Lion's Head Mountain Historic Trail Introduction
Lion's Head Mountain is located at the border between Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County and Emei Township in Hsinchu County. The whole mountain is characterized by layered peaks and unique rock formations, with a picturesque landscape that feels ethereal and transcendent. There are eleven temples within the mountain, most of which are built into natural caves, nestled among lush greenery, presenting a serene and tranquil atmosphere. This site is well-known across Taiwan as a sacred place where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist harmoniously. Lion's Head Mountain is filled with ancient trees that tower overhead, providing ample shade. The temples are scattered throughout the area, contributing to its peaceful ambiance. On weekends, visitors can steal away for a brief respite or a short vacation to worship and meditate, where the sounds of morning bells and evening drums can clear the mind and dispel worldly concerns, making it a solemn and tranquil destination. As one of Taiwan's twelve famous scenic spots, Lion's Head Mountain lies within the jurisdiction of Nanzhuang Township south of the watershed and Emei Township to the north. The southern side features steep rock cliffs that face off against Elephant Trunk Mountain across the Sanwan Stream; to the north, rolling hills curve around the village of Tengtian, resembling a lion in a crouched position. During the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty, Tamsui magistrate Li Shen-yi named it "Lion's Head Mountain" based on its shape. The mountain stands at an elevation of 496 meters and has a typical ridgeline shape. Its summit is often shrouded in mist, with a landscape resembling a coiled dragon; bamboo groves and other trees grow between the rocks. The stone steps wind through lush, shady forests, rarely exposing one to the sun’s rays, providing coolness even in summer. The cliff faces are steep, rising dozens of feet. The Lion's Head Mountain Trail, marked by the Wangyue Pavilion as a boundary between Miaoli and Hsinchu Counties, consists of two sections: the front mountain of Nanzhuang Township and the back mountain of Emei Township. The front mountain retains a well-preserved stone staircase of over a thousand steps, while the back mountain has been entirely converted to a concrete path, with only small sections of stone steps remaining in front of the temples. The front mountain features steeper terrain, making it more challenging, while the back mountain is gentler and easier to navigate. Before the establishment of the circular mountain road in the 54th year of the Republic era, visitors to Lion's Head Mountain accessed it via the old hiking trail and could reach Raoyi Temple, the Spirit Pagoda, and Quanhua Hall. This stone stairway has been popular for decades among those seeking tranquility or exercise, through swaying bamboo and flowing streams, with remarkable rock formations. A normal pace allows one to reach Quanhua Hall in about twenty minutes. Today, most visitors park in the square below Quanhua Hall and begin their journey through the Hexagonal Pavilion to Futiangong and then ascend to Quanhua Hall. A left turn at the Gate of Morality leads to the Sarira Cave and Kaishan Temple, a round trip taking about ten minutes. Continuing straight up the steep path past the Great Rock Wall to Wangyue Pavilion, which is approximately 600 meters away and takes around twenty minutes to climb. The stone steps of the front mountain trail, barring a few sections needing repair, are relatively complete and easy to traverse. Starting from Wangyue Pavilion, the gentle slope leads down to the Lion's Tail trailhead, with the entire route measuring about three kilometers along a concrete farming road. Along the way, one encounters several temples: Shiyan Cave, Haihui An, Lingxia Cave, Jingang Temple, and Wanfo An, leading to Fanyin Temple (Shuilian Cave) via the Lion's Tail trailhead. Among these, Yuanguang Temple, established 107 years ago, is the earliest Buddhist temple in the Lion's Head Mountain area, followed by Quanhua Hall, which is 101 years old, both holding significant historical value.
