Shifen Station Introduction
Shifen Station is located in the Pingxi District of 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 stops here, the driver exchanges an old copper sign (a train passing permit) to approve the train's continuation, making it a unique railway landscape. From coal transportation to tourism, the revitalization of this century-old railway along the Keelung River Valley was initially built as the Shidi Line by Taiwan Yang Corporation, running from Sandiaoling Station to Jing Tong Station, covering a length of 12.9 kilometers. It was constructed by the mining tycoon Yan Yunian for coal transportation and was opened in 1921. The Taiwan Governor-General's Office Railway Department purchased it for public operation in 1929 and began passenger services. However, due to a decline in coal production leading to population outflow since 1970, the Taiwan Railway Administration was unable to sustain losses and planned to abolish operations in 1989. After strong advocacy from local residents, the Taiwan Railway Administration finally planned to convert the Pingxi Line into a tourist route in 1992. Currently, the entire line includes seven stations: Sandiaoling, Dahua, Shifen, Wanggu, Lingjiao, Pingxi, and Jing Tong, with a travel time of about 40 minutes. The unique scene of trains passing right in front of the station combined with the sky lanterns at Shifen creates a beautiful sight. Nearby, visitors can explore Shifen Old Street and the Jing'an Suspension Bridge, where they can shop and taste local snacks along the railway. The most distinctive feature here is not the old buildings, but the sight of trains passing right in front of the station! In recent years, it has become a must-visit attraction for international tourists traveling to Taiwan. In Shifen, visitors can write their blessings and wishes on sky lanterns with a brush, guided by local shop owners, and release the lanterns, watching them rise high into the sky is the most beautiful impression unique to Shifen.
