Qidong Tunnel Introduction
Walking along the railway to the tunnel entrance, you can see that the design of the tunnel portal is quite unique, built with gray bricks (cement bricks) featuring a simple yet grand shape. The double-track tunnel entrance is wide, and many early advertisements for trains in Taiwan were photographed here. The upper part of the interior of the tunnel is lined with red brick arches, while the lower side walls continue with cement bricks. Further inside, at the south entrance of Tunnel No. 1, small pits scattered across the wall resemble bullet marks or the traces of bomb fragments. Local elders recount that these are historical remnants from the end of World War II during the Pacific War when Allied planes flew over Taiwan, targeting trains. The weathered Qiding Old Tunnel bears witness to the history of hardship and iron in Taiwan and records the trajectory of development and change in the Zhunan area. Qiding Tunnel Brief: 1. Built in the 17th year of the Republic (1928), due to the rerouting between Xiangshan and Zhunan, the south end of Tunnel No. 2 has a Qiding Signal Station responsible for train passing control. 2. Starting in the 64th year of the Republic, Taiwan Railways promoted the railway electrification project, and the Qiding Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2 were abandoned due to their unsuitability for electrification and safety considerations which led to a rerouting westward. 3. In the 67th year of the Republic (1978), the electrification project from Keelung to Zhunan was completed, and the two tunnels were closed. For over 20 years, they were neglected, becoming overgrown with weeds. 4. On June 24th of the 94th year of the Republic, it was officially registered as a historic building in Miaoli County. The Zhunan Township Office organized the surrounding environment of the tunnel, transforming it into the Qiding Tunnel Cultural Park, revitalizing the area and attracting railway enthusiasts and photographers to capture the essence of the old railway.
