The new glass skywalk attraction causes a stir even before its opening

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Another glass skywalk attraction has emerged — the "Frog Stone Skywalk" in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu, officially opened on February 1, 2018. In addition, the renovation project of Zhulv 58’s "Xinle Bridge" is also set to be completed next February. The Xinle Bridge features a color scheme based on blue, white, and pink, with both sides decorated with indigenous totem designs to show respect for local culture. The skywalk plans to maintain traffic via shuttle parking services and will incorporate smart guided tours, software applications for indigenous cultural engagement, and connections to nearby attractions to develop tourism.

The Jianshi Frog Stone Skywalk offers a dreamlike landscape, with a 40-meter waterfall from Frog Stone above and misty mountain views below. It is rich in wildlife diversity, limits entry to just 20 people at a time, and charges an admission fee. The Zhulv 58 Xinle Bridge, built in 1981, suffered from severe damage due to typhoons — with rapid currents causing water levels to rise sharply, rusting of steel reinforcements, long-term erosion of pier columns by sediment, and significant peeling on the concrete surface, all of which urgently needed improvement.

The bridge features a single-span steel arch mid-span design, with a total length of 198 meters. Both sides include marked pedestrian walkways for students commuting to and from Xinxin Elementary School in Xinxin Township.

The Neiwan Scenic Area is adjacent to the bustling Neiwan Old Street, attracting large numbers of visitors every year, as well as many railway enthusiasts drawn by the Neiwan Branch Line trains. The county government is actively promoting railway tourism in hopes of drawing more tourists. Taiwan Railways has also built a sound-and-light projection turntable here, complemented by preserved old trees and terrain-inspired designs including a wooden viewing platform, barrier-free ramps, LED light strip handrails, and interactive audiovisual equipment (high-brightness outdoor projectors, outdoor-specific speakers, and AV control systems), combining sound, light, and visuals to narrate the 100-year history of Taiwan Railways and the development of the Hsinchu-Neiwan Line.