By Li Xinyi, reporting
The Alishan Forest Railway celebrated its 100th anniversary on December 25 last year. The Jungfrau Railway (Jungfraubahn), another Swiss mountain railway that made its first journey in 1912 just like Alishan, also turned 100. The Jungfraujoch railway station is the highest in Europe, featuring attractions such as the Sphinx Terrace and the Ice Palace. On April 1 this year, a new attraction called “Alpine Sensation” opened from the Ice Palace, presenting the beauty of the Alps and Switzerland station by station, along with exhibits showcasing the original concepts and construction process of the early Jungfrau Railway.
From the Sphinx Terrace, you can overlook the Aletsch Glacier, and on clear days, even the Black Forest in Germany is visible. (Photo courtesy of the Jungfrau Railway)
The Jungfrau Railway was an extraordinary feat, carved through the rocks of the Eiger and Mönch mountains. It was completed on August 1, 1912, after 16 years of construction and at a cost of 16 million francs—double the original estimate. Later, the Sphinx Terrace was established. Visitors can take the fastest elevator in Switzerland from the Jungfraujoch station and reach the viewing platform at an altitude of 3,571 meters in just 27 seconds. Then, local guides begin digging a large cave out of the ice, gradually forming the Ice Palace. Built beneath the glacier, the Ice Palace displays traces formed by the compression of glacial ice over various years. Since the Ice Palace continually shifts downward, it needs to be rebuilt every year.
Starting in April, the Ice Palace will be connected with the new facility “Alpine Sensation” to offer a unique visiting experience. (Photo courtesy of the Jungfrau Railway)
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Jungfrau Railway, the Jungfrau Railway Company has printed centennial passports for visitors. With the increasing number of Asian tourists traveling to the Jungfrau, the centennial passport is also available in Chinese. Local restaurants have also introduced Chinese dishes. Meanwhile, Yiyang Travel Agency, which specializes in Swiss tours, has specially launched a “10-Day or 11-Day Tour of Europe’s Three Famous Peaks” for March and April. For groups of over 25 people, each tour group will have a chance to win an iPhone 4S through a draw.
● Read more: Montblanc Global Special Exhibition – Two Centuries of Antique Watches from the Swiss Collection Come to Taiwan
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