Taiwan Food Atlas

Shanjia Railway Station, Shulin

A Japanese colonial-era wooden station still in service, its century-old platform awaiting trains
📍 New Taipei · Shanjia🎨 Cultural district🔖 Historic building

Shanjia Railway Station is a Japanese colonial-era wooden train station on the TRA Western Trunk Line in Shulin District, New Taipei City. The site was first established in 1903 as "Shanzaijiao Station," and the existing wooden station building dates to 1928; it was designated a New Taipei City historic site in 2002. The building retains its Japanese-style roof and timber frame, and the platform remains in daily operation, with trains still stopping here. A living historic building — that is what sets Shanjia Station apart from a typical exhibition-only heritage site.

The predecessor station, "Shanzaijiao Station," opened on October 7, 1903 (Meiji 36) and was renamed Shanjia Station in 1962. The existing wooden station building dates to 1928 (Showa 3), making it one of the few pre-war wooden railway stations still standing in northern Taiwan. It was designated a New Taipei City historic site on December 6, 2002, and reopened after restoration in 2017.

What to see at Shanjia Station

Shanjia Station was built in Meiji 34 of the Japanese colonial period (1901). Over more than a century it has undergone several partial renovations; the main structure of the wooden station building is essentially preserved, and the roof form and timber frame are typical of Japanese railway architecture. The station is small — a local stop — with a plain and orderly facade standing among the surrounding ordinary buildings, presenting a typical image of an early Western Trunk Line local station.

What makes Shanjia Station most distinctive is the coexistence of its historic building status and its active operating state. Trains stop here daily and passengers can genuinely buy tickets and board a train, waiting on a platform with more than a century of history. Ticketing still takes place inside, and the platform tiles and waiting area retain the historic layout. When visiting, basic courtesy toward other waiting passengers is essential — do not disturb them.

How to make the most of your visit

🚂
Ride a train to experience the historic platformTake a local train from Taipei or Banqiao to Shanjia Station and experience firsthand what it feels like to wait for a train on a century-old wooden platform. Confirm which train services stop here when buying your ticket.
🏚️
Observing the wooden station building's architectureThe timber frame and eave details on the station front are characteristic of Japanese railway architecture. The full front elevation can be photographed from outside the station; it retains a relatively complete historic appearance.
📸
Railway photography anglesBoth ends of the platform offer views of trains pulling in. Early morning or late afternoon light angles are better; keep an eye on the train timetable to time your shots.
🏘️
Strolling the nearby old streetsSome old buildings survive near Shanjia Station. Walk to explore the streetscape around the station area and get a feel for local life in Shulin's Shanjia neighborhood.

Practical information

Getting there and timing

  • Take the TRA Western Trunk Line directly to Shanjia Station — about 30 to 40 minutes from Taipei Main Station. Check the timetable to confirm which services stop here.
  • The station is open all day according to train operations, with no special admission fee or reservation required.

Nearby connections

  • Take the train one stop south to Yingge Old Street to explore ceramics culture; continue south to Sanxia Old Street.
  • Shulin District has some old building streetscapes. Walk to explore near Shanjia Station, then transfer onward.

Source: Taiwan Railways Administration, Shanjia Station information; Bureau of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, historic building registration data. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shanjia Station first established?

Its predecessor, Shanzaijiao Station, opened in 1903, while the current wooden station building was constructed 25 years later, in 1928.

Can you still take a train from Shanjia Station?

Yes. Shanjia Station is an active stop on the TRA Western Trunk Line, with trains calling daily and tickets available for purchase as usual.

Is Shanjia Station a historic site or a historic building?

It was designated a New Taipei City historic site (古蹟) in 2002, not a historic building (歷史建築) — one of the few operating train stations in Taiwan with historic-site status.

Sources

🗺️ View on the map ← All New Taipei attractions