In Sanyi’s countryside in April, it’s not hard to chase the falling blooms of tung blossoms like snow, but to truly catch a hint of their delicate fragrance, you’ll need quite a few. The April Snow Trail, located at the northern end of the Old Mountain Line and next to the Woodcarving Museum, is a short hiking path. The lushness of the tall tung trees at the entrance already hints at how fruitful your trip will be.
Walking along the forest trail, shaded by greenery, you won’t feel stuffy even on sunny days. For those feeling playful, bring a piece of wire to gather fallen petals and string them into flower wreaths. The round trip takes about an hour.
If you’re not in a rush, you can also visit the Woodcarving Museum to enjoy the fragrant baptism of essential oils released from raw wood in the air.
★ Side Trip: Shengxing Station – Known as the “highest point on the Western Trunk Line,” Shengxing Station has entered history along with the closure of the Old Mountain Line, but visitor numbers have only increased as the station became a tourist spot. The yellow-painted wooden structure was built using mortise-and-tenon joints of Fuzhou fir without nails or rivets. Beyond its Japanese-style aesthetics, the eaves and brackets are said to feature hidden spears and bagua patterns for feng shui purposes, all explained in detail by guides.
Walking along the tracks toward the tunnel, the inscription “Kaitian” (Opening the Heavens) at the north entrance, though somewhat faded, still bears witness to the hardships of building the railway back in the day.
INDEX
★ April Snow Trail / Guangsheng Village, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County (No. 88, Guangsheng New City, next to the Woodcarving Museum) ★ Shengxing Station / No. 89, Shengxing, 14th Neighborhood, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County / 037-352962