“Where to go during the New Year holidays?” The Caoling and Fengzilin hiking trails in Taiping District, Taichung City, have been around for years but fell into disrepair, posing safety risks to hikers. The city’s Tourism and Travel Bureau allocated NT$4.5 million to renovate the “Taiping Caoling Hiking Trail (including the Fengzilin Trail)” project. The renovation was completed this July and the trails have now reopened, making them a great destination for family outings and nature walks.
The Taiping Caoling Hiking Trail and Fengzilin Hiking Trail are located alongside Provincial Highway 136 in Taiping District, near the famous local attraction Bat Cave. Together with the Bat Cave Hiking Trail, they form a small cluster of trails. The Fengzilin Trail is a branch of the Caoling Trail, with a total length of 720 meters — including 70 meters for the Fengzilin section and 650 meters for the Caoling section.
The Tourism Bureau noted that the entire route consists of wooden boardwalks and gravel paths, passing by three rest pavilions and shaded walkways. At the top of the trail is an observation deck with panoramic views of the Taiping Mountain valley — perfect for a family-friendly day hike.
Lin Hsiao-chi, Director of the Tourism Bureau, pointed out that Mayor Lu Hsiu-yan has placed great emphasis on renovating aging trails. This year’s renovation projects have been completed one after another. The Fengzilin Trail renovation replaced old, damaged wooden boardwalks with brand-new cherry wood, covering a length of 70 meters — making the boardwalk both safer and more attractive.
As part of this project, a 17-meter rope suspension bridge was built along a section of the Fengzilin Trail, becoming a distinctive landmark of the Taiping Caoling Hiking Trail.
The Tourism Bureau highlighted that the Caoling Hiking Trail can also be combined with other attractions around Toupienying, such as Taiping Bat Cave, Toupienying Hundred Bats Suspension Bridge, and Fairy Waterfall. At the end of the journey, visitors can head to the scenic mountaintop restaurant on Jiutongshan for a delicious meal and to enjoy Taichung’s laid-back urban vibe.
(China Times)