Yilan Travel: Jianqing Historic Trail ~ the Forest Railway of Taipingshan

Travel Date: 2018/07/11

Finally, we arrived in Yilan after a 4-hour drive from Hsinchu, and our first destination was the old forest railway. The parking space was conveniently close to the location, although it wasn't immediately obvious that we had arrived at the right place. In the high mountains, we didn't have a signal, but we simply followed the other people there. There were about 2-3 buses and a few cars, and suddenly a large group of people ventured deep into the forest.

Jianqing Huaigu Trail (見晴懷古步道) 

The Jianqing Huaigu Trail (見晴懷古步道) is built on a section of the old logging railway known as the Jiancing Line. This area used to be a major logging site during the Japanese occupation. The total length of the trail is 2.35 km, but due to damage caused by a typhoon in 2013, only 0.9 km is currently accessible to visitors. The trail is located in the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area in Yilan, which encompasses mountainous areas ranging from 500 to 2000 meters above sea level, covering 12,000 hectares. To enter the trail, you need a permit, which can be easily obtained at the inspection post by presenting your ID card or passport. The entrance fee for adults is 150 NTD.

The Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area is situated in Yilan, spanning two townships: Datong and Nanao. This place was previously known as the Taipingshan Forest Farm. The forest recreation area was established in 1989 and covers an area of 12,631 hectares. During the logging period, Taipingshan was already recognized as one of the twelve scenic spots in Taiwan due to its natural landscapes, such as the sea of clouds and sunrise.

The Taipingshan forest farm was developed in 1924, and it was the first place to utilize the Putian-style ropeway technology, which eliminated the need for the laborious and inefficient climb of the mountain railway. This technology later found use in other forest farms, improving the efficiency of material transportation. However, it also limited passenger transportation on this route. After the logging activities were completed, it became challenging to transform it into a sightseeing railway.

See also: Guishan Island

  

The railway in the high mountains is truly impressive. It would have been a little scary if there were no people around. The mist enveloped everything, and the ground was slippery. The mountains were quite steep, and at times, I was afraid to walk, but my curiosity pushed me to explore as much as possible. However, it's important to note that it's not a very safe place for walking, especially for children.

If you're lucky, you might spot some wild monkeys. We saw two of them near the road! It was my first time seeing monkeys in the wild.

Below the railway, we also came across a small pond with crystal-clear and icy-cold water. Almost everyone stopped there to touch the water. In some areas, water flowed down from the high mountains, forming small waterfalls. Even though it's summer, it's advisable to wear a bit more clothing due to the coolness of the surroundings.

In the forest, you can also find old logging equipment, such as the railway switch system. There are a few point machines, sometimes located in places where the railway has already been removed.

For safety purposes, the trail features two suspension bridges. The soil and stones on the hills are unstable and prone to collapse. Personally, I was quite afraid to walk across those bridges or anything above the ground, so I continued along the narrow road on the mountain until there was no road left to follow. I wondered what else could be seen on the other side of the bridge, but people were still venturing there.

The weather in the mountains is pleasantly cool, and the presence of clouds adds to the mysterious atmosphere. The view of the mountains from the road is breathtaking, at least until the clouds completely obscure the road, making it difficult to drive. It's definitely one of my favorite places I've ever visited. Perhaps it's just an old railway, but it also holds a significant part of history.

 

Address:

267宜蘭縣大同鄉太平巷58之1號見晴懷古步道