►Established in 1957, Checheng Elementary School was relocated to its present site in May 1987 in conjunction with the foundation of Mingtan Power Plant. Affected by a much lower birth rate, the nearly-60-year-old Checheng Elementary School officially became history in August 2015 after being merged with another school and being suspended.
►To revitalize the place and make it useful again, the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Headquarters under the Tourism Administration, MOTC asked Nantou County Government whether it could use the school upon paying certain fees. The school was handed over bit by bit between June 2017 and September 2018. On September 18, 2019, the school was re-inaugurated as the Railway Tourist Classroom after comprehensive refurbishment.。
►The old Xuehai Hall is now used as Checheng Visitor Center and the Administration Office, providing tourist information services. It also includes a breastfeeding room, a Muslim prayer room, and public toilets.
►With support from Taiwan Railways Administration, the old R100 and R114 locomotives and the old 35SPK32700 cabins are now on display.
►Train-themed installations which promote the Railway Tourist Classroom and Checheng South Entrance were set. These soon became popular among photo-taking visitors.
►The old ceremonial stand and school gate, which are symbols of the old school, are now used for transport and reception purposes.
►The old playground is used as a pedestrian walk, a parking space for small vehicles, a u-turn space for large vehicles, and temporary parking. This helps to ease traffic jam within the leisure area.
►Previous students of the elementary school are encouraged to visit the refurbished site again, since it now provides “classes” to tourists.
►Railway facilities such as the train station, traffic sign posts, cargo cars, tracks, and switches are on display to promote railway tourism. The government will continue to preserve railway heritage and promote local tourism, whilst inviting the private sector to invest and express its creativity more, making Checheng alive again.
►In the future, the Administration and Taiwan Railways Administration will promote railway tourism and low-carbon-emission tourism together, and introduce Checheng's old logging industry and Jiji's railway and bicycle tours to visitors.