Before the Japanese era, most transport up and down the coast of Taiwan was carried on by sea, with on-land travel being limited to ox-drawn carts and walking. Transportation greatly improved with the widespread construction of light rail lines by the Japanese.
日治以前台灣的南來北往靠港口海運，陸路交通以牛車和步行為主，日人普遍舖設輕便鐵路後，交通大為改善。