Intruding into the "Green Light Canyon" inhabited by elves — the hidden gem of Deshikou Stream

Photos and text byLiu Siling

In everyone’s heart, there is a uniquely beautiful hidden place where you can briefly let go of life’s worries. In my real life, I’ve discovered many such secret spots around the country, and whenever I need healing, I set out to them. Those places I want to cherish forever, I don’t easily write about—they remain tucked away in a corner of my heart.

Back in university, I loved holding a map, tracing river routes, and cycling around to find streams. Often, I’d have an entire stream to myself for an afternoon—even skinny-dipping without a single disturbance. These days, the environment has changed too much. Creek trekking has become a popular summer activity, and on holidays, almost every stream is swarmed with people. We had no choice but to flee deeper into the mountains.

This past summer weekend, I found myself unusually free. My once ambitious plan to bike to Tibet unfortunately fell through, leaving me in Taipei week after week. For several weeks, I slept until the afternoon with nothing much to do, at most going out for a meal or a movie. It’s rare that even by August, I still managed to keep my face smooth and clear.

We had just finished the Linmei Shipan Trail and immediately continued on to Deshikou Stream. I said today was for a walk, not for creek trekking.

I came here two years ago and followed my memory while navigating. At one point, I even took a wrong turn and ended up hiking up into the mountains.

When we turned back, we spotted another group of young people carrying life jackets, also heading to Yuemeikeng Waterfall. They got lost as well. Just after I mentioned I’d been here before and knew the way, we reached a fork—by the time I looked again, they had already gone downstream and disappeared from view. It seemed their gear would make it quite tough to trek back up along the stream.

Before setting out on a hiking or trekking trip, it’s best to review the route again—or print out a map. Otherwise, ask someone nearby. Otherwise, taking a wrong turn can easily turn a fun trip into a disappointing one, especially since you’ve rented all the gear, only for it not to be used.

This route is so simple I can hardly be bothered to explain it much. My 2010 article has a detailed breakdown. Since I didn’t take many photos this year, you might want to refer to my blog post from two years ago. The only difference is that the golden signboard at the end is gone—just remember to turn left.

Read more >> Deshikou Stream - Yuemeikeng Waterfall. A hidden gem glowing with magic

Along the way, there’s only one deep pool that requires swimming across, though you can also detour around it via higher ground.

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