Shihba Er Torii Trail Introduction
Along County Road 122, you will see the brown sign of the Wufeng Township Council. By following the fork in the road, you can reach the administrative center of Wufeng Township, which is the busiest settlement in the township, "Dai'ai Village." This area around the township office belongs to Neighborhoods 1-4 and is also known as "Shibaer Village." "Shibaer" is an old place name of Wufeng Township, and there is an interesting anecdote that has circulated: a couple gave birth to nine pairs of twins, totaling eighteen sons, which is why it was named "Shibaer." However, "Shibaer" is actually a transliteration of the Atayal language word Spazy (pronounced as Shiba Zi), which refers to five peaks and traditionally denotes a place of worship. Next to the township office, there is a prominent red torii gate and a torii pathway built along the slope, which serves as the entrance and approach to the "Shibaer Shrine" from the Japanese colonial period. The Shibaer Shrine was completed in 1927, primarily to worship Amaterasu, Emperor Meiji, and Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa. However, due to years of war and destruction, the shrine structures, such as the hall and stone lanterns, which were originally located behind Wufeng Elementary School, no longer exist. Only the torii and the remnants of the approach remain. After being renovated and organized, the pathway is tranquil and has a Zen-like atmosphere, making the torii a popular photo spot for many tourists. As you ascend the steps, there is a platform on the right side that was originally used for washing hands before worship. The pathway has over three hundred steps that lead to the playground of Wufeng Elementary School. Once you reach this high point, you can take a moment to rest in the campus, with the magnificent mountain scenery right before your eyes, enough to make one forget the hustle and bustle.
