Salt Picking Ancient Trail Introduction
Located in Jiuhe Village of Tongluo Township and Naanhe Village of Tongxiao Township, this old road was constructed during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty to connect Yuanli, Tongxiao, and Tongluo, primarily for transporting sea salt produced in Tongxiao to Tongluo, hence known as the Salt Transport Ancient Road. After rain, the mud and slippery slopes make it quite difficult to traverse. In 1865, with the donations and efforts of local philanthropists, a stone-paved stairway was built with 1,237 steps; due to its winding shape resembling a "grinding hook," it is called "Grinding Hook Trail." The trail drops steeply over a thousand meters from the top, with lush mountain forests and an ancient atmosphere, filling one with a sense of nostalgia. The Salt Transport Ancient Road stretches from Naanhe Village in Tongxiao Township to Jiuhe Village in Tongluo Township, divided into upper and lower sections. The entrance to the lower section is located 4.5 km along County Road 38 heading from Tongxiao Township to Tongluo Township, about 300 meters long, leading out at 5.5 km, then 100 meters further connects to the upper section, which is approximately 700 meters long. Additionally, Feiniu Ranch has a small path leading to the entrance of the ancient road. The entire trail meanders mostly through a forest of tung and acacia trees, with a section lined with sacred banyan trees offering ample shade. As the ancient road is only about 1 kilometer long and the slopes are relatively gentle, it takes about 30 minutes to hike one way, making it ideal for families with members of all ages. Walking on smooth, round stones, one can see ancient footprints and reflect on the hardships faced by our ancestors. At the summit of the stone steps, the views of Dajia River and Tiantuan Mountain provide a broad vista that uplifts the spirit. The return journey can follow the same route or take County Road 38, which, although longer, offers different scenic views; continuing further amidst lush tea plantations can lead to the renowned Jiu Hua Shan Da Xing Shan Temple. History of the Salt Transport Ancient Road: The Salt Transport Ancient Road was a critical transportation route during the Qing Dynasty connecting Tongxiao and Tongluo. At that time, coastal residents built the "Hutoukan Ancient Road" through Hutou Mountain to facilitate the exchange of goods produced in both regions. The journey commenced from "Yanguanpu" (located near Chengnanli Sanlin in Tongxiao Township, a salt distribution center) to the vicinity of Jiu Hua Shan in Jiuhe Village of Tongluo Township, covering about four kilometers. Coastal residents would transport salt by boat to the Nanshi River and then use ox carts to carry it to Yanguanpu, hiring porters to transport salt across the 500-meter-high Hutou Mountain into inland towns. On the return trip, they would bring back goods like tea and charcoal, which were not produced in coastal areas, leading to its name "Salt Transport Ancient Road." Beauty of the Salt Transport Ancient Road: The Salt Transport Ancient Road lies on the Tongluo Fault, marking the eastern boundary of the Miaoli Hills, belonging to a sandy gravel plateau. The vegetation along the ancient road constitutes a low-altitude broadleaf mixed forest, primarily featuring acacia trees, tung trees, and banyan trees, along with a rich variety of bamboos and ferns. In April and May every year, tung flowers bloom, blanketing the trail with white petals, creating breathtaking scenery, making it a very popular trail for viewing tung flowers.
