Collectors snap up Suhua tunnel stones for ‘luck’

Staff writer, with CNA





More than 1,000 people lined up outside an office of a highway improvement project on Sunday for an unusual handout — rocks bored out during tunnel construction in the Suhua Highway Improvement Project that are said to bring good luck and increase fertility.

The Directorate-General of Highways office in charge of the project brought 1,000 loose tunnel stones from the Guanyin Tunnel (觀音) project to an exhibition center in Yilan County as a promotional activity following the completion of the third section of the 7.9km tunnel last month.

The giveaway of the fist-sized stones — long said among transportation authorities to help couples give birth to baby boys — began at 7am. However, some keen rock hoarders gathered as early as 2pm on Saturday to ensure they got their hands on a rock.

A couple chooses a rock that was bored out during tunnel construction in the Suhua Highway Improvement Project and transported to an exhibition in Yilan County on Sunday. The stones are supposed to be fertility charms. Photo: Chu Tse-wei, Taipei Times

Engineers tell stories of tunnel workers finding their wishes fulfilled shortly after taking stones from drilling sites home.

A man surnamed Tsai (蔡) from Taoyuan was the first in line on Sunday. The father of a six-year-old boy, the elder Tsai said he hoped the charm could help the family have a daughter as well.

Another man, from New Taipei City, wrapped his stone in a piece of red cloth as soon as he received it, saying he plans to place it under the bed of his son and daughter-in-law, who have not had any success in producing a grandson, despite having been married for a decade.

The Suhua Improvement Engineering Office first offered free rocks in January, shortly after the second stage of the tunnel was completed.

It gave away 450 stones, but found that demand far outweighed supply, leading to disappointment and even anger among rock hopefuls who had camped out overnight.

After the chaos in January, the office increased its stone supply on Sunday to 1,000, using “carefully picked” stones.

Another round is set for distribution in August next year, when the fourth stage of the tunnel is expected to be completed.