Xiao Cukeng Historic Trail Introduction
A great place to enjoy the paulownia flowers at the end of spring is the Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail! This quiet path connecting the Cukeng and Shimen areas attracts numerous visitors every year from March to May during the Hakka paulownia flower season, as they come to admire the beautiful sight of white flowers scattered among layers of green foliage. Walking on the century-old stone steps, you might unexpectedly find a heart-shaped flower ring made of paulownia petals on a stone platform at a corner, providing a soothing experience! Visiting at night in the summer offers different surprises; the Fireflies are like stars twinkling in the dark, adding charming scenery to the pitch-black mountains, a captivating sight that cannot be appreciated in the city. It's definitely worth the hike up the mountain, exploring in the dark with anticipation! The Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail was originally built during the Japanese colonial period as a bullock cart road along the Xiaocukeng Stream. At that time, the mountain forefathers transported goods back and forth between places like Zhukeng Shiliao and Maowudu in Hsinchu County. They had to pass through Sankengzi (now Longtan) and Dakeshan (now Daxi), making the Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail an important route. It enjoyed prosperity for a time, but with the development of industrial roads for the Shimen Dam, the number of visitors gradually decreased and it fell into decline. However, this also preserved its rich original ecology, allowing visitors to see plants like water bamboo, large-flowered mandala, ferns, and Lauraceae plants, as well as rare species like the butterfly, Pangu toad, and Wen-Hao's red frog, making it a popular spot for outdoor activities today. Near the entrance of the ancient trail on Longyuan Road, there is a shrine built in the Qing Dynasty, the Yufo Temple, which is dedicated to the “Earth Goddess with Child” statue, quite rare. The trail is moderately challenging, with the first section being relatively flat, allowing you to stroll while enjoying views of the tea plantations. The middle section transitions to a dirt and stone path, and the latter part requires some rope climbing. If your fitness allows, you can also challenge the Shimen Mountain Trail right after, keeping the adrenaline flowing.
