The Chinese Communist Party last month announced 10 “preferential measures” for Taiwan, including pushing for the full restoration of direct cross-strait passenger flights. Taiwan boasts a long list of exciting local destinations that local tourists have yet to discover.
Taiwan is experiencing a tourism deficit, with the number of people traveling abroad exceeding those visiting Taiwan by more than 10 million. In 2024, the tourism industry sustained an estimated tourism deficit of NT$709.8 billion (US$22.5 billion), which is unacceptable. The reason for the shortfall was that Taiwan’s wonderful scenic spots are unfortunately being overlooked.
Not long ago, I joined a tour to Miaoli County’s Shenghsing Train Station (勝興車站) as well as Longteng Bridge (龍騰斷橋), also known as Yutengping Bridge (魚藤坪斷橋), which was organized by the Taichung branch of the National Taiwan University Alumni Association. Rail bike rides on the railroad tracks going through the broken bridge area were an eye-opener to me, which I never saw until I reached my 80s.
I was deeply moved and wondered how such a unique tourist attraction remains unknown. It is a real shame.
The more-than-a-century-old Shenghsing Train Station in Miaoli County’s Sanyi Township (三義) is the highest-altitude station in Taiwan. The railroad line features several tunnel clusters connected in a line, creating a beautiful multilayered scene as one tunnel leads into another. Up to four people can ride together in golf cart-like rail bikes.
I also took a tour of Changhua County’s Shetou Township (社頭), organized by the Rotaract Club Taipei last year. With a population of 45,000, the area remains largely unknown. For global travelers, many of the socks that protect their feet when traveling over mountains and rivers might have originated from the small township, where people weave quietly in central Taiwan. During the peak years of Taiwan’s sock industry, Shetou’s socks once earned the country more than US$230 million in foreign exchange every year.
With about half of its residents working in the sock industry, Shetou is often praised as the “Kingdom of Socks.” As a rhyme goes, Shetou has three things in abundance: guavas, socks and sock company chairmen. Visiting the township felt fresh, interesting and unforgettable.
Taiwan boasts numerous must-see destinations for tourists, not just the most famous scenic spots such as Sun Moon Lake or Alishan. Domestic tourists should take advantage of such attractions, given many advantages to promoting local tourism.
For the nation, more domestic tourism could assist with reducing the tourism deficit; at a more local level, it could bring much-needed economic benefits to local communities. Finally, it could cut holiday expenses and reduce the financial burden on families.
Yu Ying-fu is a lawyer.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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