The Old Kaohsiung-Pingtung Railway Bridge, also known as the Lower Danshui River Bridge, lies between TRA Liukuaicuo and Jiuqutang stations. Built in 1913 and stretching roughly 1,526 m, it was then Taiwan’s longest railway bridge and ranked as Asia’s longest. It long served traffic between Kaohsiung and Pingtung, but riverbed degradation, typhoon damage, and age left piers exposed and the structure unsafe. A replacement was planned; after the new bridge opened in 1987, the old span was retired and, in 1997, designated a National Grade-2 historic site.
Designed and supervised by Japanese engineer Iida Toyoji, the bridge features 24 iron-gray, rounded steel-arch spans. Piers are masonry interlaced with granite; construction relied almost entirely on manual labor. The broad, swift Kaopin River made work even harder, yet after eight years the bridge opened to traffic.
Today, viewed from afar, the bridge remains as graceful and imposing as ever, evoking admiration for those who built it. Though out of service for decades, its role in the region’s economic growth and convenience cannot be erased; older residents still recall journeys across it. The structure is now an observation deck: within opening hours visitors may walk the tracks and enjoy the view, and an old carriage is parked at the entrance for inspection.
Below, the Kaopin Riverbank has become a riverside leisure park with well-designed footpaths and bike lanes, plus several artificial wetlands that restore habitats. Rich in flora, insects, reptiles, fish, and birds, the park is ideal for photography and nature-watching.