Taiwan's various customs make you fall in love at first sight and become addicted to it after seeing it again

Taiwan's railways are full of charm and the scenery along the way is beautiful. If you want to savor the beauty of Taiwan and don't want to be bothered by unfamiliar and congested road conditions, you can arrange a Taiwan railway Trip for yourself.

Feel the charm of another kind of railway. The sea views, mountains, countryside, and towns along the way will become the most profound memories of your trip to Taiwan.



The story of Taiwan Railways

The first railway in Taiwan was built in the Qing Dynasty, during the period when Liu Mingchuan served as the governor of Taiwan. The route was Keelung-Hsinchu, with a total length of 28.6 kilometers. The successor governor Shao Youlian continued to build, and finally built a railway with 16 stations and a total length of 106.7 kilometers.

After that, after the expansion of the Japanese era, the connection of the North-South Railway and the South-South Railway after the restoration, the railway network around the island was formed. So far, the history of Taiwan Railway has exceeded 100 years.

The railway around the island of Taiwan is composed of the Western Trunk Line, the Eastern Trunk Line, the North-South Railway, and the South-South Railway. The east-west railways are connected together, which is quite convenient. Passenger trains are divided into ordinary cars, Fuxing, Juguang and Ziqiang according to their grades. Tourists can choose according to the time of visit, economic ability or purpose of riding.

See the scenery-experience the beauty of Taiwan

Taiwan is a narrow and long hilly terrain. The sea view, mountain scenery, countryside, towns... The beautiful scenery of mountains and waters along the line will make the Journey full of surprises.

Next, there are several routes that I can recommend to you -

Zongguan Line

If you want to Travel around the island, you might as well try the Zongguan Line (also known as the Zongguan Railway), which starts from Keelung and ends in Kaohsiung. The entire line runs through the entire western corridor of Taiwan. It is the first railway line in Taiwan and has been in operation for more than a hundred years.



The main cities along the Longitudinal Line include Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, etc. Because each city has different customs and natural landscapes, the itinerary planning is also diverse.

You can arrange a tour of Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, taste the Keelung Temple, Hsinchu City God Temple, Tamsui snacks and Pingtung seafood, appreciate Yingge's ceramics, Sanxia and Tainan's ancient monuments and culture, or arrange a Chiayi wilderness tour and Tainan's Zengwen River Mouth bird watching tour is also a good choice!





South-Cycle Railway

If you want to enjoy the mountain and sea scenery, the South-Cycle Railway is a good choice. The South-Cycle Railway is the only railway on the island that can enjoy the Taiwan Strait and the Pacific Ocean at the same time. It is located at the southern end of the Central Mountain Range and is the main railway connecting Taitung and Pingtung.



Along the beautiful Pacific Ocean and through the majestic Central Mountain Range, visitors can enjoy the mountain and sea landscapes and aboriginal culture of Taiwan's southeastern coast, such as Taimali Jinzhen Mountain, Zhiben Hot Springs, the Paiwan Bamboo Pole Festival, and the vast Pacific Ocean.




Yilan Line + Line of Cancer + Hualien-Taitung Line

The most beautiful Hualien Line, which has been voted by many tourists, can also be traveled by train. The Yilan Line from Badu to Suao, the Line of Cancer (Suao to Hualien), and the Hualien-Taitung Line (Hualien to Taitung) can be connected together, and the mountain and sea scenery of Yilan, Hualien and Taitung will be fully visible.

The Yilan Line refers to the area between Badu and Suao, with a total length of 93.6 kilometers.



The Tropic of Cancer, also known as the Tropic of Cancer Railway, runs from Su'ao to Hualien. It is the only railway line in Taiwan with a greater transport volume than the winding parallel highway (Suhua Highway) that winds around the mountains.



The Taitung Line refers to the area between Hualien and Taitung, passing through the entire Hualien-Taitung Longitudinal Valley Plain, and is often called the Hualien-Taitung Line.



The train moves along the coastline

On one side are high mountains
On the other side is the sea
It is beautiful

Along the way, tourists can experience the turning point of natural beauty. After passing through the flat and fertile Lanyang Plain, first enjoy the scenery of Lanyang Plain and overlook Guishan Island, then pass through Suao, and the magnificent landscape of mountains and rivers will appear before your eyes.

Tourist attractions along the way include Northeast Corner and Yilan Coast Scenic Area, Yilan Plain, Guishan Island, Eastern Coast Scenic Area, Hualien-Taitung Valley Scenic Area, Taroko National Park, Yanzikou, Jiuqu Cave, Bilu Bay, Zhuilu Cliff, Tianxiang, Liwu Valley, etc.





Taste - Taste the railway culture of the station

Taiwan railway is not only a means of transportation, but also closely related to local humanities and social development. The most authentic taste of Taiwanese culture is integrated into these small stations.

The long railway always gives people unlimited imagination and hope. Whether it is a wanderer returning home or a traveler, each carriage carries the chatter of passengers, and the station bears the sadness of parting and the joy of reunion. Taiwan has a variety of stations, including wooden, Baroque, fan-shaped stations, etc.

Changhua Station Fan-shaped Garage

Speaking of train stations, the only remaining fan-shaped garage in Changhua County, Taiwan must be on the list. Although it is a garage, its special appearance makes railway fans crazy. In recent years, it has also opened the garage for passengers to see its charm.



The semi-arc, twelve-lane radial railway is one of the products left over from the Japanese occupation period, and this depot is still in service.

Jiji Station

Jiji Station itself is an ancient memory - there is a small town called Jiji in Nantou County, and Jiji Station is a landmark building in the town.

The Jiji Railway Station, built in 1922, is made of cypress wood. It was damaged during the "9.21" earthquake in Taiwan and rebuilt in its original appearance two years later. It is now one of the few wooden railway stations in Taiwan.



The retro station building and steam train attract tourists with their simplicity and tranquility. Because of its unique architecture, it has become a favorite of photography enthusiasts, and Jiji Station has been rated as the most "literary" station in Taiwan.

Hsinchu Railway Station

Hsinchu Railway Station is the oldest existing station in Taiwan. It was officially completed in 1913 and is the only railway station in Taiwan without a sign. It is a Baroque classical building with deep aesthetics. The designer is Matsuzaki Mancho, the illegitimate son of the legendary Emperor Komei.



Because the station is well located, it is not only a transportation hub, but also the most prosperous area in Hsinchu City, so it was listed as a provincial monument in 1998.

See history--experience a slow nostalgic journey

If you want to experience Taiwan's unique railway culture, you can also choose to take a day in your trip, take a slow train, slow down and experience Taiwan's slow nostalgic journey.

Jiji Line

The Jiji Line is the longest railway branch line of the Taiwan Railway and the only passenger route in Nantou County. Formerly the Taiwan Electric Power Waichecheng Line, it was built to cooperate with the hydroelectric works of Sun Moon Lake.

It is the stage of the 2010 TV movie "Remember We Loved", which is based on railway stories. In 2016, the Jiji Line and the Tenryu Hamanako Line of the Tenryu Hamanako Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, became sister railways.

The Jiji Line spans across Changhua and Nantou counties, with pastoral scenery along the line. The main attractions include green tunnels, historical sites, streams, old kilns, Jiji Town, etc. Visitors can take a pastoral and nostalgic journey.




Pingxi Line

The Pingxi Line is located in Pingxi District, New Taipei City. You can take the North-South Railway to Ruifang Station or Houtong Station to transfer. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the mountain walls, streams and waterfalls while the train is running, and experience the simple style of the town and the style of the mine.

In the 1980s, due to the closure of coal mines in Pingxi District and population loss, the Pingxi Line suffered operating losses. The Taiwan Railway Administration once planned to stop the Pingxi Line railway, but it was retained after the active efforts of local people.



The main attractions include Shifen Waterfall, Keelung River Steel Beam Bridge, Jingtong Station, Yeren Valley Waterfall Group, Lingjiao Waterfall, etc.




Alishan Line

The Alishan Line is one of the only three mountain railways on the stone steps, and the Taiwan Railway calls it the "Forest Main Line". The most special thing about it is that it climbs all the way from the Chiayi plain to the Alishan Mountain, which is more than 2,000 meters high.



The route passes through four zones: tropical, temperate and frigid. Each section of the route has unique scenery. Not only can you experience the wonders of the Alishan "Z"-shaped railway, but you can also enjoy the sunrise, sea of ​​clouds, sacred trees, flower seasons, hiking trails and nostalgic railways.