Kaohsiung-Pingtung Old Railway Bridge Introduction
The Kaoping Old Iron Bridge, also known as the Lower Tamsui River Iron Bridge, is located between Liukuei Station and Jiuqugtang Station on the Taiwan Railway. Built in 1913, it spans approximately 1,526 meters, making it the longest iron bridge in Taiwan at that time, and it was also once ranked as the longest bridge in Asia. The Kaoping Old Iron Bridge significantly contributed to the transportation between Kaohsiung and Pingtung. However, due to factors such as riverbed subsidence, damage from wind disasters, and reaching its service life, the bridge's piers began to deteriorate, leading the government to plan for a new bridge. After the new bridge was inaugurated in 1987, the Kaoping Old Iron Bridge was retired and designated as a national secondary historic site in 1997. Designed and supervised by the Japanese designer Iida Toyoji, the bridge features an iron-gray arched steel structure with a total of 24 piers made of mixed brick and granite. The construction heavily relied on human labor, and the wide and turbulent waters of the Kaoping River added to the difficulty. After eight years of hard work, the iron bridge was finally opened for traffic. Today, the old bridge still stands majestically, beautiful as ever, evoking admiration for the labor of previous generations. Although the Kaoping Old Iron Bridge has been decommissioned for many years, its historical contributions to the economic development and convenience of the Kaoping area remain undeniable. Many older generations likely still hold numerous memories of their travels across it. The current iron bridge has been transformed into a scenic viewpoint, where visitors can walk along the tracks during opening hours to take in the surrounding scenery. At one end of the entrance, an old train carriage is displayed for visitors to tour. Below the old iron bridge, the Kaoping Riverbank has been developed into a riverside leisure park, complete with well-designed pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as several artificial wetlands that help restore the ecosystem, making the area rich in biodiversity. Various plants, insects, reptiles, fish, and birds inhabit this area, making it an excellent spot for photography and ecological observation.
