The Liu Mingchuan Tunnel, also known as the Lion Ridge Tunnel, is a municipal historical site. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu (1882), Liu Mingchuan, the governor of Taiwan, actively promoted the development of Taiwan, implemented the Self-Strengthening Movement, and strongly advocated for the construction of railways. In 1884, the "Taiwan Railway Commerce Bureau" was established. After the railway construction began, the first section was built from Keelung through Taipei to Hsinchu. The Lion Ridge Tunnel in Keelung was the most challenging project, taking thirty months to complete, from the spring of 1885 to the summer of 1887. The Lion Ridge Tunnel is approximately 235 meters long and was Taiwan's first dedicated railway tunnel, as well as the only railway tunnel built during the Qing Dynasty.
Located in Anle District, the Liu Mingchuan Tunnel was built by Liu Mingchuan. Due to the complex soil structure—the northern section being hard rock and the southern section being moist soft soil—excavation was extremely difficult. The tunnel is divided into seven sections, constructed using different materials through stacking or excavation, and took a total of 30 months to complete. The southern entrance of the tunnel is constructed of red bricks, and Liu Mingchuan inscribed the words "Kuangyu Tiankai" (meaning "Opening Up the Universe"). The Shiqiu Ridge Tunnel is the first railway tunnel in Taiwan and the only remaining railway tunnel from the Qing Dynasty, making it of profound historical significance.
During the Japanese occupation, the tunnel gradually fell into disrepair due to railway rerouting. In recent years, to preserve and maintain this historically and culturally significant site, the city government renovated it and opened it to the public. However, due to ongoing renovations, the tunnel interior is temporarily open, and visitors can only tour from the north entrance.