The Píngdōng Big Iron Bridge

The Píngdōng Big Iron Bridge

The Píngdōng Big Iron Bridge spans the Gaoping River, connecting Kaohsiung and Píngdōng counties. For over 80 years, it was the longest and most spectacular railway bridge on the southern Taiwan rail line. Though it was retired in 1989 following the completion of a new bridge, its historical value and architectural beauty have not diminished with time, and it has now been designated as a second-class historic site.

Stretching 1,526 meters, this southernmost bridge on the West Coast Main Line has long become a symbol of nostalgia in the hearts of Píngdōng residents. Its rows of iron trusses and red-brick piers, set against the setting sun and the vast, desolate Gaoping River, quietly exude a sense of historical solemnity and early 20th-century architectural aesthetics.

Although it no longer serves train transport, the bridge remains an important landmark along the Gaoping River due to the old memories and architectural milestones it represents.

Transportation guide: Take a Kaohsiung Bus bound for Fo Guang Shan from in front of Kaohsiung Railway Station and get off at Gāopíng Tiěqiáo or Pénglái Xīncūn Station; or take a Píngdōng Bus bound for Kaohsiung from near Píngdōng Railway Station and get off at Gāopíng Dàqiáo Tóu.

Tip: The Píngdōng Big Iron Bridge is currently closed to the public. For safety reasons, visitors should avoid entering the bridge or railway area.