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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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        Previous
        One-Day Railway Trip on the Pingxi Line
        As the train enters Yilan Line from Ruifang, we will arrive at Houtong and enter Pingxi Line from Sandiaoling. This railway line stretches amidst the verdant and lush mountainous area of Northern Taiwan, was built due to past prosperous coal mining industry, and is still operating. Besides transporting passengers, this is a popular route for railway trips in which it starts from Houtong. The magnificent achievements of the mining industry can be seen throughout the place in which they brought about railways and the prosperous development of towns along the way. Coming to Shifen, the origin of Sky Lantern and the largest station along the Pingxi Line, this is a major train intersection station. Looking back at the mining history of Pingxi, Shifen is the earliest and largest settlement developed. Its greatest feature is that the old street stands side-to-side with the railway track and presents the unique railway scenery of “the train passes through your front door”. Although the coal mining industry is a thing of the past, countless coal mining relics still remain along the Pingxi Line. It is rich with scenery and culture, in which visitors can seek tranquility at small unmanned stations, or enjoy traditional gourmet foods, visit grocery stores and hardware stores dating back to your grandparents’ days at bustling old streets. You can also get a Happiness Stamp at the station or fly a Sky Lantern written with your wishes for this year. You can enjoy a spectacular day and this is the branch line you cannot dare to miss.
        Next
        Unexpected Art - Jinshan Hot Spring Feast One-Day Trip
        "A good trip in the cold combines a walk in nature to appreciate the scenery, an photo with the whole family, watching exhibitions, eating cheap food, and a heart-warming hot spring!" In the morning, you could go to Junyuan to remember the erstwhile superstar Teresa Teng, and enjoy the Jinshan Coast from a distance. Next, head for the Juming Art Museum, the largest park-style art museum in Taiwan, which covers an area of more than 30,000 sqm, to appreciate the wonderful works of hundreds of colorful artistic creations and maintain the transparency in the park. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea in the cube building "Museum Tea House".Next go to "Dharma Mountain" and climb the mountain-to enjoy the beauty of the mountains up close on three sides. Breathe deeply and settle your soul in an atmosphere far away from the mundane hustle and bustle. Then go to the "Jinshan Old Airport Memorial Monument" and visit the special "stone-made rollers" left over from three old airport runways, and enjoy affordable delicacies such as duck meat, mochi, handmade ice cream with fresh, candied sweet potatoes, etc. in the "Jinshan Old Street".Finally drive to the "Yangmingshan Tian Lai Resort and Spa" in northern Taiwan with a 6000 sqm Yongquan Swimming Paradise. Enjoy the surrounding mountains, the gurgling sounds of water, and the fresh and sweet sounds of insects and birds in the spacious bath to relax your wary body and mind.
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