Tiao Yan Ancient Trail Introduction
Located in Jiuhu Village of Tongluo Township and Nánhé Village of Tongxiao Township, it is an official road built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, intended to connect Yuanli, Tongxiao, and Tongluo, and is known as the "Salt Transport Ancient Road" for transporting sea salt produced in Tongxiao to Tongluo. When it rains, the yellow earth mixed with rainwater makes the muddy slopes treacherous and difficult to traverse. In the fourth year of the Tongzhi era (1865), through the contributions of local philanthropists, a pebble-paved staircase was constructed, consisting of 1,237 steps, and it was named "Lónggōu Qí" for its winding shape resembling a grinding hook. The path descends sharply over a thousand meters from the peak, surrounded by lush mountains and forests, evoking a sense of nostalgia. The Salt Transport Ancient Road extends from Nánhé Village in Tongxiao Township to Jiuhu Village in Tongluo Township and is divided into an upper and lower section. The entrance to the lower section is located 4.5 kilometers from Tongxiao Township towards Tongluo Township on Miaoli County Highway 38, with a total length of about 300 meters, leading out at 5.5 kilometers and then continuing for over 100 meters to connect with the upper section of the "Salt Transport Ancient Road," which is approximately 700 meters long. Additionally, the Feiniu Ranch also has a path leading to the entrance of the ancient road. As the trail mainly weaves through fields of Tung trees and Acacia forests, it features a section planted with sacred Camphor trees, providing ample shade. The entire ancient road is only about 1 kilometer long, with a relatively gentle slope, taking around 30 minutes to walk one way, making it suitable for the whole family to hike together. Stepping on smooth, rounded stones along the way, one can imagine the footsteps of those who came before and reflect on the hardships of ancestors. Reaching the top of the stone steps, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Dajia River and Tiezhen Mountain, which brightens the mood. On the way back, you can either take the original route or Miaoli County Highway 38; although the latter is longer, it offers a different scenic experience. If you continue upward, accompanied by green tea plantations, you can reach the famous Daihsin Temple on Jiuhua Mountain. History of the Salt Transport Ancient Road: The Salt Transport Ancient Road was an important transportation route connecting Tongxiao and Tongluo during the Qing Dynasty. Residents along the coastal and mountainous areas built the "Hutoukang Ancient Road" which passes through Hutou Mountain to facilitate the exchange of goods, starting from "Salt Depot" (near Chengnan Village in Tongxiao Township, a salt distribution center) to Jiuhu Village near Jiuhua Mountain in Tongluo Township, totaling about four kilometers. At that time, coastal residents transported salt ships to the Nanshi River, then used ox carts to transport the salt to the "Salt Depot," and hired porters to carry the salt over Hutou Mountain, which is over 500 meters above sea level, into the inner mountain towns, returning with goods like tea and charcoal that were not locally produced in the coastal areas for sale, hence the name "Salt Transport Ancient Road." Beauty of the Salt Transport Ancient Road: The Salt Transport Ancient Road is located on the Tongluo Fault at the eastern edge of the Miaoli Hills and is part of a gravel plateau. The vegetation along the ancient road consists of low-elevation broadleaf mixed forests, primarily Acacia, Tung trees, and Banyan trees, rich in pencil trees and ferns. Every year, during April and May, Tung flowers bloom abundantly, blanketing the trail in white, making it a famous scenic spot for flower viewing.
