Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung, accompanied by Tourism Bureau Director Chen Sheng-shan and others, inspected the Dajhu Great Wall Hiking Trail this (6th) morning at dawn. He exchanged good mornings with hikers and pledged to improve various facilities such as the wooden platform at the trailhead plaza and the expansion of temporary restrooms, aiming to provide hikers with a better mountaineering environment. He also announced plans to develop an additional 25 kilometers of trails on top of the existing 75 in Taichung, creating a 100-kilometer hiking network.
The Dajhu Great Wall Hiking Trail is located in the forested conservation area on the southwestern side of the Dajhu Plateau, with its highest point about 300 meters above sea level. It earned its name because the ridge line resembles the Great Wall when viewed from above. The trail starts at the Xinxing Village trailhead and ends at the Taichung Motor Vehicle Office, spanning approximately 3.2 kilometers in total.
This morning, Lin Chia-lung, accompanied by Chen Sheng-shan, Agriculture Bureau Director Wang Chun-hsiung, Legislator Yen Kuan-heng, Councilor Chen Shih-kai, and local village chiefs, set out from the entrance of the Dajhu Great Wall Hiking Trail. He inspected the current condition of the trail section by section. He emphasized that “Dajhu Mountain is a treasure trove!” The city government will prioritize the renovation of the Great Wall Hiking Trail and plans to allocate nearly NT$100 million to connect surrounding trails on the Dajhu Plateau, offering residents a higher-quality space for exercise.
Chen Sheng-shan stated that to provide the public with a better hiking environment, the city government has proposed an improvement plan for the Great Wall Trail. This includes upgrading the wooden platform at the trailhead, expanding temporary restrooms, renovating existing wooden facilities, applying wood preservative paint, maintaining directional signs, repairing the trail surface, and installing vegetative bags for slope protection. These measures aim to enhance hikers’ comfort, beautify the surroundings, and boost local tourism. The improvement project is expected to be completed by June next year.
Chen Sheng-shan noted that the hiking trail offers diverse scenery along the way, including acacia forests, riverbed gravel, and miscanthus landscapes, while also providing bird’s-eye views of the urban skyline and layered mountain ranges. This allows hiking enthusiasts to slow down, enjoy a leisurely workout, and connect with nature. Moreover, from the trail’s highest point, one can overlook Taichung Harbor and the plains south of the Dajhu River in Changhua. At night, the view of the city lights is breathtaking. The hope is that once the trail facilities are renovated, the public can enjoy a more beautiful and high-quality recreational space for sports and relaxation.
(China Times)