Taichung’s Daking area has long been known as the “Yangmingshan of Taichung,” and the Daking hiking trails are among the most popular mountain destinations. In mid-May, the Taichung City Tourism and Travel Bureau completed the full renovation of the No. 5-1 trail, enhancing overall safety and walking comfort. On the 19th, Lin Hsiao-chi, Director of the Taichung City Tourism and Travel Bureau, said that it is currently the season when the limited-blooming Dayellow flowers are in full bloom, making it also the best time to observe cicadas and butterflies.
Lin Hsiao-chi said that the Daking No. 5-1 trail is classified as a leisure-level hiking path. The renovation of the Daking trails followed a design philosophy of minimal intervention, low-impact development, and the use of local materials. In addition to appropriately widening the original Acacia wood boardwalk paths, adding rest benches, and renovating the two pavilions along the route — the Er? Pavilion and the Chengzhong Pavilion — some sections of the trail were restored to their original forest path state by reducing unnecessary facilities while still meeting safety requirements.
Lin Hsiao-chi pointed out that the city government used an on-site, handcrafted approach with existing gravel to construct the stairs, and employed natural Acacia wood materials to build log steps that align with the elevation of the trail. These steps are highly praised by hikers for being close to nature and not damaging the ecological environment. While walking the trail, visitors can enjoy the fresh forest air and may also encounter wildlife such as Taiwan blue magpies, yellow butterflies, and Formosan macaques.
Lin Hsiao-chi stated that summer vacation is approaching, and families going out together can choose to hike and climb to escape the heat. Summer is also the best season to observe various species of cicadas and butterflies. The No. 5-1 trail is currently in full bloom with the season-limited Dayellow flowers. Visitors are welcome to come and experience the forest’s most vibrant summer ecological celebration.