Take an open-top cable car to overlook Switzerland’s Stanserhorn and discover "Little Taiwan" on the mountainside—a plateau with an 80% resemblance to the island!

Reported and photographed by Reporter You T-Ru / Switzerland




▲ While riding the cable car on Switzerland’s Stanserhorn, you can spot the "Little Taiwan" plateau landscape.

The Stanserhorn near Lucerne is a renowned mountain peak that has been accessible via cable car since the late 19th century. Its summit, at an altitude of 1,900 meters, offers views of famous mountain ranges such as the Titlis and the Jungfrau. To reach the Stanserhorn, travelers must first take an antique train for an 8-minute ride up the mountain, then transfer to the open-top cable car—completed in May 2012. This unique cable car has no roof, allowing passengers to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view on the way to the mountaintop.

The first leg of the journey is on a vintage wooden cable car that has been in operation since 1893. Riders can gaze across the surrounding ancient green meadows, and as the car ascends, they’ll see local houses built into the hillsides come into view. The experience on the antique wooden cable car isn’t just about the ride—it’s about immersing yourself in the local lifestyle, which feels even more intimate as the car slowly climbs higher.


▲ The antique wooden cable car that has been in operation since 1893.



▲ The second section of the cable car route. Thanks to its design, you can catch a glimpse of "Little Taiwan."


The second stage involves transferring to the open-top double-decker cable car, which took over a year to build and was constructed with input from local residents considering both environmental conditions and tourism benefits. The lower deck of the open-top cable car is enclosed with transparent panels, while the upper deck is completely open-air. Passengers can stand up here and take in the full view of Lake Lucerne. As the cable car ascends, travelers will notice a raised flatland at the foot of the Stanserhorn, lying horizontally, whose shape closely resembles Taiwan—even clear outlines of southern areas like Hengchun and Kenting can be made out, making the similarity quite astonishing.

The Stanserhorn cable car operates only from April to November each year. When our reporter rode it, it happened to be the last day of the annual maintenance break. With autumn transitioning into winter, the mountaintop had entered the early winter off-season. At the summit, there are leisure facilities such as an observation platform and a revolving restaurant. Visitors can enjoy a cup of authentic Swiss chocolate or Alpine macaroni here, take in the endless mountain ranges, and feel the grandeur of the landscape. Those interested in traveling to Switzerland might want to check out the Swiss Carnival tour packages offered by Yiyang Travel Agency on February 6 and 14.


▲ In the sunny weather, you can see peaks, valleys, and other mountain landscapes.



▲ The triangular area at the top of the Stanserhorn.


▲ Sunlight streams through the clouds onto the mountain, creating breathtaking beauty.