Accompanied
by Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) Minister Lee Yung-de, Premier Su Tseng-chang
visited Miaoli’s Railway 1st Village on April 19 to check on the renovation of the
Miaoli Railway Museum (苗栗鐵道文物展示館), which is a part of the Heart of City &
Township program (城鎮之心計畫) that is aimed at upgrading public services and
facilities in rural areas.
Premier Su,
who is a rail fan, stated that the quantity of antique locomotives in Miaoli is
the largest in Taiwan. He added that President Tsai Ing-wen places special
importance on Hakka culture and the development of Hakka regions, and that the
central government will always provide support and funding.
Premier Su also
suggested renaming the Miaoli Railway Museum as Locomotives Museum to better
reflect its unique collection. As for the artist-in-residency program under the
Heart of City & Township initiative, reducing traffic congestion around the
artist village should be considered a priority, he noted. Premier Su hopes that
his suggestions will be taken into account, and looks forward to seeing Miaoli
transform itself into an attraction for railway enthusiasts from all over the
world.
Minister Lee
explained that the renovation project of the Miaoli Railway Museum is under the
mutual cooperation of HAC, the Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan Railways
Administration, Miaoli County government, and Miaoli City Office. Positive
results have been reflected in the increasing efficiency of task integration
from central to local government agencies since the Taiwan Romantic Route 3 project
(浪漫臺三線計畫) began under President Tsai, he added. As other ongoing
projects receive approval, HAC will continue to offer assistance in promoting
the railway tourism of Miaoli.
Minister Lee then headed for Guangxi Township in Hsinchu County. With Chou
Sheng-hsin (周聖心), the head
of Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (台灣千里步道協會); Rachel Kim, the representative of Jeju Olle
Trail Foundation (濟州偶來步道基金會) from South Korea; and other officials, Minister
Lee visited Niu Lan He River Water Park (牛欄河親水公園) and Du Nan Trail (渡南古道), the
latter being one of minor trails on Raknus Selu Trail (樟之細路).
In praise of the overseas promotion and collaboration between public and
private sectors, he attended the opening event for a four-day tour of Raknus
Selu Trail on Taiwan Romantic Route 3, and made preparations for an
international conference announcing the joint publicity campaign of Taiwan’s
Raknus Selu Trail and South Korea’s Jeju Olle Trail.
Minister Lee anticipates that more visitors from around the globe will spend a couple of days hiking through Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, and Taichung City. Although Raknus Selu Trail is resplendent with indigenous and Hakka characteristics, the ancient trail is further diversified by its beautiful ecology and culture, he stated.
