aeeble

Walking along the railway to the entrance of the tunnel, you can see that the tunnel entrance design is quite unique, built with cement bricks. The simple yet impressive design, combined with the wide double-track tunnel entrance, has made it a popular spot for many train advertisements and promotional photos in early Taiwan. The tunnel's upper half features a semicircular arch lined with red bricks, while the lower half of the side walls continue to use cement bricks for lining. As you walk further to the south entrance of Tunnel No. 1, you can see small pits scattered on the wall, resembling machine gun marks or shrapnel impact marks. Local elderly residents attest that these marks were left behind during the late Pacific War, when Allied planes chased trains in Taiwanese skies. The weathered Qijin Tunnel bears witness to Taiwan's early development and the history of railroads, as well as recording the trajectory of the Zhuangnan region's growth and changes. Qijin Tunnel File: 1. Built in 1928, due to the route change between Xiangshan and Zhunan, with a signal field (signal station) set up at the south end of Tunnel No. 2, responsible for controlling meeting trains. 2. From 1975, Taiwan Railways began to promote railway electrification projects. Due to the unfavorable conditions for electrification projects in Qijin Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2, the route was moved west for safety considerations. 3. In January 1978, the electrification project from Keelung to Zhunan was completed and opened to traffic. The two tunnels were sealed off and remained unused for over 20 years, with overgrown vegetation surrounding the area. 4. On June 24, 2005, it was announced as a historical building in Miaoli County. The Zhunan Township Office organized and cleaned up the environment around the tunnel, transforming it into the Qijin Tunnel Cultural Park. The new and vibrant scenery attracts train enthusiasts and photographers to capture the charm of the old railway.