Zhunan Qiding Coast

Zhunan Qiding Coast is a coastal attraction in Qiding Village, Zhunan Township, Miaoli County, known for the ruins of the 1928 twin railway tunnels — Qiding Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2, popularly called the "mother-and-child tunnels" — and a reef-coast trail facing the Taiwan Strait. The two tunnel bores sit side by side, piercing through a hill; they were decommissioned in 1975 when the railway was electrified and rerouted, and registered as a historic building in 2005. Now open to pedestrians, the tunnels combine with a coastal trail offering views of Taiwan Strait reef formations and sunsets, making this a compound coastal attraction on Miaoli's west coast with both railway heritage value and natural scenery.

The Qiding Tunnels No. 1 and No. 2 were built in 1928 during the Japanese colonial era, forming part of the Xiangshan-Zhunan section of the longitudinal railway. Tunnel No. 1 (the "mother" tunnel) is 130.78 meters long, and Tunnel No. 2 (the "child" tunnel) is 67.48 meters — together Taiwan's only surviving old double-track tunnel pair of this kind. They were decommissioned in 1975 when railway electrification rerouted the line westward; the tunnel lining has red brick in the upper section and cement brick in the lower section, and bullet marks from WWII strafing runs are still visible inside. The tunnels were registered as a historic building in 2005.

Highlights of Zhunan Qiding Coast

The Qiding twin tunnels were built during the Japanese colonial period as part of the original longitudinal railway route. When the line was upgraded and rerouted, the old section was decommissioned and the old tunnels were preserved. The name "twin tunnels" (zi-mu tunnels, meaning mother-and-child tunnels) comes from the two bores of different sizes placed side by side — the larger bore (the "mother" tunnel) is wider than the smaller one (the "child" tunnel). Both tunnels are built of brick and stone, with well-preserved arched entrances; walking through them conveys the spatial scale of century-old railway engineering.

The tunnels open onto the Qiding coastline, where exposed reef formations make marine erosion features clearly visible. The coastal trail extends southward, facing the Taiwan Strait in the direction of sunset; on clear days you can photograph the sun descending toward the horizon. Exercise caution on the reef-rock section of the coast — do not venture down onto the rocks carelessly; viewing from the trail is sufficient. The late afternoon light angle is ideal for composing shots that combine the framed view through the tunnel entrance with the coastal sunset colors.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit

Practical Information

Sources: Cultural property records for the Qiding Twin Tunnels from the Ministry of Culture; tourism information from the Miaoli County Government. Photos to be replaced with Dio's own photography.