Xinbeitou Station

Xinbeitou Station was originally built during the Japanese colonial period to promote hot spring tourism in the Xinbeitou area. It opened in 1916 (Taishō 5) with the inauguration of the Xinbeitou branch line as “Xinbeitou Jōkōjō” (boarding stop), later renamed “Xinbeitou Station.” The name “Xinbeitou” itself originated from the establishment of the station.

The station was a wooden structure, one of the few century-old railway stations from the Tamsui Line and greater Taipei area to survive into the present. Architectural features included carved corbel brackets beneath the eaves and a set of “3+1” dormer windows added during the 1937 expansion, both reflecting refined craftsmanship and a distinctive style. However, when the Tamsui Line was decommissioned in 1988, the station ceased operations and was relocated to the Taiwan Folk Village in Changhua for preservation.

As awareness of cultural heritage preservation grew in the 2000s, both the Taipei City Government and civic groups advocated for the station’s return “home” to Beitou. Responding to strong public enthusiasm and expectations, Nichiro Assets Co., Ltd. eventually donated the station free of charge to the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs.

In 2016, authorities conducted traffic impact simulations to determine the station’s new location, and ultimately chose Qixing Park near its original site. Restoration work began soon after, and by April 2017 the station had been fully reconstructed and reopened to the public. Today, Xinbeitou Station stands once again as an important cultural landmark of the area, allowing visitors to relive the historical charm of this century-old station.