Yucheng Old Trail Introduction
The Yucheng Road Old Trail is one of the three major ancient trails in the west of Daxi River (the other two are the Zhaiming Temple Old Trail and the Panlong Cape Old Trail). The term "Yucheng" hints at past visits by royalty; this ancient trail, built in 1788, was originally a path for local residents to trade with Hsinchu and Longtan. In 1923, due to the visit of the Crown Prince, local gentry raised funds to reconstruct it into the stone path seen today. At the entrance of the trail, located at the back gate of National Defense University, a monument is erected that lists the names of donors. The Yucheng Road Old Trail is also known as the "No. 9 Cape Old Trail," named after the ninth culvert of the Taoyuan Canal located here. The Taoyuan Canal was constructed from 1916 to 1928, designed by numerous engineers including Zhang Lingji and Bai Shicheng. Due to the high difficulty of the project, 55 workers lost their lives during construction. A "Cenotaph" along the trail bears the names of the deceased and chronicles the excavation history of the canal. Nearby, visitors can see the water diversion tunnel of the Taoyuan Canal, and looking down reveals rushing water, inspiring admiration for those who participated in this largest water conservancy project in northern Taiwan. In front of the cenotaph, there is an information board introducing the origins, process, and overview of the canal’s construction. In addition to its historical significance, the Yucheng Road Old Trail is also a famous Tung Blossom Trail in Taoyuan. Every year in April and May, the "May Snow" petals fall on the stone path, adding a touch of romance. The trail has a gentle slope with pavilions along the way for visitors to rest, allowing hikers to enjoy the integration of the blue sky, lush trees, and delicate Tung flowers in the natural scenery.
