In the past, due to the development of the mining industry, coupled with the toxic fumes emitted by metal smelting, not only the original topography and landforms of the Jinguashi area were altered, but also most of the plants on the ground were removed, destroying the natural ecology of the area. Fortunately, after the end of the mining industry, the land of Jinguashi gradually regained its vitality, and lush greenery began to reappear.

Due to the northeastern monsoon, mining and soil texture, the strong winds, shallow soil and copper refining emissions on the windward side of Shuiwangdong, Jinguashi and Jiufen have resulted in the existing plants being mainly groundcover grasses and flowers. On the leeward side of Jiufen and Houdong and other undeveloped slopes, the vegetation is more complete due to the protection of the mountains, and mainly consists of common tropical wind forests, as well as some farms, orchards, and planted forests.

The northeastern monsoon brings not only strong winds to Jinguashi, but also abundant rainfall and lower temperature, making the Jinguashi area, located in the subtropical zone at a low altitude, also have a cool environment similar to that of the temperate zone. The altitude range of about 500 meters in Jinguashi compresses the climatic environment of more than 2,000 meters high in the central and southern regions of Taiwan, so some plants with temperate characteristics also appear in the Jinguashi area.

In fall and winter, the swaying waves of silver grass on the mountains are one of the special features of Jinguashi. The flowers can be used for many purposes, such as making brooms, paper, and even children's toys. In addition to the grassy slopes dominated by the silver grass, there are also slopes where you can see the Old World Forked Ferns and the Bat's Wing Ferns. Bathing in the sunlight, the three different types of grass slopes show different colors and textures, as if the hills were covered with three different types of carpets, which is very interesting.

On the other hand, in humid hollows and valleys, forests can often be found along the valley floor because they are more sheltered from the wind and can accumulate thicker soil. The ficus family, which has a tropical flavor, is the main advantageous group here, and the most prominent species are the Angular-fruit Fig with ridges on the surface of the fruit, and the Common Yellow Steg-fig with Cauliflory (flowers and fruits on the stems), which can be clearly seen. In addition, in the concave valleys, you can also find clusters of Scaly Tree-ferns, each of which holds a green umbrella, demonstrating the unique subtropical flavor of Northern Taiwan.

In different seasons and climates, the ecological landscapes of Jinguashi have different flavors. Compared to the "gold" for which the area is famous, the green plants that also characterize Jinguashi deserve being called "green gold"!