Smile Trails to Hometown Mountain-Sky Lantern Tour in Pingxi Xiaozi Mountain

Anchor point
Category :
Hiking Trails & Rail travel & Outdoor excursion & Nostalgic tour of the old street & Secret attractions
Travel days :
1 day
適合對象 :
Backpackers

推薦路線

Day

      Introduction

      Anchor point

      The Smile Trails of New Taipei City connects the shallow mountainous areas of Shulin, Yingge, Sanxia, Tucheng, Zhonghe, Xindian, Shiding, Shenkeng to Pingxi, promoting residents in the metropolitan area to walk into the mountains near their homes. Pingxi District is at the far right of this smiling curve. Pingxi, internationally famous for its sky lanterns, has a deep mining culture and many excellent hiking trails. Take the Taiwan Railway Pingxi Line or Taiwan Travel 795 Mucha Pingxi Line to Pingxi Station, challenge the 90-degree vertical hiking trail of Xiaozishan, and go deep into Pingxi and Jingtong. Learn to make sky lanterns and visit the "Yijian.Jingtong Ancient Art Life" museum to explore the cultural landscape of Pingxi.

      0E4A9141


      The main settlement of Pingxi is in the valley of the upper reaches of the Keelung River. On the river's south bank stand more than 20 independent peaks, commonly known as the 24 Xiaozi Mountains, among which Xiaozi Mountain, Cimu Peak, and Putuo Mountain are the most famous. The height of each peak is between 300 and 500 meters above sea level. The mountain is low but very steep. Under the guidance of the tour guide, people arrive at the most spectacular section of Xiaozi Mountain.

      0E4A9058

      孝子山

      Look at the nearly vertical hiking trail before them. People couldn't help but be shocked by the towering stone peaks. Overcome the inner fear and climb the suspended steel ladder residents and veterans built. Take one step at a time and move steadily towards the sky.
      ❗️We do not recommend those who fear heights climb this hiking trail section.
      孝子山
      0E4A9146

      Climbing to the top of the 360-meter-high Xiaozi Mountain, you can overlook the railway towns of Pingxi and Jingtong and the endless mountain ridges. People can see that Mount Cimu and Mount Putuo, also independent mountain peaks with majestic momentum, are located behind.
      👉The space at the top of Xiaozi Peak can only accommodate 5-6 people simultaneously. In case of a large crowd of climbers, please give others way politely.
      0E4A9193
      0E4A9169

      After the magnificent Xiaozi Mountain hike, return to Pingxi Station and walk into the blue and white Little Greece Restaurant. Here, enjoy the restaurant's signature dishes, such as rice noodles with oversized neritic squid and osmanthus coffee, to replenish your fatigue after hiking.
      0E4A9285
      0E4A9237
      平溪小希臘

      Come to the Smile Trails foothold on Pingxi Old Street—TakeYourTime Cafe to learn the techniques of making sky lanterns. Coming to Pingxi is no longer just about releasing sky lanterns. Under the guidance of the sky lantern master, everyone with skillful hands gradually forms sky lanterns.
      0E4A9307
      0E4A9323
      0E4A9329

      With environmental protection as the starting point, the Pingxi sky lanterns are made of recyclable and degradable materials, from paper and frames to adhesives. Let the sky lanterns, a cultural image representing Pingxi and Taiwan, continue to fly into the sky with everyone's wishes under the global consensus of zero carbon emissions.
      0E4A9441
      0E4A9359
      0E4A9432

      Going down the ramp in front of Jingtong Station, an elegant Japanese-style building is on the Keelung River bank. The predecessor of this building, built in 1939, was the Pingxi Guesthouse of TaiYang Mining, the largest enterprise in Pingxi's black gold era. The guesthouse and outdoor courtyard have more than 600 pings, a rare large-scale academy-style building in Taiwan. There are VIP rooms, a conference hall, a cafeteria, a bathhouse, a recreation room, a billiard room, a library, and other facilities here. It was the leading entertainment venue in Pingxi at that time.
      0E4A9448

      As mining stopped in Pingxi, the guesthouse was also closed. 2003, it was designated a historic site, and the exhibition company is currently taking over the guesthouse. After restoration, it has become the "Yijian.Jingtong Ancient Art Life " private art museum. Inside, they display various ingenious artworks and promote the glorious mining history of Pingxi. Through the explanation of professional tour guides, appreciate the building's three corridors, three entryways, and six ceilings and wander in Japanese-style aesthetics.
      👉The "Yijian.Jingtong Ancient Art Life" private art museum is now adopting a reservation system that allows visitors to reserve a visit time online in advance.

      0E4A9463
      0E4A9488
      0E4A9549
      day01
        Previous
        Trip to Tamsui and Sanzhi to Admire Cherry Blossoms in Spring
        Temperatures rise and drop, and it is sometimes cloudy, and sometimes sunny. People do not know what to wear for unpredictable weather. However, it signals the full bloom of flowers in spring when the weather constantly changes! Tamsui and Sanzhi at the Northern Coast have gradually said goodbye to rainy winter to welcome pink cherry blossoms that come into blossom. You can admire Yoshino cherry blossoms that bloom after Taiwan cherry blossoms in Tianyuan Temple, a resort for admiring cherry blossoms. They announce the arrival of Spring God with their pinkish white flowers. Cherry blossoms by Maple Tree Lake, Sakura Path and Sanzhi Sansheng Trail awake from the stroke of the spring breeze, blooming under the clear sky.Located at the outskirt of Tamsui, Wuji Tianyuan Temple stands on the hill to the northwest of Datun Mountain. The magnificent temple faces the sea with the mountain in the back. Founded in 1972, the temple enshrines Jade Emperor. In 1992, the temple extended and constructed Zhenyuan Altar in the back mountain. The five-story sacred altar is 200 meters tall with a diameter of 108 meters. The grand and majestic architecture is the most well-known landmark on the hill of Tamsui. Undoubtedly, its gorgeous forest of cherry blossoms has made the temple even more famous. Cherry blossom trees that were planted when the temple was first founded have made it a much anticipated spot for admiring cherry blossoms in New Taipei City today thanks to temple workers who take good care of these trees.Cherry blossoms are grown in two areas at Tianyuan Temple. Taiwan cherry blossoms grown in the back mountain are pink, white and peach. They are usually in full bloom from late January to late February. Cherry blossoms grown around the altar are Yoshino cherry blossoms, and they are in full blossom around mid-March and late March. Cherry blossoms bloom all over the mountain set off the magnificent altar of Tianyuan Temple. The unique and elegant scenery has made the temple a beloved spot for photographers. They can take photos from diverse angles as the altar has been built on a slope.🌸Due to climate, the time for cherry blossoms to be in full bloom varies. You may check the latest flowering information on the websites of https://cpqweb.com/ntpciflower/and https://www.facebook.com/ntpcflowernews/?locale=zh_TW for more information.After admiring the beauty of the architecture of Tianyuan Temple and cherry blossoms, we come to Maple Tree Lake which is only five minutes away from the temple by car. Located inside Yangmingshan National Park, the lake which is surrounded by mountains on its three sides possesses the dreamlike scenes of Magnolia grandiflora, camellias and cherry blossoms. Maple Tree Lake has the largest forest of Magnolia grandiflora in Taiwan. Purple and pinkish white Magnolia grandiflora are planted by the lake. They are called “lotuses growing in the trees,” and are respected and loved by Buddhists. Moreover, they are important drug ingredients and spices. They are ornamental plants, and they provide benefits to humans as well.🌸The flowering season of Magnolia grandiflora is between early February and mid-March every year.16,000 cherry blossom trees were planted on Qingshan Road and Dahu Road successively nearly three decades ago in Sanzhi that is located right next to Tamsui. They include Taiwan cherry blossoms, double-layer cherry blossoms and Yoshino cherry blossoms, and they bloom in turn between late January and early April. They grow on both sides of the road, so it is called Sakura Path which is a popular spot for admiring cherry blossoms in Sanzhi. Landscape trails and observatories have been built for certain parts of the path. It is breathtaking to stroll on the flower path where the petals of cherry blossoms are flying all around.Sansheng Trail that is built along Dakeng River and paved with andesite is another renowned cherry blossom viewing path in Sanzhi. Over 300 double-layer cherry blossom and Yoshino cherry blossom trees have been planted along the 2-kilometer trail. Sansheng Trail combines “production,” “life” and “ecology.” The fields in farming villages are pleasing to see. You can walk on the wooden arch bridge to listen to the murmuring of the river, admire the falling of petals, and enjoy the happiness that belongs solely to spring.
        Read more