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New Taipei City Travel

Caoling Historic Trail – Youthful Gongliao Route lets you hike up to the mountains and down to the sea.

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Caoling Historic Trail – Youthful Gongliao Route lets you hike up to the mountains and down to the sea.
Category :
Hiking Trails
Travel days :
1 day

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      Introduction

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      Caoling Historic Trail is the most widely known section along the Tamsui Kavalan Trails. Along the way there are Xiongzhen Manyan Tablet, Tiger Tablet, and many other historic sites; setting off from the Historic Trail entrance and traveling all the way to Gongliao – it’s a great route to the mountains and the ocean both in one day! From Dali Train Station, tourists can enter the Historic Trail by passing by the Dali Visitor Center. The Trail is level and easy to walk along the way, and once arriving at Yakou Observation Deck visitors will also be able to spot Guishan Island in the distance. When visiting here in the fall, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the breathtaking beauty of blossoming snowy white silver grass. Once arriving at Yuanwangkeng Water Park, visitors can sit inside the wood gazebo to appreciate the small bridges, running streams, criss-crossed rice terraces, or they can also spend some relaxing time and play in the water at the shallow creeks. Walking from Yuanwangkeng Water Park to Yuanwangkeng entrance, visitors would take approximately 3.5 hours walking on the Trail itself. Beginner hikers can transfer via bus here to reach Fulong Train Station. Once arriving at Fulong Train Station, treat yourself with a hearty Fulong bento to cheer you up. Lastly, visitors can head to Fulong Beach on the way; in addition to playing in the water, Fulong Sand Sculpture Art Festival held here each summer will also offer visitors many awe-inspiring creative sand sculpture art works to enjoy! Even though walking the Trail won’t be too tiring, it is still recommended for the visitors to wear hiking boots to ameliorate stress when walking. Remember to drink water and also to bring your trekking pole – only thorough preparation will lead you to a safe hike into the mountains!

      Note

      【Return traffic information】
      Walk to Fulong Train Station and take the train for your return journey.
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        Hiking enjoying the beauty of tung blossoms and taking pictures A one-day tour in Tucheng and Shilin
        As the spring transits to summer in May, the hilly regions around Tucheng in New Taipei City are adorned with snowy white tung blossoms. These pristine blossoms transform the verdant hilltops into a snowy spectacle. The fragrant tung flowers gently fall from the branches in the spring breeze, creating a picturesque scene reminiscent of snowfall. After tung trees were introduced from southern China during the Japanese domination period, they were extensively planted in low-altitude mountainous areas in central and northern Taiwan. Tung trees were once important economic crops for the Hakka people and were used to produce paints, and furniture in the early days. The New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival takes place in April and May each year. We invite everyone to hike though the mountains, and explore the nearby century-old railway station!The century-old railway station of ShulinIn this era of pursuing efficiency, people try to minimize the time it takes to get from point A to point B. As we often rush towards our destinations at high speed, we often neglect the scenery along the way. As the holidays approach, let's take a break from your usual rush and explore train stations that you have often heard about from the radio during your commute, but never had the chance to visit! Situated between Shulin and Yingge, Shanjia Railway Station was established in 1903 and is now over 120 years old. Originally named the “Sanzijiao Parking Space”, Shanjia Railway Station once bore the heavy responsibility of transporting coal. You can still find remnants of past mining around the station, such as Dafeng Coal Mine No. 1 Pit and Dafeng Coal Mine No. 2 Pit, offering a glimpse into the coal mining history of the Shulin area.Recognized as a designated historical site by New Taipei City, the second-generation Shanjia Railway Station, constructed with bricks, represents a fusion of Western and Japanese architectural styles. It preserves the classic and elegant appearance of buildings from the Japanese domination period and still stands adjacent to the third-generation Shanjia Railway Station, creating a unique juxtaposition of old and new. Shanjia Railway Station is the only remaining station built during the Japanese domination period along the Taiwan Railways Administration (hereinafter referred to as the TRA) corridor between Qidu and Hsinchu; and is a must-visit attraction for railway enthusiasts. The indoor space of the Station exhibits a replica miniature model of Shanjia Railway Station made from recycled materials, the TRA's passenger timetables from Taiwan's Early Restoration, and railway tourism brochures from the Japanese domination period, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.While strolling along Shanjia Street, which runs along the station's edge, you will come across several walls adorned with colorful murals depicting the cultural and scenic elements of Taiwan's old-time landscapes. These include scenes like farm ox carts and traditional barber shops, seamlessly blending with the nostalgia of Taiwan's past. Furthermore, you'll encounter 3D murals featuring dinosaurs, Taiwanese black bears, and other playful and incredibly realistic depictions. The Shanjia Railway Scenic Park was constructed by the local residents to revitalize the vacant land along the railway. In 2017, the local authorities even stationed a 35H1304 black coal hopper car and DL1044 shifting machine to preserve the historical memories of Shanjia.Relish the tung flowers in the mountainous area of TuchengCrossing over the Dahan River, you'll find yourself in Tucheng District on the southern bank. The slopes of Tianshangshan (Tianshan Mountain), often referred to as the first peak, are covered in full bloom tung blossoms. These blossoms grace the entire mountainous region with swathes of snowy white, forming a captivating sight when viewed from afar. It stands as one of the prime locations in New Taipei City to savor the beauty of tung blossoms. The Tung Blossom Park on the mountain is even the primary venue for the annual New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. To savor the beauty of tung flowers, you can drive to the Park's first and second parking lots; or hike from Chengtian Temple to the Tung Blossom Park for exercise and photography.🚌Public Transportation Guide: Take the MRT to Yongning Station, then transfer to Bus Blue 43 Extended Line (Nantianmu) or Blue 44 Extended Line. Get off at the “Trailhead” stop, where you'll find the Tung Blossom Park archway. Your mountain hike begins here.The Chengtian Temple Trail is also known as the Chaoshan Trail, Nantianmu Trail, or Master Guang Qin Trail. Chengtian Temple was established by Master Guang Qin, a renowned Buddhist monk. This trail that leads to the Temple was paved with rough stones in the 1960s. Situated within a lush forest, the Trail is adorned with more than 40 stone tablets and stone pillars inscribed with the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The sides of the trail are lush with greenery, creating a serene and tranquil ambiance. Along the trail, you can also come across devoted pilgrims offering their prayers.There are also numerous tung trees along the Chengtian Temple Trail, creating a tranquil atmosphere as you hike toward the solemn Chengtian Temple. This is also a scenic spot for savoring the beauty of mountain tung flowers from a commanding height, allowing you to enjoy picturesque views of the Greater Taipei Basin and Guanyinshan (Guanyin Mountain).The Firefly Viewing Trail between Chengtian Temple and Tung Blossom Park is approximately 600 m long. This stone-paved trail is constructed with beautiful patterned stones. As you walk along the Firefly Viewing Trail, you can enjoy the sight of butterflies dancing in the melodic sounds of flowing water and the chorus of insects and birds, creating a natural symphony. Due to the successful ecological restoration in recent years, the fireflies sparkle like stars in the night sky after dark.Over the years, Tung Blossom Park has served as the primary venue for the annual New Taipei City Hakka Tung Blossom Festival. The Park is planted with nearly a hundred tung trees. Each year, during the blooming season of the tung trees in April and May, the entire park, including the mud-covered ground, stairs, plant leaves, and wooden platforms, is blanketed with snowy white tung blossoms, making it a sacred place for enjoying tung blossoms in New Taipei City. The Tung Blossom Park is designed with an outdoor performance area and a viewing platform; a tea brewing platform for taking a rest; an observation platform that offers views of the urban area of Tucheng; and several leisure pavilions. It also features an exciting and fun suspension bridge, allowing visitors to traverse the dense forest on a rope less than 20 cm wide.Strolling along the park trail to savor the snowy beauty of tung blossoms, gazing into the distance to witness their graceful descent from treetops, collecting fallen tung blossom petals to create meaningful words or hearts, and capturing a selfie with tung blossoms in hand - all of these experiences offer a temporary escape from the hustle and bustle, allowing you to immerse yourself in the tranquil early summer forest scenery.
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        Summer at the end of the Century, evolutions on the Banqiao railway
        The Banqiao Railway Station today is a massive station and a transport hub located in the Xinban Special District. However, do you still remember the old Banqiao Railway Station situated on the MRT Fuzhong Station today? In recent years, many cities in Taiwan are conducting railway grade separation, such as the Railway Underground Project in Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taoyuan, and the Elevated Railway Project in Taichung. The Taipei Railway Underground Project, the first railway section to be conducted underground, started back in 1983. This project, spanning 30 years, has drastically transformed the transportation system and city landscape in Taipei City. This has also affected Banqiao, the capital district in New Taipei City. Let us roam from Fuzhong to Xinban Special District, and feel the changes between new and old Banqiao.The Banqiao Broadcasting Station, a municipal historic site located at the MRT Fuzhong Station, was completed and opened in 1930. It was designed by Kuriyama Shunichi, the architect of Taipei Beimen Post Office, which was completed in the same year. With its horizontal elevation, the building is a representation of contemporary architecture. Besides, it is also the most iconic Japanese colonial building in the area. As a transmission facility for radio broadcasting, the broadcasting station could send waves as far as Minxiong in Chiayi County. It is an important historical site when it comes to Taiwan's broadcasting history.The Fuzhong Shopping Area, located at the old Banqiao Railway Station, was once the busiest district in Banqiao and the entertainment center for the local residents. From 1901 to 1999, Banqiao Railway Station was situated in today’s Fuzhong. Even though the station has been relocated, the wide variety of stores still make Fuzhong a special place. karaoke bars, eateries, restaurants, malls and clothing stores co-exist and prosper together, making it a nice place for shopping in Banqiao. Moreover, the Halloween party at the end of October is a spectacular annual event in the Fuzhong Shopping Area.Although the old Banqiao Railway Station is gone because of the Railway Underground Project, we can still see the remaining traces of the old Banqiao Railway Station at Fuzhong Shopping Area. In the first year of the 20th century, the route of the Taiwan Railway had changed from passing through the north of the Dahan River in Xinzhuang to the south of the Dahan River in Banqiao, which laid the foundation for Banqiao to become the capital district of New Taipei City. The Railway Underground Project, which operated at the end of the century, boosted local development once again.Fuzhong 15 is the first theme pavilion that combines film and animation art with a documentary auditorium in Taiwan. After many years of development and management, Fuzhong 15 has become an important venue for sharing stories, and has become an important cultural landmark in Banqiao. Come to Fuzhong 15 and let its spokespeople, “Brother One” and “Brother Five” lead you into a world of images!Walk Along Xianmin Boulevard, which was rebuilt from an old railway, toward the northeast, where the new Banqiao Railway Station 800 meters away has turned into a transport hub and a large shopping area. The 25-story new station attracts passengers from the HSR, TR, MRT Bannan Line, Circular Line, and Banqiao Bus Station. It is a true business center, connecting office buildings, malls, and hotels in series in this area with underground walkways and skywalks. It also created the richest skyline in Banqiao District.There are lots of skyscrapers in Xinban Special District. It is a great thing for people to be able to overlook the city on a higher floor. With a height of 140.5 meters, New Taipei City Hall makes use of its height advantage by setting a free observation floor for viewing on the 32nd floor. People can take the exclusive elevator straight up to the observation deck. There, they can look 360 degrees through the full-width window design and see Mount Guanyin, Tamsui River, and Taipei 101 all at once, not to mention that you can clearly see the skyscrapers in Banqiao and Banqiao station since they are much closer. From the old Banqiao Railway Station to Xinban Special District, you can experience the differences brought about by the changed railway in Banqiao.
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