Xiao Cukeng Old Trail Introduction
A great place to enjoy the tung flower season at the end of spring is the Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail! This tranquil path connecting the Cukeng and Shimen areas attracts many visitors each year from March to May during the Hakka tung flower season, allowing them to appreciate the beautiful sight of white flowers falling amidst layers of lush greenery. Walking on the hundred-year-old stone steps, one may unexpectedly discover a heart-shaped flower garland made from tung flower petals on a stone platform around the corner, providing a delightful sense of healing! Visiting during summer nights offers different surprises; with fireflies flickering like stars, the dark mountains and fields add an enchanting charm that cannot be appreciated in the city, making it absolutely worth the anticipation of hiking up in the dark! The Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail was built during the Japanese colonial period as a bullock cart road along the Xiaocukeng Stream, serving as a vital passage for the mountain communities transporting goods to places like Zhukeng Shiliao and Maowudu in Hsinchu's Guanxi region. Travelers had to pass through Sankengzi (now Longtan) and Dakengkan (now Daxi), making the Xiaocukeng Ancient Trail an important route that once flourished. However, with the development of industrial roads for the Shimen Reservoir, the crowd has gradually decreased, which has preserved rich primitive ecology, showcasing various plants such as water along with wood, large flowering mandalas, ferns, and plants from the Lauraceae family, as well as rare species like the Papilio butterfly, Pangu toad, and Wu's red frog, making it a popular spot for outdoor excursions today. Near the entrance of the ancient trail along Longyuan Road stands the original Youfu Temple built during the Qing Dynasty, which is dedicated to the rare statue of "Tu Di Po Holding a Child." The trail is of moderate difficulty; the first part is relatively flat, allowing for a leisurely stroll to enjoy the scenery of tea plantations, while the middle section changes to a dirt and stone path, and the latter part requires climbing with ropes. If your physical condition permits, you can continue to challenge the Shimen Mountain Trail for an uninterrupted thrilling experience.
