provided by retired miners, the students were prompted to reconsider the value of life. Associate Professor Tsai Chia-fen emphasized that in addition to preserving precious mining heritage sites, it is crucial to cherish the life assets of Taiwan's last generation of coal miners.

New Taipei City Government's Tourism and Travel Department reported at a city executive meeting today on "Green Tourism. Low-Carbon Sustainability." In response to global climate change and the 2050 net-zero carbon emission target, New Taipei is actively promoting low-carbon tourism through the "Railway Green Line: Shuangxi-Houtong Humanistic Walk" initiative. This program integrates the second phase of restoration for the Ruishan Coal Mine's coal sorting plant with 3D digital restoration and exhibits, offering immersive industrial cultural tours.

The Ruishan Coal Mine's coal sorting plant underwent restoration, an effort actively championed by Tsai Chia-fen, an adjunct associate professor at NTU's D-School (formerly Director of the City Cultural Affairs Bureau), who lobbied the Ministry of Culture's Bureau of Cultural Heritage. She also assisted retired miners, such as Chou Chao-nan, in independently establishing the "Houtong Coal Miner Museum" with their own hands.

Tsai Chia-fen told CNA today that Houtong offers more than just mountain scenery and cat village culture; it also preserves mining history and culture. Through old photographs in the museum and the oral histories explained by the miner guides, visitors can experience how Taiwanese miners, in an era of energy scarcity, dug out Taiwan's economic miracle with their lives.

Tsai Chia-fen stated that the era of coal mining memories has concluded, and many elderly miners are now in their 70s and 80s. They are important witnesses to mining history, and without their life stories, the tunnels and buildings cannot convey moving historical emotions and memories of the era.

In early May of this year, she led students to Houtong for a field course titled "Design Your Life," hoping that the younger generation would seize the opportunity to listen to real stories. Tsai Chia-fen shared that the students were deeply moved by the life journeys of the elderly miners and the extensive artifacts collected by Chou Chao-nan.

Recently, the museum faced a staffing bottleneck. The City Government's Labor Affairs Bureau responded to media inquiries, stating that the museum's operations are currently managed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Geological Survey and Mines Administration. Following the completion of the second phase of the Ruishan coal sorting plant restoration, the city government will continue to integrate corridor resources and oral histories to ensure the sustainable inheritance of Houtong's mining culture.

The Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Tourism and Travel Department informed CNA that they collaborate with the Houtong Coal Miner Museum to organize campus visits and immersive experiences, allowing the public to step into historical sites and understand mining culture. The city government also assists in collecting historical materials and digital archiving, and supports local groups in promoting guided tours, community development, and historical record-keeping.