Shengxing Station Introduction
At an elevation of 402 and 326 meters, this station is the highest point of the Taiwan Main Line. It was established in the 29th year of the Qing Guangxu era (1903). Originally called "Bogong Keng" signal station, it was later renamed to Shiliufen signal station. In the 24th year of the Republic, it was again renamed "Shiliufen Station," marking the beginning of passenger and freight services. During the Japanese colonial period, the construction of the mountain line railway began, with segments laid out starting from ten years before the Republic. The Zhunan-Miaoli section was completed and opened for traffic on May 25, two years before the Republic, while the Miaoli-Sanyi section was opened on October 17 of the same year. In the following spring, the Sanyi-Bogong Keng section was opened but was only used for transporting construction materials for the railway. Between Bogong Keng and Houli, due to the rugged mountainous terrain and rivers, construction took considerable time and effort, and it was not until four years before the Republic that the project was completed, with the mountain line railway operating fully. Shengxing, originally called Shiliufen, is said to have been named due to the abundance of camphor trees in the Shengxing Mountain area, where sixteen distillation houses for camphor had been built during the reclamation period. After the retrocession, Sanyi was designated as a township, leading to the current name. The Shengxing Station is located on a small terrace in a valley, entirely constructed of wood, with every post made without nails. Surrounding Shengxing Station are nine uniquely shaped hills that possess talismanic qualities. The landscape arrangement in the station area is thoughtfully designed, with various flowers and plants planted according to the terrain, creating a pleasing sight. It is rare to find stations along the Taiwan railway with such vibrant and beautiful scenery. Outside the station, a small village of a dozen households clusters in the mountains, where the residents' leisurely lifestyle deeply captivates visitors. The area surrounding Shengxing and the nearby Gaodao Mountain belongs to the Liwu Reservoir water source protection area, preserving a dense forest, with winding roads that provide a cool, tranquil, and elegant ambiance.
