Chih-Hsu has finally fulfilled his lifelong dream: driving a train on the Alishan Forest Railway through lush mountain forests. One day, during a passengerless run, he makes an exception and stops for a mysterious girl named Seedlings. Before he realizes it, the train enters the long-abandoned Tunnel No. 21—and beyond it, Chih-Hsu glimpses the forest's memories spanning a century.
Using the history of the Alishan Forest Railway as its narrative backbone, this book guides readers through the evolving relationship between humans and nature, environmental conservation and modern development. Alongside its thought-provoking themes, it vividly portrays Alishan's breathtaking landscapes and rich local culture. Through the eyes of Chih-Hsu and the enigmatic Seedlings, readers are transported through bamboo groves, thick mountain mist, and ancient trees.
Meanwhile, Seedlings' fierce resistance—and that of the mountain residents—succeed in protecting Taiwan's indigenous culture and longstanding traditions against rapacions corporate interests.