Qiding Tunnel

Walking along the railway to the tunnel entrance, you'll find a distinctive portal design, constructed from cement bricks (concrete bricks). Its simple yet grand shape, combined with the wide opening of the double-track tunnel, made it a popular backdrop for many early Taiwanese train advertisement photoshoots. Inside the tunnel, the upper half of the arched lining is made of red bricks, while the lower half of the side walls continues to use cement brick lining. Venturing further inside to the south entrance of Tunnel No. 1, you'll notice small, scattered pockmarks on the walls, resembling either machine gun bullet holes or bomb shrapnel impacts. Local elders vividly recount that these are historical traces left by Allied planes pursuing trains over Taiwan during the final stages of the Pacific War in World War II. The mottled Qiding Ancient Tunnel bears witness to Taiwan's arduous pioneering spirit and its railway history, also documenting the trajectory of Zhunan's development and changes. Qiding Tunnel Brief: 1. Built in 1928 (17th year of the Republic) due to a rerouting between Xiangshan and Zhunan. A Qiding Signal Station was established at the southern end of Tunnel No. 2 to regulate crossing trains. 2. From 1975 (64th year of the Republic), the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) began promoting railway electrification. Qiding Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2 were deemed unsuitable for electrification. For operational safety, the railway route was shifted westward, and the tunnels were subsequently abandoned. 3. In January 1978 (67th year of the Republic), the electrification project from Keelung to Zhunan was completed and opened for service. The two tunnels were sealed off thereafter, remaining neglected for over 20 years, with weeds overgrowing the surrounding area. 4. On June 24, 2005 (94th year of the Republic), it was officially designated as a Historic Building of Miaoli County. The Zhunan Township Office tidied up the tunnel's surroundings, transforming it into the Qiding Tunnel Cultural Park. The revamped scenery now attracts railway enthusiasts and photographers eager to capture the charm of the old railway.