The Old Caoling Tunnel (Chinese: 舊草嶺隧道) is a cycleway in New Taipei (新北), Taiwan.The tunnel stretches for a length around 2,000 meters. The tunnel was converted into a cycleway when the new railway tunnel was constructed in 2007.
The north entrance of the tunnel is not far from the Fulong Station (福隆車站), above the entrance there is an inscription in Chinese, means ‘Conquer the natural stronghold’ (制天險), which was inscribed by a Japanese.
By the time the tunnel finished, it was the longest railway tunnel in Southeast Asia. The tunnel has almost 100 years of history, but is still solid and durable.
The tunnel inside is cool as if it has air conditioning, no matter if it is a hot summer.
On the midway is the border line between New Taipei and Yilan (宜蘭), after you cross the border line, you are in the precinct of Yilan.
The whole tunnel is straight and almost flat, good for families, but the amplifiers inside keep bombing, the music is loud and terrible.
The south entrance(exit) of the tunnel also has inscription, means They place where the clouds fly’ (白雲飛處), very poetic.