TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A year-long effort to record the soundscapes of the Alishan Forest Railway has finished, and now from home, the public can hear the sounds of workers hammering, birds chirping, and trains climbing into the mountains along the historic line.

The recordings capture natural and man-made sounds alike, including train whistles, overheard conversations, the clatter of maintenance work, as well as buzzing insects and birdsong, per CNA. The agriculture ministry’s Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency announced the release of the project — titled “Soundscape Collection Project for the Alishan Forest Railway and Mountain Villages Along the Line” — at a Wednesday press conference. 

The Alishan forestry-and-railway complex, which runs from Chiayi Station at 30 meters above sea level all the way to Zhushan Station at 2,452 meters, encompasses 23 stations along its 70-km track. The complex was the first place in Taiwan to be designated an “Important Cultural Landscape.”

The team behind the project, Hefang Creative and artist Wu Can-zheng (吳燦政), recorded at eight train stations and 45 other sound stations in the area. They recorded during all seasons of the year and spoke to residents and railway workers, including some who were retired.

According to NFCA Director-General Lin Hua-qing (林華慶), the sounds of landscapes are too often overlooked, and they vary across seasons just like the sights. He added that his agency will continue to pursue projects like this to preserve them.

The Alishan soundscapes can be heard on the platform Radio Aporee.