The trails in Leshan are industrial roads, making it a bit tough to explore on foot, yet driving through too fast means missing out on the beautiful scenery. To help travelers experience the charm of Leshan, Chi Han, the director of the Leshan Leisure Agriculture Development Association, introduced all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Each ATV, originally worth NT$120,000, has been customized into an off-road mountain bike capable of tackling slopes.
He said, “These vehicles aren’t fast and are very easy to handle, so most people can ride them with ease.” With his guidance, travelers can explore Leshan’s ecology and nature on these mountain bikes. Along the way, you’ll see waterfalls, cliffs, and dense forests. Since few vehicles venture here, it’s a truly relaxing experience cruising on these off-road ATVs.
Ascending a gentle slope leads to the now-closed “Leshan Elementary School.” The school is like a time capsule, preserving items essential to schools of the past: a statue of Chiang Kai-shek, patriotic slogans, and posters promoting national self-strengthening. The director said, “At its peak, the school had over a hundred students. But with depopulation, it was closed more than ten years ago and gradually became overgrown. In recent years, community members have come together to tidy up the school, turning it into the most delightful resting spot in Leshan.”
Vintage windows, sunlit classrooms, and sturdy old trees—what was once desolate has been transformed by the community into a place brimming with childhood happiness, drawing people into nostalgic memories. The large grassy field in front of the campus is not only home to aromatic herbs but also offers views of Taitung City, combining sweeping vistas with soothing scents for a truly refreshing experience.