Liugui Tunnel Introduction
The Liugui Tunnel is located within Shihba Luohan Mountain in Liugui District. It was opened to traffic in October 1937. In the early days, Liugui District was abundant in camphor trees, particularly in the Shanfeng Experimental Forest Area. To address the transportation obstacles in harvesting camphor trees for the production of camphor oil, the Japanese excavated the tunnel through the gravel terrain of Shihba Luohan Mountain, which local residents initially referred to as "Liuzo Cave." After the outer ring road opened in 1992, this tunnel saw little use. In 2009, the Morakot typhoon severely impacted the mountainous areas of central and southern Taiwan, causing rivers to swell and wash away the roadbed, leading to the temporary use of the abandoned Liugui Tunnel by disaster relief vehicles until the outer ring road reopened. Currently, the tunnel is part of the Liugui "Shihba Luohan Mountain Nature Reserve," which prohibits general tourists from entering. Prior permission must be obtained from the Pingtung Forest District Office to enter the area. It is recommended to spend about one hour there, ideally with a professional tour guide, to thoroughly appreciate the local cultural heritage.
