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New Taipei City Travel

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

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

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      Introduction

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      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.

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      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.

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      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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.

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        Set sail in summer and set sail from Bali!
        In the hot summer, the cloudless weather always arouses people's desire to run to the coastline. Bali, located on the left bank of the Tamsui River bayou and protected by the Wazihwei Embankment, has a peaceful and wide water area. It is one of the most suitable places for water sports in New Taipei City. Come to the Bali Aquatics Center to set sail on the waterway between Guanyin Mountain and Datun Mountain and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Tamsui Sea. Then, go to the Environmental Education Center and Wazihwei Nature Reserve, look for fiddler crabs and mudskippers in the mangroves, and finally, go to the secret place on the mountainside of Guanyin Mountain to spend a beautiful afternoon.Surrounded by the sea on all sides, Taiwan's coastal areas have always been the first choice for summer leisure. Have you ever imagined leaving the land and sailing far away while playing by the seaside? Turn your ideas into action and come to Bali District on the left of Route 2 Taiwan in New Taipei City to experience the fun of sailing!The predecessor of Bali Aquatics Center was Bali Sailing Pier, the first riverbank pier specially designed for sailing sports in the country. Located at the river and sea junction, but fortunate enough to have a Wazihwei as a natural barrier, the waters here are pretty calm, making it very suitable for beginners to experience the fun of sailing.Under the guidance of professional coaches, people set out from Bali Pier and began their first sailing trip on the Tamsui River. Besides sailing, the aquatics center offers water sports such as SUP (Stand Up Paddle), canoeing, windsurfing, etc. Visitors interested in sailing on the seven seas can also sign up for the advanced ASA International Sailing Certification Course at the aquatics center. Set out from Bali and sail to the world. Sail on a white keel sailboat at the bayou of the Tamsui River, adjusting the angle of the sail according to the wind direction. While sailing through the waves, you can enjoy the scenery of Bali Guanyin Mountain and Tamsui Datun Mountain as well as famous landmarks such as the FAB Green Village and Fort San Domingo.Exercising under the burning sun consumes energy very quickly, so spicy and sour Thai food is the most delicious dish in this season. Many restaurants near the aquatics center are suitable for gatherings. Come to the Island of Thai cuisine next to Bali ZuoAn (Left Bank) Park to taste popular Thai dishes such as Thai basil chill pork, full-moon shrimp patties, green curry, shrimp paste cabbage, etc., and pair it with a cup of cold Thai milk tea to eliminate the summer heat.With the increasingly severe global warming, pursuing net zero carbon emissions has become a common global concern. The "New Taipei City Sustainable Environmental Education Center," established in 2008, is the central hub for promoting sustainable environmental education, conservation, and research in New Taipei City. Starting from the Environmental Education Center, under the guidance of the tour guide, ride a bike to the Wazaiwei Nature Reserve and enter the ecological world of the mangrove forest.The name of Waziwei comes from its topography. It is the last bend of the Tamsui River before it flows into the sea. It formed a lagoon-like terrain at the river and sea junction. It is a shelter for local ships and a mangrove paradise, such as Kandelia. The Waziwei Natural Ecological Reserve covers an area of 30 hectares, and the main conservation targets are the kandelia and the animals and plants that live with them.Underneath the lush green Kandelia at Waziwei is a vibrant intertidal zone. This precious wetland is home to many bird species, and observe various creatures on the wetland during low tide. Besides the cute fiddler crab with one giant and one small claw, look closer! The mudskippers are jumping among them. Summer afternoons are the best time of the season. When arriving at "Happy Time" halfway up Guanyin Mountain, open the door, and a nostalgic space unfolds before eyes. Wooden Chinese medicine cabinets, typewriters, old cameras, rotary phones, shaved ice machines, and signs of various old shops arose people's good memories of the past.Use exquisite glass bottles and ceramics to serve drinks full of summer flavor, pair them with desserts such as Dorayaki and pineapple cakes, and enjoy them together in this space full of antiques. When the setting sun outside shines on the pond, watching the light reflecting through the water and the sparkling summer is the most memorable and beautiful time.
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        Jinzibei Historic Trail – Houtong overlooked mining glories and offers a healing journey searching for kitties while visiting local attractions.
        Jinzibei Historic Trail’s starting point at the Mudan end is the same as that of Canguangliao Historic Trail; Canguangliao exits from Jinguashi, while Jinzibei hiking trail exits from Houtong. After getting off from Shisanceng Old Tree Stop, walk for 15 minutes and you will arrive at “Jinzibei Historic Trail Entrance/Exit”. Along the Trail, visitors will come upon century-old historic sites of Jinzibei and Fengxianshijin Tablet; the total distance of the Trail is approximately 3.4km, and it takes about 2.5 hours to finish walking the Trail. The Trail is mainly made of stone path and stone stairs, which will take some energy to finish the route; but the lush green woods give refreshing coolness along the way. After exiting the Trail, visitors will connect to Jiuqiongqiao Rd. and then Houtong Rd. if they continue going straight. And going further down, visitors will see Ruisan Coal Transporting Bridge and Ruisan Coal Preparation Plant. Walking into the “Vision Hall” transformed from previously the coal preparation warehouse, visitors will have an in-depth experience of the old-time glory of Houtong’s coal mining industry as well as an overview of the local coal mining development through the introduction provided inside the Vision Hall. The other key feature of Houtong would have to be “Cat Village”! Walking over Houtong Cat Bridge, and visitors will arrive at cat lovers’ “promised land” – Cat Village. Let us kindly remind all visitors to follow the rules here, and please do not hit, feed, disturb, or pet the cats, and please do not free your cats here and do not litter. Let’s safeguard this precious “cats’ heaven” together as we enjoy a healing holiday and wander amidst the historic paths.
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