Xiaocukeng Historic Trail Introduction
A great place to enjoy the tung blossoms in late spring is the Xiaocuokeng Ancient Trail! This tranquil path connecting the Cuokeng and Shimen areas attracts many visitors each year from March to May during the Hakka tung flower season, as beautiful white flowers fall amidst layers of green forest. Walking on the stone steps with a century-long history, one might stumble upon a heart-shaped wreath made from tung petals on a rocky platform around the corner, providing a truly healing experience! Visiting in the summer nights offers another surprise; the romance of fireflies, twinkling like stars, adds enchanting charm to the dark mountains and fields, showing a scene that cannot be appreciated in the city—truly worth your expectation to hike up and explore in the dark! The Xiaocuokeng Ancient Trail was established during the Japanese occupation as a cart path along the Xiaocuokeng River. At that time, the mountain area's ancestors transported goods to and from locations such as Zhukeng Shiliao and Maowudu in Hsinchu County, passing through Sankengzi (now Longtan) and Dazukeng (now Daxi). The Xiaocuokeng Ancient Trail became an important passageway and flourished for a time; however, it gradually declined as the industrial roads of the Shimen Reservoir developed, also preserving rich original ecology. Along the way, you can see Water Pine, Big Flower Mandala, ferns, Lauraceae plants, as well as rare species like the Papilio butterfly, Panku toad, and Scholar's frog. Today, it is a popular destination for outdoor trekking. Near the entrance of the ancient trail on Longyuan Road stands the original Youfu Temple built during the Qing Dynasty, which enshrines a rare "Earth Goddess Holding Child" statue. The trail is moderately easy throughout; the first part is flat, allowing visitors to leisurely enjoy the tea garden scenery. The middle section shifts to a dirt and stone path, while the latter part requires climbing with ropes. If you're physically able, you can continue the challenge by taking on the Shimen Mountain Trail for an uninterrupted adrenaline rush.
