[Family Travel]A Grand Collection of Family-Friendly Railway Parks Across Taiwan

Written by / Emilio Zhuang

To preserve these historic trains and railways, in recent years many governments have transformed old railway warehouses into cultural and artistic performance spaces. There are railway parks all over Taiwan—in Taichung, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taitung, and Hualien. Below is a list of eight famous family-friendly railway attractions across Taiwan. Bring your kids along for a nostalgic and fun day out on the holidays!

Do you have little train enthusiasts at home who love watching trains? Nowadays, urban trains are increasingly being moved underground, making it harder and harder to see trains running. Let alone the steam trains often seen in cartoons, which make that classic "chugging" sound.

Originally just a village in Pingxi Township, it gained fame because of the “Shihfen Waterfall,” known as Taiwan’s Niagara Falls. The poster for director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s movie “A City of Sadness” features a strong 1950s–60s nostalgic vibe, with the background set at Shihfen Station. Shihfen Station has an interesting sight—everyone crosses the tracks to get to the other side, something you’d rarely see at other TRA stations. Also worth mentioning, the railway scene where the main characters from the movie “You Are the Apple of My Eye” go on an outing was filmed near Shihfen Station.
Transportation Info: Take the TRA Pingxi Line to Shihfen Station.

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Hsinchu Railway Art Village regularly hosts various DIY activities for learning and fun. There are also exhibitions, and you can see trains here too. When you’re tired, you can dine at the on-site restaurant. From late May to early June each year, the Railway Art Village holds Art Color Street Day, with activities all day long, including a uniquely creative market, free meals, and theatrical performances. The entire street is closed to traffic so kids and adults can run and play. The most exciting part is the water fight activity, letting kids enjoy splashing around.
Transportation Info: No. 64, Huayuan Street, Hsinchu City
(Image courtesy of Hsinchu Railway Art Village Facebook)

The Tai’an Railway Cultural Park is located in Houli, Taichung, and was created from the former Tai’an Railway Station after it ceased operations. It preserves the original station appearance from after 1930, making it suitable for families with young train lovers. A unique feature of Tai’an Station is that the platform is lower than the tracks—it’s built underneath the railway, which is its distinctive trait. There aren’t many food options here, so it’s recommended to combine this stop with other nearby attractions. Kids can walk along the disused tracks and enjoy the scenery along the way, which is also a nice experience.
Transportation Info: No. 52, Fuxing Road, Houli District, Taichung City

The Galaxy Railway Restaurant is situated on the mountainside of the Bagua Mountain Range and is a well-known scenic restaurant for viewing high-speed rail in Changhua County. The restaurant itself has a lawn area and some simple children’s play facilities to keep kids entertained. Whenever a high-speed train passes by, everyone gathers to watch. If your child loves seeing high-speed trains, this is a great choice.
Transportation Info: No. 27-1, Houlu Lane, Xiehe Village, She Tou Township, Changhua County

The Chiayi Railway Art Village is located next to Chiayi Railway Station, transformed from a former freight warehouse used by the early railway station. There are abandoned tracks, and kids often use them to practice walking like on a balance beam. There are also some irregular art exhibitions here, and it’s usually not too crowded.
Transportation Info: No. 37-10, Beixing Street, West District, Chiayi City

Tainan Xinying Railway Cultural Park
The five-inch small train at Xinying Railway Cultural Park is the longest route operated by the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, offering views of rural scenery along the way and a variety of train-related railway relics. It's perfect for kids who love trains. Starting from Xinying Zhongxing Station, there’s a train every hour on weekends, with a round trip taking about an hour. You can take your child on a leisurely ride to enjoy the scenery along the way. While waiting for the train, you can also stroll through the park, which features various train engines such as steam locomotives, track tamping machines, and cane freight cars, as well as a large slide in the park for kids to play on. Don’t forget to try the famous ice cream here when you return by train.
Transportation Info: No. 42, Zhongxing Road, Xinying District, Tainan City

The Takao Railway Story House was converted from the former TRA Kaohsiung Port Station, which was Kaohsiung’s first railway station and turned into a tourist attraction in 2003. There’s a large lawn here, with old tracks crisscrossing it, making it a great place to take a walk with your children. Next to the lawn is a bike path, perfect for families who enjoy cycling. The railway museum inside, of course, offers information on trains and railway relics, providing reference material for families with little train fans.
Transportation Info: Take the Kaohsiung MRT Orange Line and get off at Exit 2 of Xizihuan Station.

Hualien Railway Cultural Park
Hualien Railway Cultural Park is a Japanese-style wooden cultural building that houses a variety of preserved artifacts related to Taiwan’s historical trains. It’s a great option for families with little train enthusiasts. Some parts of the park could be better preserved, allowing more opportunities for those who love railway stories to see and hear more about trains.
Transportation Info: No. 71, Zhongshan Road, Hualien City

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