Salt Picking Trail Introduction
Located in JiuHu Village of Tongluo Township and Nanhe Village of Tongxiao Township, it is an official road constructed during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, connecting Yuanli, Tongxiao, and Tongluo, famously known as the Salt Transport Ancient Path for transporting sea salt produced in Tongxiao to Tongluo. Whenever it rains, the yellow soil becomes mixed with rainwater, making the slippery and muddy slopes quite difficult to traverse. In the fourth year of the Tongzhi period (1865), local philanthropists donated funds and efforts, leading to the construction of a pebble-paved stairway, 1,237 steps long, named "Liao Gou Qi" because of its winding shape like a hoe. It descends over a thousand meters from the top, with lush forests and ancient charm, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The Salt Transport Ancient Path stretches from Nanhe Village in Tongxiao Township to JiuHu Village in Tongluo Township, divided into two sections: the lower section starts at the 4.5 km point on County Road 38 leading from Tongxiao Township to Tongluo Township, around 300 meters long, emerging at the 5.5 km point on County Road 38, and then continuing for over 100 meters to access the upper section of the "Salt Transport Ancient Path," which is approximately 700 meters long. In addition, Feiniu Ranch has a small trail leading to the entrance of the ancient path. Since the entire trail mostly weaves through sweet gum and acacia trees, and there is a segment with a grove of Ficus macrophylla, the shaded path is quite refreshing. The entire ancient path is about 1 kilometer long with a relatively gentle slope, taking only about 30 minutes one way, making it very suitable for families with both young and elderly members to hike together. Walking on the smooth, rounded stones, one can recall the footprints of predecessors and imagine the hardships endured by early settlers. At the top of the stone steps, the terrace offers a view of Dajia River and Tiezhu Mountain, broadening the vista and uplifting one’s mood. The return can be via the same route or through County Road 38, which, although longer, offers another beautiful landscape along the way. Continuing upward amidst the verdant tea plantations will lead to the renowned Jiu Hua Shan Da Xing Shan Temple. History of the Salt Transport Ancient Path: The Salt Transport Ancient Path was a crucial transportation route during the Qing Dynasty, connecting Tongxiao and Tongluo. At that time, coastal and mountainous residents built the "Hutoukan Ancient Path" through Hutoushan to exchange their produce. It starts from "Yanguanpu" (near Chengnan Village in Tongxiao Township, a salt distribution center) and extends about four kilometers to near Jiu Hu Village in Tongluo Township. Residents along the coast would transport salt boats to Nanxi River, where they would use ox carts to transport the salt to "Yanguanpu," and then hire porters to carry the salt loads over Hutoushan, which stands over 500 meters above sea level, into the inland towns. On the return journey, they would carry back goods that were not produced in coastal areas, such as tea leaves and charcoal for sale, hence it is also known as the "Salt Transport Ancient Path." Beauty of the Salt Transport Ancient Path: The Salt Transport Ancient Path is located on the Tongluo Fault at the eastern boundary of the Miaoli Hills, belonging to a gravelly plateau. The vegetation along the ancient path consists of a low-elevation broadleaf mixed forest, primarily featuring acacia trees, sweet gum, and banyan trees, with a rich variety of pencil trees and ferns. Every year between April and May, the blossoming of catalpa flowers covers the trail in a beautiful display of white flowers, making it a well-known trail for flower viewing.
