Guanyin Trail Introduction
Guanyin Trail has an elevation of 100 meters, with the entire path paved with stone slabs and hardly any steep slopes, making it more friendly for the general hiking public. Every year in April and May, the tung flowers bloom, falling like snow and covering the trail, adding a unique charm. Strolling along the Guanyin Trail, one can observe a diverse range of forest types, transitioning from tung tree broadleaf forest to fragrant bamboo forest, with ample shade and a cool, pleasant temperature. Along the way, there is a pavilion where visitors can take a short rest. Although surrounded by lush greenery with no distant vistas, a gentle breeze caresses visitors, easing the heat after exercise. Continuing forward, you will reach a viewing platform, where the stone-paved trail ends. To view the century-old waterwheel, one must return to the bamboo 45 line road via stone steps nearby; then follow the signs to "Shuitou Hebi Gong." Along the way, you'll see the lush rice fields, and you will first arrive at the small stone shrine "Shuitou Hebi Gong", which worships "Shuitou Begong" and "Hebi Begong," serving as one of the traditional belief centers for local villagers, showcasing the Hakka ancestors' cultural heritage of reverence for nature. Following a nearby path, you will see the Nanpu Canal, built in 1845 and over a hundred years old, one of the most important water conservancy facilities in the area. Listening to the gurgling water, walking along the winding canal for about 5 minutes will lead you to the century-old waterwheel. Besides the blades, there are also halved bamboo tubes, showing the marks of time. The waterwheel operates by relying on the water flow to drive the blades, while the bamboo tubes, after drawing water, can pour water into a high water trough, designed by ancestors to irrigate the highlands with water from Nanpu Canal. It is also one of the few remaining bamboo tube waterwheels in Taiwan still in operation, becoming an important cultural asset of Nanpu Township. Guanyin Trail Trail Type: Suburban Mountain Trail Difficulty: Easy Length: 1.47 kilometers Surface Condition: Stone steps, stone pavement, wooden plank road Mountain Entrance: Century-old Waterwheel entrance / Jingang Temple
