At the end of the Ch'ing, the port became obstructed by silt, and it lost its value as a port. The local center of activity shifted to Chunan. And when the railroad was built, it only stopped at Chunan, further isolating Chungkang.
到了清末，港口被漂沙淤塞，失去港灣條件，地方重心移往竹南；繼之縱貫鐵路築通，也只打竹南走過，無異雪上加霜。