Source: CCTV.com

04-20-2009 17:24

Taiwan's railways offer an endless variety of experience, and the scenery lining their routes provides an infinite range of fascinating scenery. If you want to get a close look at the island's beauties without having to suffer the problems of unfamiliar roads and the frustrations of traffic congestion, then you could do no better than choose a railroad tour and immerse yourself in the delights of enchanting coastlines, awesome mountains, placid farmlands, and engrossing countryside.

The scenery along the railroad glides by in a never-ending sequence of change, and each line has its own unique characteristics. The long, narrow, mountainous nature of the island's terrain lines the length of the railways with exquisite scenes of mountains and rivers, and the rail passenger gains access to scenes that are out of reach of the highway. Taiwan's railroads are far more than just a tool of transportation; they embody a deep affinity with the development of local culture and society, and have left behind large numbers of historic relics, including old stations and track sections that hark back to the past and reveal unique facets of local history.

Following is a brief description of the characteristics of travel on Taiwan's trunk railway lines:

West Coast Trunk Line system:

This includes the Keelung to Kaohsiung north-south line, the Taichung Line (Zhunan to Changhua), Pingtung Line (Kaohsiung to Fangliao), and South-Link Railway (Fangliao to Taitung New Station).

East Coast Trunk Line System:

This system encompasses the Yilan Line which reaches from Badu to Suao, the North-Link Railway which runs from Suao to Hualien, and the Hualien-Taitung Line, which together form a complete system that serves all of eastern Taiwan and displays the attractions of Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.

In addition, there are also slow trains that run along narrow-gauge railways: the Alishan Forest Line, Jiji Line, Pingxi Line, and Neiwan Line. For those who have just come to Taiwan, riding on this kind of tourist train that proceeds at a leisurely pace and allows passengers to enjoy the scenery along the way to the utmost can provide a new and interesting experience.

 

Editor:Zhao Yanchen