Old Caoling Tunnel

Tunnel in Gongliao, New Taipei, Taiwan

26°21′54.1″N 120°29′46.7″E / 26.365028°N 120.496306°E / 26.365028; 120.496306StatusHeritageOperationOpenedFebruary 1924 (as railway tunnel)
10 August 2009 (as bikeway)TechnicalLength2.167 km

The Old Caoling Tunnel (traditional Chinese: 舊草嶺隧道; simplified Chinese: 旧草岭隧道; pinyin: Jiù Cǎolǐng Suìdào) is a cycleway tunnel in Gongliao District, New Taipei, Taiwan.

History

The tunnel was originally constructed as a single-track railway tunnel of Yilan line which was inaugurated in February 1924. It was then later on converted into a cycleway when the new railway tunnel was constructed in parallel with the old one.^[1] The new tunnel was opened in 1986 and the old tunnel was abandoned. Years later, the tunnel was turned into a bikeway by Northeast Coast and Yilan National Scenic Area Administration. The tunnel was then reopened on 10 August 2009.^[2]

Architecture

The cycleway path inside the tunnel was designed in a style of a track. The tunnel was originally lit with oil lamps and now is lit with fluorescent strip lights and a few low energy bulbs in replica lanterns 2020. The entrance features some artworks. The tunnel stretches for a length of 2.167 km.^[1]

Transportation

The tunnel is accessible by bus from Fulong Station of Taiwan Railways.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b "Old Caoling Tunnel". New Taipei City Travel. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
^ "Old Caoling Tunnel". Taiwan, the Heart of Asia. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
^ "Old Caoling Tunnel". Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.