Long Teng Broken Bridge revisited for Sunday Best

 

In the heart of Taiwan, the remnants of the Long Teng Broken Bridge stretch across three distinct locations, each telling a story of resilience and memory. Once a proud railway crossing, the bridge bore the weight of trains and travelers, linking communities and carrying whispers of the past through its iron arches. Today, its skeletal remains stand as silent witnesses to time, a monument to both industry and the forces of nature that reshaped the land.

Surrounding each fragment, nature and human care intertwine. Walking tracks meander along the rusted steel and weathered beams, inviting visitors to pause and imagine the bridge in its heyday. Picnic areas emerge amidst the greenery, softening the echoes of history with laughter and quiet repose. In some locations, the bridge’s ruins are embraced within carefully designed garden parks, where flowers bloom alongside remnants of rails, offering a contemplative space where past and present converge.

The Long Teng Bridge’s story is not contained in a single place; it is scattered across the middle of Taiwan, each section reflecting a chapter of the nation’s development, the ingenuity of its engineers, and the unpredictability of the natural world. As sunlight glints on twisted metal and walkers trace the paths beneath its arches, the bridge lives again—not as a conduit for trains, but as a bridge between memory and the present moment.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Long Teng Broken Bridge Taiwan for Sunday Best

 

The remnant of the bridge from Japanese occupation period is now wrapped around by nature.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best

Last night, Joel and I went to Pearses Bay again. A last-minute decision as it was a high tide. Weather was crap. So we ended up in a Greek Fish n Chips shop getting souvlaki in the end. This is the kind of life I like. No need to impress anyone just by being myself. 

Long Teng Broken Bridge for Sunday Best

 

There is an interesting story about the town of Longteng that is revealing of the superstitious beliefs that local people once held. When the first settlers started to cultivate land in the area, they believed that Liyu Lake, located nearby, was inhabited by a carp spirit which brought hardship to the people. In order to overcome this evil spirit they planted yuteng (a poisonous plant) in the Longteng Mountain area. At the same time they gave the mountain in the east the name Guandao Mountain (lit. Guan Sword Mountain) hoping that the Sword Mountain would cut the Yuteng Rattan. In this way, they hoped to poison the evil carp spirit. The ploy must have been effective, for people no longer believe that the evil carp spirit harms the people of Longteng. In the morning of April 24, 1935 a strong earthquake hit central Taiwan. lts epicenter was near Mt. Guandao, and many buildings in the Sanyi district were destroyed. A reminder of this earthquake remains in the ruins of the arched bridge over Long River. It can be seen from the railway line between Sanyi and Houli.

The ruins of Longteng Bridge join Chengxing (Shengxing) Station as one of the top-two visitor attractions on the Jiushan tour route. This historic span is notable attraction both for its simple beauty and as a memorial to the two major earthquakes that severed the bridge twice at the fifth northernmost pier, including damages caused by the 921 Earthquake in September 21, 1999.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Sunday Best