Guanyin Trail Introduction
Guanyin Trail is 100 meters above sea level, with a fully paved stone path and few steep slopes, making it more friendly for general hikers. Every year in April and May, during the tung blossom season, the flowers fall like snow and cover the trail, creating a different kind of scenery. Strolling along Guanyin Trail, one can discover a variety of forest landscapes transitioning from the broadleaf tung tree forest to bamboos, with ample shade and pleasant cool temperatures throughout the path. Along the way, there is a pavilion where visitors can take a break. Although surrounded by greenery without distant views, a gentle breeze soothes the heat after exercise. Continuing further, visitors will reach a viewing platform where the stone-paved path ends. To see the century-old waterwheel, one must return to the nearby stone stairs and walk back to the Zhu 45 Line road; then proceed in the direction indicated by "Shuitou Hedibogong". The path showcases lush green rice field scenery and first arrives at the small stone shrine "Shuitou Hedibogong", which venerates "Shuitou Bogong" and "Hedibogong", serving as one of the traditional belief centers for villagers, reflecting the cultural heritage of Hakka ancestors who revered nature. Following the adjacent path, you can see Nanpu Canal, built in 1845, which has a history of over a hundred years and is one of the most important water conservancy facilities in the area. Listening to the sound of flowing water, walking along the winding canal for about 5 minutes will lead you to the location of the century-old waterwheel. Besides its blades, the waterwheel also has halved bamboo tubes, displaying the marks left by time. The operation of the waterwheel is driven by water flow that turns the blades, while the bamboo tubes, after drawing water, can pour it into elevated troughs. This design was created by ancestors to direct the water from Nanpu Canal to higher ground for irrigation, and it is one of the few remaining operational bamboo waterwheels in Taiwan, making it an important cultural heritage of Nanpu Township. Nanpu Village Guanyin Trail Type: Suburban Mountain Trail Difficulty: Easy Length: 1.47 kilometers Surface Conditions: Stone steps, stone path, wooden walkway Trailhead: Century-old Waterwheel Entrance / Jingang Temple
