Xiluo Bridge 西螺大橋

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Xiluo Bridge (aka Xiluo Great Bridge) was once the second-longest bridge in the world and connects Yunlin County to Changhua County across the Zhuoshui River. Here you can also find a large public square and grassy park which is free for everyone to enjoy. It is one of Taiwan's historical landmarks that you should not miss. 

Historical Background:
Before Han Chinese settlement, Xiluo was inhabited by native Taiwanese plains tribal peoples. During the Dutch colonial period, Han Chinese settlers began to migrate and cultivate the land, gradually increasing in number.  During the Kingdom of Tungming after Koxinga's conquest of Taiwan from the Dutch, an even larger number of Chinese farmers began to settle here due to the fertile land and mild climate. At the time it was situated in the middle of two other settlements: Lukang and Beigang, making it an important transportation hub from northern to southern Taiwan. There also was a ferry along the Zhuoshui River, further connecting the town to the rest of the world. 
The Zhushui River also made irrigation easy, and the area is often known as the granary of Taiwan. 

The Zhuoshui River which the Xiluo River crosses is the longest river in Taiwan and is often considered the boundary between north and south Taiwan. Due to the Zhuoshui River's wide river surface, some early European maps of Taiwan mistakenly divided Taiwan into two islands. During the Japanese era, there were only railway bridges spanning the Zhuoshui River, but no bridges for cars or pedestrians to cross. At that time, people had to cross via ferry or the railway. 
Starting from the 1920s, the Japanese continued to improve Taiwan's road systems and by the end of 1935, only the Zhuoshui River and the Gaoping River remained impassable by car. In September 1934 the construction of a bridge over the Zhuoshui River was first proposed by local residents.  
Construction of the bridge began in 1938, with completion scheduled for March 1942.  Subsequent construction was halted due to the diversion of steel materials for wartime use, leaving the road incomplete.
After WWII, in 1946, the Provincial Assembly proposed to allocate American aid to complete the Xiluo Bridge, with support from local residents. In May 1952, after the steel trusses manufactured with US aid arrived in Taiwan (manufactured by the United States Steel Export Company, which was a front for the US government that could not sell steel directly to Allies), construction resumed. The Xiluo Bridge was completed on December 25, 1952, and officially opened on January 28, 1953.

Xiluo Bridge is 1,939 meters long and 7.3 meters wide. It has 31 spans, 32 piers, and a foundation 20 meters deep. It is made from Warren truss steel girders, painted gray-green when opened to traffic in 1952, then repainted gray in January 1962, and changed to red in August 1986.
When completed in 1952, the Xiluo Bridge was the world's second-largest bridge after the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. It was also the longest bridge in Taiwan at the time, earning the title of the "largest bridge in the Far East."
After the completion of the Xiluo Great Bridge in 1952, the town continued as a transportation hub linking north and south Taiwan. 
However after the completion of National Freeway 1 in 1978, the bulk of traffic moved onto the new highway and Xiluo turned into somewhat of a rural backwater, with most of its economy based on agriculture. Currently, the population of the town is about 44,000 and is falling every year. 
Although usually not especially busy, the old street usually has tourists and shoppers and is full of interesting historical buildings. 

Where to stay:
We have stayed at and recommend Ai Ni Ya Hotel, with great quality and service right in downtown Beigang (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).
We also recommend the Grand Earl Hotel, a high class hotel in central Douliu (book on Agoda here or Booking.com here)
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
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Tours in Yunlin: 
Tours and activities in Yunlin include Janfusun Fancy World Amusement Park, Kite Surfing, Tree Climbing , Chaoyang Green Energy Farm, Sam Siu Garden, Pink Castle Park, Gukeng Green Tunnel, Caoling Highway, and more. 
You can find more tours of Yunlin on Klook here or KKday here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get there:
By Scooter: From Provincial Highway 1, go south to the Xiluo Great Bridge until you reach Xiluo Town. There is free parking on the side of the road.
Looking for scooter rental in Yunlin? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Car: From National Freeway 1, get off at the Xiluo Exit and keep going until you reach Xiluo Town. There is free parking on the side of the road.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Bus/Train: From Yunlin HSR Station, you can take bus 88 for about 30 minutes to Xiluo Town. 
You can also book tickets to travel to Yunlin via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
You can book tickets to Yunlin via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

I have been to the Xiluo Bridge once. It truly surpassed my expectations. It was an impressive sight to behold. You cannot see the end of the bridge with your naked eye when standing in front of it. Also, there is a fun park on the Yunlin side which is great for kids, and people will set up food stalls there on weekends. It is a great place to hang out and enjoy one of Taiwan's technological marvels. 

​Check out our drone video above for an overview of the area.

360 degree view above the Xiluo Great Bridge in Xiluo, Yunlin County. When it was completed in 1952, it was the second...

Posted by Foreigners in Taiwan 外國人在台灣 on Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Or check out the 360 degree spherical panorama above.

View of the bridge which also happens to be along Taiwan's Bicycle Route #1.

Another sign for the bridge under a tree.

Another view of the bridge with bright red lanterns. 

View looking down the bridge. This bridge still sees a lot of traffic especially on weekends. 

View of the bridge and park down below. 

Down below is a grassy park where people were selling kites and other trinkets. 

I Heart Xiluo sign in front of the bridge, perfect for taking a selfie. 

Also in the square were food stalls and places to sit down to eat.

Lots of people were also flying kites there. 

There was also a large garden area which I think required a ticket to enter.

Another view of the huge bridge.

Looking east along the levee.

Looking west toward some cement slides on the levee. 

If you paid for the ticket, you could get up close and personal with a house eerily similar looking to the movie "Up." I'm sure it is no longer there. 

Another view of the entrance. 

A child flying a kite. 

View of the park from the air. 

Another view from the air. 

Last view from the air.

View from our car as we drove over the bridge.

View of the trash incinerator in Changhua across the river. 

Rice fields down below.
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​Xiluo Yanping Old Street 西螺延平老街大橋 ​

You can also check out Xiluo Old Street which is right next door. ​
Yanping Old Street (aka Xiluo Old Street) is a well-preserved historical part of Xiluo Township of Yunlin County dating back to the Kingdom of Tungning, the Qing Dynasty, and the Japanese era of Taiwan. Here you can find historical landmarks as well as good food and cultural attractions. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Yunlin...(read more)

Zhen Wen Academy 振文書院

You should also check out Zhenwen Academy which is right next to the old street in Xiluo. 
Zhenwen Academy (aka Jhen Wen Academy or Chenwen Academy) is a Qing Dynasty Civil Servant Academy in Xiluo Township of Yunlin dating back to the 1700s, and the only such Academy in Yunlin County that has survived to the current day. It now sits as a cultural and historical landmark, alongside with ​Nantian Academy-Yide Branch. It is important to the local people as a religious and scholarly site, especially for local students. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Yunlin...(read more)

You can also check out this blog on the bridge by Alexander Synaptic or this blog by Michael Turton.  

Don't forget there are many other activities and places to see in Yunlin such as Janfusun Fancy World Amusement Park, Kite Surfing, Tree Climbing, Chaoyang Green Energy Farm, Sam Siu Garden, Pink Castle Park, Gukeng Green Tunnel, Caoling Highway, and more. 
You can find more tours of Yunlin on Klook here or KKday here. 
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You can check out our full guide to Yunlin here.

You can also see our full guide to Taiwan here.

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