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Exhibition “Hakka on Track: 100th Anniversary of the Hualien-Taitung Railway” launched in Hualien
- Source:客家文化發展中心
- Publication Date:2026/06/04
- Last updated:2026/06/04
- Count Views:2
The Taiwan Hakka Culture Development Center (THCDC) opened the exhibition titled “Hakka on Track: 100th Anniversary of the Hualien-Taitung Railway” on May 16 at Pushi Art Museum in Yuli Township, Hualien County. The exhibition explores collective memories of the Hakka people who have lived in Hualien and Taitung over the past century. In conjunction with the exhibition, local tours and guided visits will be launched to encourage more people to experience the Hakka culture along the Hualien-Taitung railway, as part of this year’s 518 National Museum Day initiative promoting cultural equality.
THCDC Director-General Hsieh Sheng-hsin (謝勝信) stated that the Hakka people were deeply involved in railway construction across both western and eastern Taiwan. He noted that, in earlier times, Hakka people made up a large proportion of railway staff. Therefore, the Center chose Yuli Township as the first stop of the exhibition, as it was one of the stations along the Hualien-Taitung railway line established between 1917 and 1926. In addition, Yuli is now one of the 11 key development areas for Hakka culture in the Hualien-Taitung region. The exhibition aims to highlight the historical context of Hakka migration to eastern Taiwan and preserve the precious memories of the Hakka people’s contributions to the construction of the Hualien-Taitung railway.
To create a nostalgic and warm atmosphere, a 1930s scene of Yuli Station was recreated at the exhibition entrance. The carefully designed set lets visitors step into the railway life of the past. At the opening event, many featured participants—including local Hakka residents, the former director of the Hualien County Construction Department, a vendor who once sold railway bentos on the platform, railway engineers, and a poet living in Yuli—shared their life stories.
The opening event was attended by THCDC Director-General Hsieh Sheng-hsin; Director-General Pan Chien-chien of Hakka Affairs Department, Hualien County Government; Director Yang Shu-an of the Eastern Operations Office, Taiwan Railways Corporation; Director Lee Cheng-hsien of the Pingtung Branch, Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency; Mayor Kung Wen-chun of Yuli Township; Director Hsu Hsu-kuo of National Taitung Living Arts Center; and other distinguished guest.
The exhibition will travel to the National Taitung Living Arts Center in November and to the Taiwan Hakka Museum during the 2027 Lunar New Year holiday. More information is available on the THCDC official website and the Taiwan Hakka Museum Facebook page.
