Zhenxi Fort Sacred Tree Group Introduction
Zhenshibao is located at an elevation of 1,720 meters in Xiulang Village, Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, and is home to about thirty households of the Atayal indigenous people, making it one of the highest settlements in Taiwan. The name Zhenshibao, which exudes a military masculine vibe, is actually a transliteration from the Atayal language, meaning "the sunlight has illuminated the land while people are awake from a deep sleep, with continuous sunlight until dusk, warm during the day and cold at night, creating a land where pests and diseases are absent, allowing crops to thrive." This village is one of a series of settlements established by the indigenous people from Nantou who traversed mountains to reach Xiulang, with Zhenshibao being the oldest among them. Zhenshibao Forest is situated between Jinaji Mountain and Mawang Mountain at an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters. Facing the northeast monsoon, the winds carry moist air from the sea, nurturing a vast area of dark forest. This dark forest contains species such as Japanese cedar, fragrant cedar, red cypress, and Taiwan cypress, forming the largest remaining cypress forest in Taiwan, covering an area of 50 square kilometers. Upon entering the sacred tree area, towering red cypress trees stand majestically along the path, with their surfaces covered in moss and ferns due to the long-term presence in a humid, undisturbed environment. Continuing to around 2,375 meters in elevation, one can find a small Poison Dragon Pond, surrounded by the original deep forest, often shrouded in mist, exuding an air of mystery.
