Low-carbon tourism wins praise as the Old Caoling Tunnel is shortlisted for the travel industry’s “Nobel Prize”

▲ The Northeast Coast and Yilan National Scenic Area Administration submitted the Old Caoling Bikeway for the Tomorrow Awards. (Photo / Screenshot from the official website of the Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

By HowToTrip Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan’s tourism industry has once again taken the world stage. Known as the “Nobel Prize of the global tourism industry,” the 2015 Tomorrow Awards held their award ceremony on April 15. From over 158 applicants across 57 countries, Taiwan stood out andwas shortlisted for the “Destination Award”with the “Old Caoling Bicycle Tunnel and Loop Line”! It is the first and only Taiwanese entry to be nominated for this award (the other two nominees were from Slovenia and Bulgaria).

▲ Since reopening in 2009, the Old Caoling Tunnel has become a popular new destination for low-carbon tourism. (Photo / Screenshot from the official website of the Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

“Old Caoling Tunnel”With a total length of 2,167 meters, the tunnel was originally a railway built during the Japanese colonial period. However, due to railway electrification and the inadequacy of single-track usage, it was closed and left unused for 20 years. After years of restoration by the Northeast Coast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration under the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, it reopened in 2009. By integrating nearby marine geological landscapes and fishing village culture, the old tunnel was transformed into a “bicycle tunnel,” allowing visitors to gain deeper insights into the local natural ecology and cultural heritage, while also promoting low-carbon tourism.

Old Caoling Tunnel
Address: Old Caoling Tunnel, Gongliao District, New Taipei City
How to get there: Take a train to Fulong Station, then rent a bicycle to reach the Caoling Tunnel. You can also connect to the Longmen–Yanliao and Fulong Coastal Bikeways.
Opening hours: June 1 – September 30: 08:30–17:30 (clearance begins at 17:00). October 1 – next year May 31: 08:30–17:00 (clearance begins at 16:30)