Written/Reported by MOOK Travel Life Network's Chen Guanxin
Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Besides treating your hardworking mom to a delicious meal, heading outdoors for a nature walk is also a great idea. The New Taipei City Government has launched five hiking trails, among which Shuangxi’s Hupao Pond has received high praise from nature observation writer Liu Kexiang. New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Xu Zhijian, an avid hiker himself, also said that moms are the heart of the family, and by joining them in outdoor activities to enjoy nature’s beauty, we can help them stay healthier. Additionally, on May 12th, besides taking moms to one of the five hiking trails in New Taipei for exercise and fresh air, there will also be a chance to join celebrity “Mommy” on a tung blossom viewing trip in Tucheng. From now until May 8th, send in photos of you and your kids to the designated location of the New Taipei City Tourism Bureau, and the top 20 most heartwarming entries will win a chance to go tung blossom viewing with Mommy.
Shuangxi’s Hupao Pond is regarded by locals as a spiritually rich place, as its landscape resembles a left tiger and right leopard guarding the area. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The New Taipei City Government has introduced five hiking trails: Xindian’s HeMei Mountain, Tucheng’s Tianshan Mountain, Shuangxi’s Hupao Pond, Sanxia’s Yuan Mountain, and Xizhi’s Dajian Mountain. These trails offer activities such as firefly and butterfly watching, tung blossom appreciation, birdwatching from heights, and exploring historical sites. Among them, Shuangxi’s Hupao Pond is a water source protection area with crystal-clear waters, highly recommended by nature observation writer Liu Kexiang. He said, “New Taipei City has the highest density of hiking trails in Taiwan. Hupao Pond in Shuangxi was one of the landmarks for young hikers trekking along Beishi Creek in the 1970s. Not only is the environment well-preserved, but the natural scenery is as serene and enchanting as the movie 'A River Runs Through It'.”
Liu Kexiang shared hand-drawn maps and illustrations from his mountain adventures at today’s press conference. (Photo by MOOK Travel Life Network’s Chen Guanxin)
Wang Wankun, Secretary-General of the New Taipei City Mountain Association, and Chen Yuhuang, Executive Director of the Republic of China Wild Bird Society, pointed out that the five newly launched hiking trails have gentle slopes and are not very difficult, while also being relatively convenient in terms of transportation. The diverse forest landscapes also allow visitors to spot birds such as the Formosan Blue Magpie, Taiwan Blue Magpie, and Chinese Bulbul, making these routes suitable for family outings. Xu Zhijian also mentioned that besides the current five routes, plans are underway to introduce another five trails in both autumn and winter, giving the public more opportunities to experience the rich natural beauty of New Taipei City. In addition, starting May 5th for a month, guided tours will be available every Saturday on different trails. For more details, please check the event website.
2012 New Taipei City Hiking Tourism Festival Website: www.2012ntpchiking.url.tw
New Taipei City Tourism Website: tour.ntpc.gov.tw
Dajian Mountain Trail offers great birdwatching opportunities and a chance to visit Xiufeng Waterfall along the way, making it perfect for family hikes. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The Taiwan Blue Magpie, also known as the “long-tailed mountain maiden,” can be spotted along the hiking trails. (Photo by MOOK Travel Life Network’s Li Xinyi)
● Extended Reading: Absorb Phytoncides Without Hiking – Zero-Carbon Carnival Brings Green Energy to Grass & Insight Path
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