Checheng Visitor Center Introduction
Background: Checheng Elementary School was established in 1957 and relocated to its current site in May 1987 in coordination with the Ming Tan Hydroelectric Power Plant. Due to the recent impact of declining birth rates, Checheng Elementary School, with a history of nearly 60 years, experienced mergers and was officially closed in August 2015. To revitalize the vacant campus after the closure of Checheng Elementary School, the Sun Moon Lake Administration contacted the Nantou County Government for the paid transfer of the school land. Starting from June 2017 to September 2018, the transfer procedures were completed, and the overall planning was conducted with the theme of a Railway Tourist Primary School, officially opening on September 18, 2019. Design Description: The original auditorium "Xuehai Hall" has been converted into a visitor center and management office for Checheng, providing tourism consultation services, as well as facilities such as a nursing room, a Muslim prayer room, and public restrooms. Collaboration with the Taiwan Railways Administration involved relocating old locomotives (R100 type - R114) and old passenger carriages (35SPK32700 type) to the park for display. The concept of the Railway Tourist Primary School and the introduction of train imagery at the southern entrance corridor of Checheng have made it a new popular photo spot in the area. The original command platform and school gate have been preserved as waiting areas and a welcoming entrance. The former playground space has been transformed into a pedestrian walkway, a temporary parking area for small cars, a turning area for buses, and a designated passenger pick-up area to alleviate the limited road space in the Checheng recreation area. Outcome Benefits: The vacant campus space of the closed Checheng Elementary School has been revitalized as a Railway Tourist Primary School, transforming the former educational ground into a new tourism attraction. Coupled with railway facilities such as the Checheng recreation area station, signal towers, freight cars, tracks, and switches, the theme of "Railway Tourism" has been strengthened. The government leads initiatives for the preservation of railway cultural heritage and tourism development, attracting private investment and creativity to jointly revive the Checheng community. In the future, the Sun Moon Lake Administration will continue to cooperate with the Taiwan Railways Administration and other relevant units to promote railway tourism and low-carbon travel, integrating themes such as Checheng forestry history, Jiji Line railway tourism, and low-carbon cycling tourism to present a diversified recreational style.
