Qidiang Tunnel Introduction
Walking along the railway to the tunnel entrance, you can see that the design of the tunnel portal is quite unique, constructed with concrete bricks, which gives it a simple yet grand appearance. The wide opening of the double-track tunnel has been the backdrop for many early advertising photos of trains in Taiwan. Inside the tunnel, the upper half of the arched wall is lined with red bricks, while the lower half of the side walls continues the use of concrete bricks. Further inside, at the southern entrance of Tunnel No. 1, small holes scattered across the wall look like bullet marks, or signs of bomb fragmentation, with local elders attesting that these are historical traces left from the end of World War II during the Pacific War, when Allied planes flew over Taiwan, targeting trains. The weather-beaten Qiding Ancient Tunnel bears witness to Taiwan's hard-won history of railroads and records the development changes in the Zhunan area. Qiding Tunnel Brief: 1. Built in 1928 (the 17th year of the Republic of China) due to the rerouting between Xiangshan and Zhunan, with a signal station at the southern end of Tunnel No. 2 to manage train intersections. 2. Starting in 1975 (the 64th year of the Republic of China), Taiwan Railways promoted the railway electrification project. Because the Qiding Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2 were unfavorable for electrification, the route was shifted westward for safety, leading to the abandonment of the tunnels. 3. In January 1978 (the 67th year of the Republic of China), the electrification project from Keelung to Zhunan was completed and put into operation, sealing the two tunnels, which remained neglected for over twenty years, resulting in overgrown weeds in the vicinity. 4. On June 24, 2005 (the 94th year of the Republic of China), it was announced as a historical building in Miaoli County. The Zhunan Township Office organized the surrounding environment of the tunnel, creating the Qiding Tunnel Cultural Park, which has been revitalized and attracts railway enthusiasts and photographers to capture the charm of the old railway.
