Shifen Station Introduction
Shifen Station is located in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City and serves as a railway station operated by the Taiwan Railway Administration. It is the largest station on the Pingxi Line. Whenever a train stops here, the driver will exchange an old copper sign (train passage permit) at this station to authorize continued travel, making it a unique railway feature of the area. From coal transportation to tourism, the revival of the century-old railway along the Keelung River Valley is the Pingxi branch line of the Taiwan Railway, originally constructed as the Shih-ti Line by Taiwan Yang Ming Co., Ltd., running from Sandiaoling Station to Jing Tong Station, covering a length of 12.9 kilometers. It was built by mining magnate Yen Yun-nian for coal transport and opened in 1921. In 1929, the Governor-General's Railway Department of Taiwan invested to nationalize it and also managed passenger services. However, starting in 1970, due to a decline in coal production leading to population outflow, the Taiwan Railway Administration struggled with losses and planned to abolish operations in 1989. Yet, with the earnest efforts of local advocates, the Taiwan Railway Administration finally planned the Pingxi branch line as a tourist route in 1992. Currently, there are seven stations on the entire line: Sandiaoling, Dahu, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jing Tong, with a travel time of approximately 40 minutes. In addition to the train passing by, Shifen also features Shifen Old Street and the Jing'an Suspension Bridge, where visitors can stroll along the shops by the tracks and enjoy local snacks. The most distinctive scenery here is not the old buildings but the unique sight of trains passing in front of them! In recent years, it has become a must-visit attraction for international tourists traveling to Taiwan. When visiting Shifen, you can write blessings and wishes on sky lanterns with a brush, and under the guidance of the shopkeepers, release the lanterns, watching them rise gracefully into the sky—providing a beautiful impression unique to Shifen.
