Pingxi Mini Trip / The Rise and Fall of the Town of Pingxi

Text and photos by Cheng Yan

Pingxi, a simple town, a place that has seen both prosperity and decline, a scenic destination boasting some of Taiwan’s most beautiful views, and a place I’ve always wanted to visit with someone I love. This time, I didn’t come with a loved one, but with a few friends from my school days.

The Pingxi Railway branch line was originally built to transport coal from the mines in Pingxi. Today, this railway branch has been transformed into a tourist line, attracting many domestic and international visitors every year. Walking along the disused tracks, with no trains passing by, you can almost still hear the whistles of the steam locomotives from the past. In the past, it carried coal; now, it carries love, friendship, and countless memories.

Many visitors come to Jing Tong to buy bamboo wishing sticks, placing their hopes here. Through a single trip, they leave behind a trace of their presence and wish that one day, their dreams will come true.



However, when in Pingxi, how could we not release sky lanterns or make wishes to the heavens? But we weren’t in a rush to do it during the day, because we believed that the lanterns should only be released when the sky grows dark, so that these lights filled with wishes can rise into the sky, and the heavens can better see where they’re headed.

Walking through Pingxi, I imagined its past prosperity, admired its current landscape nestled between mountains and water, and dreamed of my own future. Through this trip to Pingxi, I came to understand that it carries history, memories, and people’s dreams. Here, I didn’t just make wishes—I also hoped to let go of everyday worries and take a step forward toward the aspirations I had set.