Shifen Station Introduction
Shifen Station is located in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, and is a railway station operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration. It is the largest station on the Pingxi Line. Whenever a train arrives, the driver exchanges the old copper sign (train running permit) at this station to approve the continuation of the journey, creating a unique railway scenery. From coal transport to tourism, the revival of the century-old railway along the Keelung River Valley is the Pingxi Branch Line of the Taiwan Railway, originally known as the Shidi Line built by the Taiwan Yōkō Company. The line runs from Sandiaoling Station to Jingalore Station, with a total length of 12.9 kilometers. It was constructed by the mining magnate Yan Yunnian to transport coal and opened in 1921. The Bureau of Railways, Taiwan Governor-General's Office invested in the line in 1929, converting it to public operation while also handling passenger services. However, since 1970, the decrease in coal production led to population outflow from the area, causing the Taiwan Railway Administration to suffer losses, resulting in plans to abolish operations in 1989. Thanks to the strong advocacy of local residents, the Taiwan Railway Administration eventually transformed the Pingxi Branch Line into a tourist route in 1992. Currently, there are a total of seven stations along the line: Sandiaoling, Dahua, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jingalore, with a travel time of about 40 minutes. At Shifen Station, you can experience the unique sight of trains passing by right in front of the entrance, and nearby attractions include Shifen Old Street and the Jing'an Suspension Bridge. Here, you can stroll along the shops by the railway while tasting local snacks. The most distinctive feature of this area is not the old buildings but the iconic scene of trains passing right by! In recent years, it has become a must-visit attraction for international tourists traveling to Taiwan. When you arrive in Shifen, you can write blessings and wishes on sky lanterns with a brush, and under the guidance of shop owners, release the lanterns, watching them rise beautifully in the sky as part of Shifen's charm.
