Why Are There So Many Ghost Stories About the Central Cross-Island Highway? White Figures in Tunnels and 'Ghost Wall' Phenomena Terrify Drivers — The Real History Behind Is Even More Shocking

The Central Cross-Island Highway traverses the Central Mountain Range, stretching from gorges and steep cliffs to high mountain areas. Its route is lined with dense tunnels and numerous sharp turns. Coupled with fog, rockfalls, and the heavy casualties during its early construction, the highway has given rise to numerous legends over the decades—such as 'ghost walls,' 'white figures in tunnels,' and 'sudden voices in the ear.' But are these stories true or false? After reviewing official records, it becomes clear that the highway's perilous construction history and significant loss of life are well-documented. However, the so-called paranormal incidents mostly stem from public submissions and online rumors, with no objective evidence to support them.

Why does the Central Cross-Island Highway have so many ghost stories? It begins with a real history of construction-related deaths.

Today’s East-West Cross-Island Highway, commonly known as the 'Central Cross-Island Highway,' was a vital mountain-crossing route in early Taiwan. According to Taroko National Park records, construction began in July 1956 and officially opened in May 1960. The project required cutting through the Central Mountain Range, with roads and tunnels carved directly into the steep marble cliffs of Taroko Gorge—making construction conditions extremely difficult.

This road came at a heavy human cost.

Official sources vary in their reported death tolls during construction: a cultural heritage study by Taroko National Park records 212 workers died; other historical documents from the Veterans Affairs Council and the park cite 225 fatalities or martyrs.

Today, the Changchun Shrine in Taroko was built to honor those who died during the road's construction.

As a result, local folklore along the route gradually developed around the 'spirits of those who died building the road.' However, it’s crucial to distinguish: official records confirm the significant casualties during construction, but they do not prove the existence of supernatural events.

Voices heard in Central Cross-Island Highway tunnels? Both drivers thought the other spoke

One of the most typical legends associated with the highway is the sudden hearing of unfamiliar voices inside tunnels.

In 2020, the Liberty Times’ supplement 'Ghost Story Pavilion' published a reader submission. The writer described riding a motorcycle with a friend from Hualien to Wuling during university. As they approached the 'last tunnel before Wuling,' the mountain fog grew increasingly thick.

Shortly after entering the tunnel, the writer suddenly heard a voice near their ear. At first, they assumed it was their friend on the backseat speaking. But when they asked, they discovered the friend had also heard a voice—and assumed it was the writer who had spoken.

They continued riding, later describing a white figure appearing ahead, which further unsettled them.

The 'ghost wall' legend of the Central Cross-Island Highway: driving forward endlessly but feeling like you never arrive

Another long-standing urban legend tied to the highway is the so-called 'ghost wall' phenomenon.

Cathay Insurance, in a past compilation of Taiwan’s haunted road myths, noted that due to the narrow lanes, numerous curves, and frequent fog, the Central Cross-Island Highway has long been associated with legends like 'ghosts pulling cars' and 'ghost walls.'

A widely shared experience was also posted on PTT’s Marvel board. The poster described driving along the highway in thick fog, following a vehicle ahead, but suddenly feeling the road ahead looked unfamiliar. The long, winding mountain path seemed to have changed abruptly, until they finally reached the Taroko area in Hualien.

Given the highway’s length, many junctions and curves, and the potential for fog to drastically reduce visibility, the narrative of 'driving endlessly without progress' has become one of the most common urban legends associated with the Central Cross-Island Highway.

Why does Jiuqu Cave feel so oppressive? The real shock lies in how this road was built

Jiuqu Cave is often linked in online ghost stories and supernatural tales about the Central Cross-Island Highway. However, a review of official Taroko National Park materials reveals no formal records of 'hauntings at Jiuqu Cave' or it being 'the most haunted spot.'

What’s truly noteworthy is its geology and construction history.

According to the Taroko National Park Administration, the current Jiuqu Cave Trail was originally the old Central Cross-Island Highway. Early construction crews had to carve roads directly into solid marble cliffs.

It wasn’t until the new Jiuqu Cave Tunnel opened in 1996 that the old road was gradually converted into a pedestrian path.

Today, walking through Jiuqu Cave, visitors can still see the original tunnels carved into the rock face—one side pressed against a massive cliff, the other overlooking the deep Lushui Creek Gorge. Geological features like faults, joints, and folds are also visible.

In other words, even without ghost stories, the towering cliffs, narrow rock tunnels, river sounds, and unique terrain alone are enough to create a strong sense of oppression.

More frightening than ghost stories! The real dangers on the Central Cross-Island Highway are rockfalls, fog, and landslides

If we set aside all urban legends, what truly poses a documented and real threat to drivers isn’t white figures—but fog, rockfalls, slope collapses, and sudden mountain weather.

The Taroko Gorge itself has steep terrain, with rock walls full of joints and faults. Earthquakes and heavy rains can loosen rock fragments, causing them to fall.

Especially after the 2024 Hualien earthquake severely damaged the eastern section of the highway, massive slope collapses occurred, and road reconstruction continues to this day.

As of the Highway Bureau’s August 2026 announcement, the路段 from Tianxiang to Taroko Entrance remains under traffic control. Vehicles are allowed through in batches during specific daytime hours. The road is cleared after 6:00 PM, and night closures are enforced from 6:30 PM to 6:30 AM the next day. Sections including Jiuqu Cave, Zuilu, and Jinhang also remain under construction control.

Is the Central Cross-Island Highway really haunted? Here’s what we can confirm

Is there really a ghost on the Central Cross-Island Highway? Currently, there is no objective evidence to prove it.

What we can confirm is that this highway has an extremely difficult history. Hundreds of road workers lost their lives to carve a path through the Central Mountain Range. The route is dotted with gorges, tunnels, cliffs, and rockfall zones. Combined with fog, darkness, and echoing sounds from the valley, it creates the perfect environment for urban legends to flourish.

As for stories like 'hearing voices in tunnels,' 'seeing white figures,' and 'ghost walls,' the available sources are mostly from reader submissions, online articles, and folk retellings. They can be introduced as local legends, but should not be presented as verified paranormal events.

Perhaps the true awe-inspiring aspect of the Central Cross-Island Highway lies here.

No one can prove whether the ghost stories are true or false. But the towering cliffs, deep gorges, sudden fog, and the road built decades ago by workers sacrificing their lives—all of these are real. When driving along the Central Cross-Island Highway, rather than worrying about white figures appearing in tunnels, it’s far more important to pay attention to current weather and road conditions.

Main Sources: Taroko National Park Administration: Jiuqu Cave attraction guide, Central Cross-Island Highway construction history, and related research. Veterans Affairs Commission: Historical records on the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway and worker fatalities. Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Highway Bureau: August 2026 announcement on traffic control and post-disaster reconstruction of the eastern section. Liberty Times Supplement 'Ghost Story Pavilion': 2020 reader submission on the Central Cross-Island Highway tunnel. Cathay Insurance: Compilation of Taiwan’s haunted roads and folk legends about 'ghosts pulling cars' and 'ghost walls' on the Central Cross-Island Highway. PTT Marvel Board: Online user experiences related to the Central Cross-Island Highway.