Antong Cross-Canyon Trail West Section Introduction
The Antong Ridge Trail is located in Yuli Township, Hualien County, on the western side of the southern section of the Central Mountain Range. It is part of the western section of the Antong Ridge Trail and is the first road that crosses the Central Mountain Range, connecting the eastern coastline and the Hualien-Taitung Valley. During the Qing Dynasty, due to the "Open the Mountains and Pacify the Indigenous" policy, General Wu Guangliang led his troops over the Central Mountain Range, opening the route from Pushi Pavilion (Yuli) to Chengguangao (Chenggong), thus forming the ridge path. From the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese colonial period, it served as an important route for marriage, missionary work, and the transportation of goods. After the 1970s, with the opening of highways, it gradually became an abandoned path. However, due to its rich natural resources and significant cultural and historical value, the Forestry Bureau completed its renovation in 2008. This ancient path has long been hidden in the mountains and forests, possessing a pristine ecological environment, with mist and clouds swirling among the mountains, creating an illusion of paradise. Today, those wishing to explore the ancient path can walk in from the entrance of Antong Hot Springs in Yuli, traversing the Antong Ridge Trail to the Central Mountain Range Ridge Trail. The round trip takes about three hours and is a moderately challenging hike.
