Longteng Broken Bridge, South Broken Bridge

Along the Longteng Stream, approximately two kilometers south of Shengxing Station on the Mountain Line Railway, several beautifully sculpted, sky-reaching remnants of pillars stand amidst overgrown grass and weeds on the eastern side of the railway. These ancient-looking structures are the Longteng Broken Bridge, a poignant reminder of the devastating Central Taiwan earthquake that left a lasting impact on the older generation of local residents. That major earthquake occurred in the early morning of April 21, 1935 (the 24th year of the Republic of China). Its epicenter was near Guandaoshan, and the Sanyi area suffered immense damage. The majestic Longteng Creek Bridge of the Mountain Line Railway was completely destroyed. After the earthquake, a new bridge was built on the west side of the original bridge, leaving the arched bridge piers standing steadfastly through sun and frost, serving as a monument for future generations to reflect upon. This broken red-brick arch bridge was built by the Japanese around 1905. The master craftsmen who constructed it were all brought in from Guangdong, China. The Japanese enforced extremely strict quality control; the entire bridge was built purely from red bricks and cement, without any steel reinforcement, yet its structure was remarkably precise and sturdy. In earlier times, when life was difficult and transportation inconvenient, local residents, seeing the red brick bridge broken by the earthquake, thought they could utilize the bricks. They eagerly tried to chip off bricks to build walls and houses. However, even after a full day of hammering, they would often only get a dozen or so intact bricks, demonstrating the bridge's exceptional sturdiness. This is one reason why the broken bridge has remained standing for over a century.