By / Scenic Spots Home compiled report
Aside from its magnificent seascapes and pastoral landscapes, Yilan’s mountainous areas also boast rich forest beauty, including nature trails that rival those of world-class standards—an ethereally beautiful wonderland that feels like stepping into the homeland of elves.
The Jianqing Huaihu Trail in Taipingshan has been selected as one of the 28 most beautiful paths in the world. (Photo / jerry1217922)
Located in Yilan, Taipingshan was once a thriving hub for forestry, with numerous forest railways built around the mountains to transport timber. The Jianqing Huaihu Trail is a remnant of this forestry history.
Walking along the Jianqing Huaihu Trail, you can enjoy the perfect harmony of natural forest scenery and historic railway heritage. (Photo / jerry1217922)
Compared to other forest railways and cableways from the same era, most of which have been lost to time and overgrown in the mountains, the preservation of the Jianqing Huaihu Railway is like a time capsule.
The Jianqing Huaihu Trail was developed from parts of the old Jianqing timber transport railway line, where remnants of historical tracks can still be seen. (Photo / jerry1217922)
Today, visitors walking along this ancient path can recall the heyday of Taipingshan’s forestry industry, and it also serves as a place of reflection on the impacts of forestry development.
Moss, rock walls, railway tracks, and old bridges along the Jianqing Huaihu Trail. (Photo / jerry1217922)
The Jianqing Huaihu Trail is 2.35 kilometers long in total, but currently only the first 0.9 kilometers are open to the public. The trail is built from parts of the old timber transport railway line of the Taipingshan Jianqing Line, beginning with a gravel path paved with long stretches of railway tracks.
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