Shifen Station Introduction
Shifen Station is located in the Pingxi District of New Taipei City. It is a railway station of the Taiwan Railway Administration and the largest station on the Pingxi Line. Whenever a train arrives, the crew exchanges an old copper sign (train passage permit) at this station to authorize the continuation of the journey, creating a unique railway landscape. From coal transportation to tourism, the revival of the century-old railway along the Keelung River Valley started with the Pingxi Branch Line, originally built as the Shidong Line by Taiwan Sugar Corporation, stretching 12.9 kilometers from Sandiaoling Station to Jingtong Station. It was constructed in 1921 by the mining magnate Yan Yunian for coal transport. In 1929, the Taiwan Governor-General's Railway Department purchased it for public operation, also handling passenger services. However, due to declining coal production since the 1970s, leading to population outflow, the Taiwan Railway Administration planned to discontinue operations in 1989 due to financial losses. But with strong advocacy from local residents, the Taiwan Railway Administration finally designated the Pingxi Branch Line as a tourist route in 1992. Currently, the line has seven stations: Sandiaoling, Dahu, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jingtong, with a travel time of about 40 minutes. The charming scenes of trains passing by and sky lanterns filled with blessings surround Shifen Station, along with 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 sight here is not the old buildings but the unique view of trains passing by! In recent years, it has become a must-visit attraction for international tourists traveling to Taiwan. At Shifen, visitors can write their blessings and wishes on sky lanterns with a brush and release them under the guidance of shopkeepers, watching the lanterns slowly rise into the sky, creating the most beautiful impression of Shifen.
