Shen’ao Rail Bike

June 22, 2026

I had a week off my Chinese lessons, so I decided to visit Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車].

The weather around this time in northern Taiwan was humid and dangerously hot, with temperatures around 38 degrees. The Central Weather Administration said there was an “excessive heat warning”, recommended avoiding unnecessary outdoor exertions, and “tak[ing] precautions against heatstroke”.

The Google Map above shows the distance from my apartment at International House of Taipei [國際學舍] (circled at bottom left) to Ruifang [瑞芳] (circled at top right), about 40 kilometers.

Above is a scaled-in view of Google Maps, approximately a few kilometers a side. I caught the Shen’ao [深澳] line train from Ruifang [瑞芳] to the end of the line at Badouzi [八斗子] train station (the red line). Then I walked to Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] and rode that (yellow line). Finally I walked to Shen’ao [深澳] and looked at the Jade Cloud Temple [碧雲宮] and Shen’ao Harbour Promenade [深澳漁港海天步道] (blue line) before catching a bus back to Keelung [基隆] and home.

The website for the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] is here.

I prepared for the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] by ordering tickets from Badouzi [八斗子] to Shen’ao [深澳] and return. It cost NTD 250 ($AUD 12.50); one way was NTD 150 ($AUD 7.50). On the day, I didn’t end up doing the return trip, sacrificing $AUD 5. The distance was 1.3 kilometers.

Taiwan Obsessed has a webpage on the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車].

Unlocking Taiwan has an entry on the same attraction.

On the way to Ruifang [瑞芳], on the outskirts of Taipei [台北].

The train followed the Keelung River [基隆河] through mountainous country.

At Ruifang [瑞芳], stepping off the train.

There was a little locomotive engine (above) next to the station.

I briefly left the station to get something to eat. The photo was taken outside looking back towards the station.

In the station, the station guard stamped my train ticket, which I assumed meant the ticket was invalidated. When I later tried to purchase a replacement ticket, the guard told me in English that the ticket was fine, and even wrote me a note on which platform I would be departing – very good of her!

The train to Badouzi Station [八斗子車站].

Inside the train. On the far wall to the right of the access door, there is a helpful diagram of the stations.

Reposted from my Wandering Richard “NMMST Keelung” clip . That was from 2022; where does time fly?

At the National Museum of Marine Science & Technology [海科館] train station, where I got out in the 2022 blog. In the extreme left-hand photo, there is a map posted on the signboard, just visible.

End of the line at Badouzi Station [八斗子車站].

Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] is fairly popular and there are a few clips on YouTube documenting people’s experiences. I’ve chosen a representative clip above.

Fine views to the east. The Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] was on the same side of the street opposite the partially obscure yellow bus.

The way was well marked out.

Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車], taken from across the street near the yellow bus. There was a bay marked “Parking lot” [俥亭八斗子停車場] with a toilet, which I took advantage of.

Terrific view from the shore near the parking lot [俥亭八斗子停車場].

Reception at the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車], in a booth on the right of the above photo. In the left of the above photo was the yellow swing gate that led to the rail cars. I held up my pass on my mobile phone and the attendant swiped the QR code.

Then I waited, while more people arrived. While we waited the attendant read out instructions, all in Chinese.

Shen’ao Rail Bike says “The rail bike is located at the branch line of Shen’ao– between the Badouzi Railway Station and the Shen’ao Railway Station. The early Shen’ao line was a light railway with a gauge of 762 mm during the Japanese colonial period, also commonly known as the ‘narrow-gauge train’. It was mainly used to transport sugar, salt and coal to the port for overseas transportation. It used to be a branch full of prosperity that rivalled the Pingxi Line, perhaps even better. However, with the exhaustion of the minerals and the decreased production in the coal mines, the entire line finally came to an end in 1989,for both passengers and freight transportation. Only the section from Ruifang Station to Shen’ao Thermal Power Plant was reserved t for the coal trains. Nevertheless, the operation of the power plant was discontinued in 2007, and the demand for coal transportation diminished, along with the history of the Shen’ao Branch Line – a history that began and flourished due to the industry, and end with its decline . In the wake of the opening of the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology in 2014, the Shen’ao Branch Line followed to resume its operation, so did Badouzi Station, which was re-opened to the public in 2016.”

Eventually the attendant opened the yellow gates, and we shuffled though. I estimated that we filled the major portion of the rail cars. I was assigned an empty car (above).

In the rail car, ready to go. But there was a problem; I had difficulty putting my right leg on the pedal, due to my stroke. Eventually I managed it, and started forward.

The cycling system was gearless, the pedals connected straight to the wheels, so my furious cycling sent the rail car forward at a walking pace.

Unlocking Taiwan said “Pedaling was easy, with most of the route from Shen’ao being a gentle downhill.” Going in the opposite direction was a bit harder.

We ambled along a narrow path between houses and shops.

We passed a temple at walking speed. On Google Maps this was probably Shen’ao Chiu Ming Temple [深澳昭明宮].

The track was imperceptibly climbing, and the pedals didn’t want to turn. I was exerting myself, the sun beat down, I was sweating and my shirt became damp in patches.

We passed into a tunnel.

The circular walls were lit up by brilliant, flowing lights. Taiwan Obsessed has a good account of this.

Nearing the end of the tunnel (above). The tunnel wasn’t that long.

Then we passed into a bower with heart-shaped rails under shade, which was a relief. The track was now descending, the pedals free-spinning.

Reaching the end of the line, at the blue poster just up and to the right of the rail car.

The rail car ahead of me disembarking its passengers.

I followed the passengers up to the exit, passing the rail cars.

There was a “wishing wall” (above) at the entrance to the station. Unlocking Taiwan notes that it is “where visitors write their hopes and blessings.”

Outside view of Shen’ao [深澳] terminus. To the right you can see three statues of the Mascot Characters for the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車]. They make curious reading: “Tobi – Outgoing and enthusiastic. Has a fragile heart like tofu. Only minor mysophobia. will become stinky tofu when he gets angry. His pet phrase is: I am tofu, not a sugar cube.”

Just down from the Shen’ao Rail Bike [深澳鐵道自行車] is Shen’ao [深澳]. Walking is difficult in the humidity and heat – I estimated 36 degrees.

Across the road is the entrance to the Shen’ao Thermal Power Station, now demolished.

According to Global Energy Monitor, “The original Shen’ao power station … commissioned from 1960 to 1966. The units were retired in 2007 and demolished in 2011…In July 2018, an administrative appeal was lodged against the proposed project on the grounds that pollution from the project would damage public health…. The campaign against the plant stepped up further when a health study undertaken by three academics from Taiwanese universities and commissioned by Greenpeace revealed the likely health toll from the plant. The study estimated 570 people would die prematurely due to increased air pollution… In October 2018, the MOEA announced that the plan to expand the plant was cancelled.”

Just down from the main street is the 碧雲宮. I’m guessing it’s called the Jade Cloud Temple [碧雲宮], but I don’t know what the English name of it is.

In the Google description a comment noted (in Chinese translation) “In the center of the front hall of this palace is the Jade Emperor, to his right is General Shi (the assembly is seated in gratitude to Heaven), and to his left is the God of Fortune.” In the photo you can just see them.

On the Google page you will find many more photos than I took.

Beautiful carvings on the columns.

The paintings were good as well. Unfortunately the air temperature was dangerously hot, clouding my judgement, as evidenced in these photos.

A short distance was the Shen’ao Harbour Promenade [深澳漁港海天步道]. The shops around it were selling bait or renting gas cylinders for presumably SCUBA diving trips.

New Taipei Travel says “The Port has a vast hinterland and numerous rocky coast, turning it an ideal spot for rock fishing. The Port is also known for leisure sea fishing and has the most sea fishing boats in Taiwan.”

I climbed up a dike to get a better view.

The Fisheries Agency, Ministry of Agriculture says “A footpath is designed on the dikes where you can have a lookout of Jiufen and Jinguashi.”

I gave up returning on the rail car, settling instead for waiting for a bus on the main road. It was stifling hot, so I took refuge in a convenience store. A bus came but in the opposite direction. The proprietor of the convenience store said the bus was in fact going to Ruifang [瑞芳], and was the last on the day. She said the bus going to Keelung [基隆] arrived in 20 minutes. I had an ice-cream (above, NTD 49 / $AUD 2.50) to cool me down while I waited in the air-conditioned shop.