Visit the vestige of Luodong Forest Railway A trip of finding thousand-year Taiwan Cypress

The three major forest farms in Taiwan were Taipingshan, Basianshan and Alishan. The timber logged at Taipingshan would go through 4 sections of forest railway and 3 cableways and transported to Tuchang. From Tuchang, the timber were transferred to Luodong Forest Railway, then passing Tuchang, Choshui, Niudou, Chingshui, Tien-sung-pi, Sanshing, Erhwanwu , Da-jhou, Waizaiwai and Chulin stations, and finally arrived at Luodong.

The transforming power of forest railway on the locations it passed is immense. The best way of experiencing the development and transition of Taipingshan forestry is to follow in the footsteps of Taiwan Cypress by travelling. Let’s start from the terminal station of Luodong Forest Railway--Chulin Station.

First Stop---Old Railway Station

Chulin Station owes its name to the surrounding bamboo forest. It is located inside Luodong Forestry Culture Park where the former sawmill, timber yard and offices of Taipingshan Forest Farm were located. In the park, there are Japanese style buildings built during the period under Japanese rule, green woods and timber pond. It is an extremely important forestry historic site and is also an important cultural landscape.

Second Stop---Old Railway Station

Luodong Forest Railway was started from Tuchang and it had 10 stations. The total length is 36.4 km. However, due to the expansion of highway system and its destruction by typhoon, the railway came to a halt in 1979. Afterwards, most of the narrow gauge tracks were torn away and replaced by highway. Now, the only way to pay tribute to Luodong Forest Railway is to visit the old Japanese style stations of the old railway. Presently, the survived stations and related facilities can be found at Chulin, Da-jhou, Tien-sung-pi and Tuchang.

Da-jhou Station is situated at Da-jhou village, Sanshing Township. After renovation, it is designed as an exhibition pavilion of Taipingshan forest railway.

Tien-sung-pi Station is located at the country road of Tien-sung-pi. Its eye-catching feature is the blue building. This is the only original wooden structure station in Yilan county, an invaluable historical heritage.

Third Stop---Leshui, a Forgotten Atayal Community

It used to be called Choshui village, a small community owed its prosperity to the Luodong Forest Railway and the railway station. However, thanks to the termination of logging business, Leshui village had declined and only the indigenous Atayal people were left behind in the community. Leshui village becomes a tribal village forgotten by the outside world. Nowadays, this community is developing the deep cultural trip and ecotourism with current resources and features in its possession. This is a best destination for exploring the Atayal culture, forestry and ecosystem.

The Fourth Stop--- Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area

Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area is full of forests and green mountains. There are plenty of landscape resources such as hot springs, sea of clouds, snow, waterfalls and lakes within its boundaries. Besides, the fresh air there is abundant with phytoncides and anions. It is the best destination for forest recreation and outdoor activities.