Xianshan Hiking Trail Introduction
Xianshan is located on the east side of Shitan Township in Miaoli County, with an elevation of 967 meters. It is much better known than the main peak of the Bagualishan mountain range - Bagualishan. Xianshan was originally named Hongmaoguan Mountain, named after its proximity to Penglai Village in Nanzhuang Township (formerly known as Hongmaoguan). The fame of Xianshan in Miaoli is comparable to that of Shitou Mountain, and many residents of Miaoli have visited Xianshan, which is located in Xindian Village, Shitan Township. The journey to Xianshan begins at the red archway of Lingdong Temple at the foot of the mountain. The trail from the archway to the Lingdong Temple halfway up the mountain is a total of six kilometers. Xianshan stands tall above the flat land, resembling a pillar reaching the sky. The winding road ascends with green grass lining the path, and the sea of clouds above creates the feeling of "the mountain exists in the ethereal void." Xianshan gained its fame due to its delicious and refreshing spring water, which has a rather legendary story. Over sixty years ago, someone drank from the spring water of Xianshan and discovered its healing properties. The moist mud produced in the area also had healing effects when applied to wounds, leading people to believe that the mountain possessed miraculous powers, hence the name Xianshan. Nowadays, particularly on weekends, the area is bustling with people seeking the spring water, divine guidance, or hiking. Special scenery and ecological environment: Xian Dongmen: Currently, there are two well-maintained stone step trails leading to Xieling Temple on Xianshan, but the true ancient route follows a stone path next to the left-side stone steps. Climbing along this ancient path to a small platform in the middle, a few people can stand on this platform, with steep rock walls looming behind, seeming to mark the end of the road; however, after climbing a few more steps beside the rock wall, there is a small opening on the left side that only allows one person to pass through, known as Xian Dongmen, where everyone must bow their heads and tighten their stomachs to pass through the cave, making it quite an amusing experience. Xianshan Peak: The view from the peak of Xianshan is broad, with the Jialishan mountain range visible to the east, featuring interlocking peaks and lush layers; to the west lies the parallel Bajiao Mountain range, gazing across the Shitan Valley. On clear days, one can see the rolling hills around Miaoli and Zhunan, fading into the distant sea at the western coast of Taiwan. Plant resources: From Lingdong Temple at an elevation of 710 meters to the Xianshan trig point at 967 meters, most of the native plants between Lingdong Temple and Xieling Temple have been cleared, but much of the trail passes through primary broadleaf forests, with a complex variety of plants surrounding it. Near Lingdong Temple, there are many fragrant nanmu, large-leaved camphor, and other trees mixed with soil nanmu, sweet gum, and duck-foot wood. As the elevation increases, the variety of trees also grows, and along the way, there are species such as Taiwan Cherry, mountain pepper, and Euonymus fortunei. Near the peak, one can find Taiwan’s Ulex, cloud leaves, Daming orange, round-fruited oak, cone-bearing oak, and holly; near the trig point, small-leaved red nanmu is more prevalent. The trail boasts a diverse array of plants, including many rare species such as Taiwan’s Ulex and cloud leaves, making it ecologically significant. (Plant resource data provided by Mr. Chen Yunzhao, Associate Researcher at Miaoli Agricultural Research Institute)
