Daniu Ridge Trail Introduction
The "Raknus Selu Trail" is one of the national greenway systems. The term Raknus comes from the Saisiyat and Atayal people's name for camphor trees, while Selu means "path" in Hakka. This trail connects Hakka settlements along Taiwan Highway 3 and spans four counties and cities, crossing from Hsinchu and Miaoli to Dongshi in Taichung, with a total length of approximately 230 kilometers. One section, the "Da Niuqi Trail," is located in the Dongshan Village, Guansi Township, Hsinchu County. In the past, this was a major transportation route for agricultural products and daily necessities, relying on ox carts for transport. When ox carts encountered steep slopes, people had to use whips to urge the oxen to climb the steep hills. Hence, it is called "Da Niuqi," where "qi" signifies steepness and ruggedness. The trail entrance can be seen along Taiwan Provincial Highway 28, about 2.4 kilometers in, opposite the Yaoshi Buddha Zen Temple. At the entrance, there is a gate pavilion with a bamboo plaque stating "Da Niuqi Hiking Trail." After passing the pavilion, there is a gazebo nearby, which can serve as a resting spot for hikers descending. Continuing up the cement and brick steps, you can see lush green bamboo and occasionally encounter the gnarled tabular roots of the root tree. If you visit during the Tung Blossom season in April and May, you can also see the oil tung flowers in full bloom, presenting a diverse landscape. About 100 meters further along the ancient road, a sign reads: "Heroes' Slope 300 meters, do you have the courage to accept the challenge?" It seems to declare war on the distant mountaineers! Heroes' Slope features sections with gradients of about 45 degrees, equipped with wooden railings, and steeper areas also provide ropes for assistance. Da Niuqi Ancient Trail Type: Suburban Mountain Trail Difficulty: Low Length: 2.5 kilometers Surface Conditions: Stone steps, wooden plank paths, earth paths Hiking Entrance: Da Niuqi Ancient Trail Entrance
