Written/Compiled and Reported by the Editorial Team of MOOK Travel Life Network

 

Mt. Taipingshan was once a hub of forestry, with many forest railways built around the mountains to transport timber. The Jianqing HuaiGu Hiking Trail is a relic of this logging history. Compared to other forest railways and cableways from the same era, most have long been forgotten in the mountains, but the preserved section of the Jianqing HuaiGu Railway is like a time capsule, allowing today’s travelers to recall the heyday of Mt. Taipingshan’s forestry industry. It also serves as a place of reflection on the impact of logging.

Today, forest resource development is no longer what it used to be, with policies now focusing on ecological conservation. The Jianqing HuaiGu Hiking Trail has become a living textbook, teaching us to learn from the past.

The Jianqing HuaiGu Hiking Trail is 2.35 km long, though currently only 0.9 km is open to the public. The trail was developed from part of the former timber transport railway line on Mt. Taipingshan. It begins with a gravel path lined with long stretches of railway tracks, and the area retains remnants of the old timber transport tracks—hence the name “HuaiGu” (Reminiscence). “Jianqing” (Clear View) refers to the breathtaking views of the sea of clouds below and the shifting weather from rain to clear skies over the Lanyang Plain.

 

Walking along the Jianqing HuaiGu Hiking Trail along the old forest railway used for timber transport, on clear days you can gaze at the majestic view of Mount Dabajian, while on cloudy days you can admire the undulating sea of clouds, enjoying the harmony of nature and human history.

 

【Info】

Address: 22.3K on Yizhuan 1st Road, Mt. Taipingshan, Datong Township, Yilan County

Phone: Luodong Forest District Office (03)954-5114

Business Hours: Mt. Taipingshan National Park Forest Recreation Area – Weekdays 06:00 – 20:00, Holidays 04:00 – 20:00

 

 

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