Shih Tou Mountain Ancient Trail Introduction
Shitou Mountain is located at the border of Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County and Emei Township in Hsinchu County. The entire mountain features lush peaks, unique rock formations, and a serene atmosphere that sets it apart from the mundane world. There are currently eleven temples in the mountain, most of which are built into natural caves, nestled among verdant trees, creating a picturesque scene that embodies a spiritual ambiance. It is renowned as a holy site that promotes Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in Taiwan. Shitou Mountain is characterized by towering ancient trees that provide a canopy, with temples scattered throughout, exuding a tranquil charm. On weekends, visitors can spend a leisurely day here, retreat for a short vacation, worship, and meditate, all while being cleansed of worldly dust amid the sounds of ringing bells and drums, making it a solemn and peaceful destination. Shitou Mountain is one of Taiwan's Twelve Scenic Spots, situated between Nanzhuang and Emei Townships. The southern part of Shitou Mountain belongs to Miaoli County's Nanzhuang Township, while the northern ridge belongs to Hsinchu County's Emei Township. To the south, steep cliffs face Xiaobai Mountain across the Sanwan River; to the north, the undulating terrain lies between Liuliao in Tengtian Village, resembling a lion crouching. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, a magistrate named Li Shenshi named it "Shitou Mountain" due to its shape. Shitou Mountain has an elevation of 496 meters, featuring a standard ridge shape. The summit is often shrouded in mist, and the entire area resembles a coiling dragon; bamboo forests and shrubs intertwine among the rocks. The winding stone steps weave through the shaded forest, where sunlight barely penetrates, providing a cool respite even in summer. The cliffs along the ridge rise sharply to about several dozen meters. The Shitou Mountain Trail uses the Wangyue Pavilion as a boundary marker between Miaoli and Hsinchu, divided into the front mountain of Nanzhuang Township and the back mountain of Emei Township. The front mountain section retains over a thousand well-preserved stone steps, while the back mountain is entirely replaced by concrete pathways, with only small sections of stone steps remaining in front of the temples. The front mountain presents steeper terrain that is more challenging to traverse, while the back mountain has gentler slopes that are easier to navigate. Before 1965, visiting Shitou Mountain required ascending via an old trail as the circuit road around the mountain had not been constructed yet. Visitors could reach Raoyiyuan, the Lingta, and the Quanhua Hall via this stone-paved trail, which has remained popular among nature seekers and fitness enthusiasts over the decades, with dancing bamboo and flowing streams amid towering rocks. A normal walking pace allows one to reach Quanhua Hall in about twenty minutes. Today, most visitors park in the plaza below Quanhua Hall and begin their walk, passing through the Hexagon Pavilion to reach the Futian Temple before ascending to Quanhua Hall. If visitors turn left at the Daode Gate, they can access the Shali Cave and Kaishan Temple, which is a ten-minute round trip. Continuing forward leads to a climb of 600 meters up to Wangyue Pavilion, taking approximately twenty minutes. The stone stair meditation path on the front mountain is generally well-maintained and easy to traverse, with only a few sections awaiting repairs. Starting from Wangyue Pavilion, the trail gradually descends to the Shihwei Trailhead, covering about three kilometers of entirely concrete farm roads. Along the way, visitors will find temples including Shiyan Cave, Haihui An, Lingxia Cave, Jingang Temple, and Wanfo An, leading to Fanyin Temple near the Shihwei Trailhead (Shuilian Cave). Yuan Guang Temple, built 107 years ago, is the oldest Buddhist temple in the Shitou Mountain area, followed by Quanhua Hall, which is 101 years old, both holding significant historical value.
