The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office has long been promoting the preservation of railway cultural heritage and co-benefit with communities along the railway line. The winners of the 2026 Placemaking Prize were announced recently. This event was initiated by the Taiwan Placemaking Alliance and co-organized with CommonWealth Magazine’s Smile Taiwan. Lumachan Station, which is operated by the Luman Community Development Association of Zhuqi Township, Chiayi County, won the Local Space Revitalization Award (Public Space Category), fully showcasing the widespread recognition of its public-private partnership.Public Sector Restoration and Community Involvement Reintegrated Old Train Station into Local Life For many years, the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office has been committed to the preservation of forest railway cultural heritage. The stations are not merely cultural assets that connect the railway, but also important hubs in the lives of the communities along the line. With a history of over a century, Lumachan Station had stood silent for many years after trains ceased stopping there in 1982. It resumed service in 2019, and the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office subsequently began restoration work to the station building and improving the surrounding landscape. To reconnect the railway with the community, Lumachan Station was leased for operation through a public tender to the Luman Community Development Association in 2025, becoming the first station along the forest railway line to be operated independently by a local community. Since taking over the operation, the association has not only actively promoted the participation of community residents, but also worked with local producers to develop a model that balances space maintenance, local participation, and sustainable management by “buying out products and sharing the profits.” These efforts have transformed the old station into a platform that connects local culture and strengthens community identity, which is also a key aspect that received special commendation from the judging panel.Preserving the Station to Preserve the Local Community Tsai Ya-Hsuan, executive director of the Luman Community Development Association, said that the award is the result of the joint efforts of community residents and the Alishan Forest Railway partners. “We have always believed that if the station is preserved, the local community must also be preserved.” She said that placemaking is not about turning a place into a tourist attraction, but striving to ensure that the original way of life, culture, and people can continue to exist. Today, Lumachan Station has also become a venue for showcasing local industries. When travelers come here, they not only get to see the century-old wooden station, but also get to know the people, life, culture, and stories of Luman.Cultural Assets Are Not Just About Preservation, But Also Connection with Local Life Wang Jau-Pao, Director of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office, said that the revitalization of Lumachan Station is an important example that demonstrates how the preservation of forest railway cultural assets is linked to local co-prosperity. Preserving cultural heritage involves more than just the restoration of buildings and maintaining railway operations, it’s also about ensuring that the station continues to be an active part of local life. The recognition of Luman Community by the Placemaking Prize serves not only as encouragement to the community’s long-term commitment, but also allows more people to witness the joint efforts of the public sector and local communities in the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage. In the future, the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office will continue to work with partners in the communities along the line to deepen the revitalization of spaces and community participation, thus ensuring that the forest railway not only serves as a route to Alishan, but also an important medium connecting settlements, culture, and life along the line.
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