Lion's Head Mountain Ancient Trail Introduction
Shitoushan (Lion’s Head Mountain) is located at the border of Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County and Emei Township in Hsinchu County. The mountain features layered peaks, extraordinary rock formations, and a rich natural ambiance, making it a majestic and ethereal place. There are currently eleven temples in the area, most of which were built within natural caves, nestled among the lush greenery, creating a serene and artistic atmosphere, making it one of Taiwan's most famous sacred places for the promotion of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Shitoushan is filled with ancient trees, casting shade that covers the sky, and the temples are scattered throughout, exuding tranquility. One can steal half a day on weekends to rest here for a night or enjoy a short vacation, practicing worship and meditation, where the sounds of morning bells and evening drums wash away the dust of the world, making it a solemn and peaceful tourist destination. Shitoushan is one of the twelve scenic spots in Taiwan and is located between Nanzhuang and Emei Townships. The southern part of the watershed ridge is administered by Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County, while the northern part belongs to Emei Township in Hsinchu County. To the south, towering cliffs face off with Elephant Trunk Mountain across the Sanwan Creek; to the north, the gentle hills curve around between Liu-Liao in Tengping Village, resembling a crouching lion. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the Tamsui district magistrate Li Shenyu named it "Shitoushan" due to its shape. At an elevation of 496 meters, Shitoushan is a standard ridge-shaped mountain. The summit is often shrouded in mist, with the valleys resembling a coiled dragon; bamboo forests and mixed trees abound between the rocks. The stone steps wind through the shaded forest, barely allowing sunlight through, providing coolness even in summer. The half ridge features steep cliffs, rising several dozens of meters high. The Shitoushan Trail has the Wangyue Pavilion as the boundary stone between Miaoli and Hsinchu counties, divided into the front mountain of Nanzhuang Township and the back mountain of Emei Township. The front mountain has a well-preserved stone stairway of over a thousand steps, while the back mountain has all been converted to a cement path, leaving only small sections of stone stairs in front of each temple. The front mountain has a steep terrain that is more challenging, while the back mountain has a gentler slope that's easier to navigate. Before 1965, visitors had to ascend along the old hiking trail to reach the Righteousness Temple, the Spirit Pagoda, and the Guidance Hall. This stone step trail has still been favored by nature seekers and fitness enthusiasts for decades, with dancing bamboo and babbling streams among the strange towering rocks. A normal pace can reach the Guidance Hall in about twenty minutes. Nowadays, most visitors park in the plaza below the Guidance Hall, starting their walk through the Hexagonal Pavilion into the Futiangong, and then up to the Guidance Hall. If they turn left at the Gate of Virtue, they can reach the Sarira Cave and the Kaishan Temple, a round trip taking about ten minutes. If they continue straight ahead and ascend through the Great Rock Wall, climbing to Wangyue Pavilion, which is a distance of 600 meters, taking about twenty minutes. Except for a few sections needing repair, the stone-step Zen path in the front mountain is considered quite complete and easy to navigate. Starting from Wangyue Pavilion, the path descends gently all the way to the Shiwai Trailhead, covering approximately three kilometers, all along a cement farm road. Along the way, there are various temples: Shiyan Cave, Haihui Temple, Lingxia Cave, Jingang Temple, and Wanfo Temple, reaching Shiwai Trailhead which leads to the Fanyin Temple (Shuilian Cave). Among them, Yuanguang Temple has a history of 107 years and is the earliest Buddhist temple in the Shitoushan area, followed by the Guidance Hall with 101 years of history, both holding significant historical value.
