Gongweixu Tunnel

Miaoli Tunnel, commonly known as Gongweixu Tunnel, is a former railway tunnel in Miaoli City, Miaoli County, Taiwan. In 2003, the tunnel was converted into a pedestrian walkway as part of Maolishan Park and is a popular tourist attraction.

Gongweixu Tunnel
The north entrance to Gongweixu Tunnel.
Overview
Official nameMiaoli Tunnel
LineTaichung line
LocationMiaoli City, Taiwan
Coordinates24.553625°N 120.809125°E / 24.553625; 120.809125
StatusConverted to pedestrian path
Operation
Work begun1902 June 25 (25-06-1902) (Meiji 35)
Opened1903 March 31 (31-03-1903) (Meiji 36)
Closed1998 September 19 (19-09-1998)
Reopened2003 (2003)
OperatorTaiwan Railway Administration
Technical
Length460 m (1,510 ft)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrifiedYes

Etymology

The official name of the tunnel used by the Taiwan Railway Administration is Miaoli Tunnel (Chinese: 苗栗隧道; pinyin: Miáolì Suìdào). However, the tunnel is more commonly known as "Gongweixu Tunnel" (Chinese: 功維敘隧道; pinyin: Gōngwéixù Suìdào) or simply "Gongweixu". When the tunnel was completed in 1903, then Governor General of Taiwan Kodama Gentarō visited the site and wrote the characters "Gongweixu" on the plaque above the north entrance, hence the alternative name.[1] The source of "Gongweixu" is thought to be the "Counsels of Great Yu" chapter of the Book of Documents.[2]

History

Miaoli Tunnel was constructed between 1902 and 1903 by Taiwan Governor-General Railways during Japan's rule over the island. The 460 m long tunnel was single-tracked and constructed with brick walls. The 1935 Shinchiku-Taichū earthquake dealt significant damage to the earthquake and the tunnel was closed until 1938. In 1993, heavy rain destroyed a corner of the tunnel's north entrance.[3]

The tunnel remained in use until 1998, when a new, double-tracked tunnel named Miaonan Tunnel (苗南隧道) was dug directly to the south. In 2003, the Miaoli City government redeveloped the tunnel into a tourist attraction by turning it into a pedestrian path and illuminating the walls with colorful LED lights. From October 2019 to January 2020, the tunnel was renovated to become wheelchair accessible.[1][4]

Layout

The north entrance of Gongweixu Tunnel is located in Maolishan Park. At the south entrance, there is a visitor center built out of shipping containers, which has a retired R20 series diesel-electric locomotive (numbered R46) and a passenger car on display. The visitor center also features a bridge built as a replica of the original north entrance.[5][6]

References
  1. "功維敘隧道". Tourism Bureau (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. 楊以諾 (11 October 2017). "紅磚拱橋.休憩展演空間 功維敘景點添新裝" (in Chinese). Hakka TV. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  3. 賴德湘. "功維敘簡介". Gongweixu Official Website (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. 何冠嫻 (23 January 2020). "步道升級！苗栗功維敘隧道北端入口重新開放" (in Chinese). China Times. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  5. 張勳騰 (26 September 2017). "功維敘隧道觀光軸線竣工 尚禹橋相映成趣" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  6. 范榮達 (2 September 2018). "百年功維敘隧道特色再升級 北口無障礙步道「追」火車" (in Chinese). United Daily News. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
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