The Jiji line is a 30 km single-track branch railway running from Ershui on the main west coast line up the Zhuoshui River valley to Checheng. It was built by the Japanese colonial administration in the 1920s to carry materials for a hydroelectric scheme, and it survives today as one of the most enjoyable slow journeys in Taiwan.
The line runs through banana and betel plantations, crosses the river, and calls at a string of small wooden stations. Several were badly damaged in the 921 earthquake of 1999 — the epicentre was in Nantou — and their careful reconstruction became a symbol of the county’s recovery.
At the end of the line, Checheng was a logging town that shipped timber down from the mountains. Its restored station, log pond and timber industry museum make it the most rewarding stop rather than merely the last one.
Top things to do at Jiji Branch Railway
Ride the whole line
Ershui to Checheng takes about an hour and costs very little. A one-day unlimited ticket lets you hop off at Jiji and Shuili on the way up and is the sensible way to do it.
Checheng
The restored wooden station, the log pond, the timber museum and a row of good places to eat. Allow two hours here — this is the highlight of the line, not an afterthought.
Rent a bike at Jiji
Jiji station itself is a handsome 1930s timber building, and the town is set up for cycling with rental shops directly outside and a flat network of lanes through the plantations.
How to get to Jiji Branch Railway
- Take a west coast line train to Ershui, then change onto the Jiji branch. Ershui is reachable from Taichung in about 40 minutes.
- Shuili, one stop before Checheng, is also a bus interchange for Sun Moon Lake, so the line combines neatly with a lake visit.
- Trains run roughly hourly. Check the timetable before you start, because a missed connection at Ershui costs an hour.
- The one-day pass is much better value than single tickets if you plan to stop anywhere.
- Weekends are busy with domestic tourists; weekdays the trains are nearly empty and far more pleasant.
Best tours & tickets for Jiji Branch Railway
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to enjoy Jiji Branch Railway and its surroundings:
Day trip with audio guide from $29 From Taichung: Sun Moon Lake Day Trip with Audio Guide
If you are already in Taichung, this is the sensible way to reach Sun Moon Lake. Taichung is only about 90 minutes away, so you spend far less of the day on the road than you would from Taipei, and the audio guide means you get the history without being marched around in a group. You are dropped at the lake with a solid block of free time to ride the ropeway, take the ferry to Ita Thao or simply eat your way along the waterfront, then collected for the run back. The best price-to-time ratio of any Sun Moon Lake tour we list.
- Round-trip transport from Taichung, the closest major city
- Multilingual audio guide instead of a fixed group pace
- Free time at the lake to choose your own boat, bike or temple stops
Transport ticket Taichung: Sun Moon Lake Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (Round Trip)
The purest do-it-yourself option, and the one we recommend to confident independent travellers. The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle runs a dedicated Sun Moon Lake line from Taichung, timed around High Speed Rail arrivals, so you can leave Taipei after breakfast and be on the water by late morning. Booking the round trip in advance secures a seat, which matters more than you would think on holiday weekends when the standby queue at Taichung HSR gets long. From the lake end you are entirely free to plan your own day.
- Official Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service on the Sun Moon Lake route
- Connects directly with Taichung HSR station
- Round-trip seat booked in advance — no queue on busy weekends
