Old Caoling Tunnel (舊草嶺隧道), which is scheduled to officially open next Sunday, is now open to cyclists.
Linking Fulong (福隆) in Taipei County with Shihcheng (石城) in Ilan County, the tunnel was the nation’s first train tunnel and was perhaps better known for inspiring the Taiwanese folk song Diudiudang (丟丟銅).
First opened in 1924, it was officially closed after the Taiwan Railway Administration changed the railway route in 1986.
Last year, the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area Administration decided to turn the tunnel into a tourist attraction. To this end, the administration removed all the railway tracks in the tunnel and built new pavement. A bicycle lane was also built to allow cyclists to ride through the tunnel.
In June last year, the administration hosted weekend tours to allow tourists to walk through the tunnel.
The administration conducted a trial operation during the first weekend of last month, allowing cyclists to ride through the tunnel for the first time.
People interested in taking a bike tour can take the train and get off at Fulong, where they can rent bikes and ride approximately 2.5km before they reach the north end of the tunnel, the Northeast Coast National Scenic Area Administration said.
After exiting the tunnel, visitors will be able to see Turtle Island (龜山島) in the distance as well as other coastal scenery in the Pacific Ocean.
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