Taiwan’s only “mobile post office” retires gloriously after 27 years of service in an aging vehicle

▲ Taiwan’s only “mobile post office” has brought convenience to Yuli residents for 20 years. (Photo / Reporter Chen Tzu-yin)

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin, Taipei

Two years ago, ETtoday EBC News Cloud reported on Taiwan’s only “mobile post office”, which had been serving Yuli Town, Hualien, for 27 years. Recently, the Hualien Post Office decided to retire the aging mobile post office and purchase a new vehicle for administrative postal services. In the future, the iconic old mobile post office will no longer be seen traveling around town, disappointing many philatelic enthusiasts.



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Chen Tien-kuei from the Marketing Division of the Hualien Post Office stated that the soon-to-be-retired mobile post office vehicle has been serving Hualien residents since 1988. Due to the vehicle’s advanced age, it was decided to purchase a new one for the mobile post office. The routes and services will remain unchanged; only the vehicle body will be new. It will continue to serve the residents, while the old mobile post office vehicle will be handled by the Yuli Town Office.

Tian Chiong-ju, an employee in the Agricultural Extension Division of the Yuli Town Office, said that this old administrative post office vehicle had accompanied Yuli residents for many years and is a cherished memory for many. Therefore, they strongly advocated for preserving the retired vehicle. It is planned to maintain the vehicle’s original appearance and display it at the Town Residents’ Activity Center. The exact display schedule will be announced later.

※ Before 1988 (the 77th year of the Republic of China), areas east of the Shoufeng River in Yuli Town, Hualien County, lacked a post office, forcing residents to travel to the town center to send packages or remit money. This led to the idea of a “mobile post office” to serve residents of ten villages without the hassle of long journeys. The mobile post office offered the same services as a regular post office, including money transfers, savings, and mail delivery. It traveled daily to fixed locations and stayed for 10 to 20 minutes. In the simple town of Yuli, it became a routine and a nostalgic sight.

In fact, this quaint post office vehicle once faced the risk of closure due to declining “performance” and losses. In the end, the Hualien Post Office decided to keep it running because the mobile post office had become a local feature of Yuli and an important cultural asset.

[Reference Information]
Morning Shift
09:00 Departure from Yuli Post Office
09:50–10:00 Nengya
10:05–10:30 Wugu Temple
10:35–10:45 Tailin
10:50–11:10 Maru
11:14–11:20 Songpu Farmers’ Association
11:23–11:40 Songpu Elementary School
11:44–11:55 Yudong Junior High School
12:10 Return to Yuli Post Office

Afternoon Shift
14:00 Departure from Yuli Post Office
14:20–14:50 Guanyin
14:55–15:40 Gaoliao
15:47–15:55 Tiefen
16:05–16:40 Antong
16:50 Return to Yuli Post Office

(Staff at the Yuli Post Office specifically noted that schedules may change at any time depending on demand, and there may be time variations due to road conditions. Those who need to use the mobile post office are advised to call ahead on the day.)