Antung Trail West Section Introduction
The Antong Ridge Trail is located in Yuli Township, Hualien County, on the west side of the southern section of the Coastal Mountain Range. It is part of the western section of the Antong Ridge Trail and is the first road to cross the Coastal Mountain Range, connecting the eastern coast and the Hualien-Taitung Valley. During the Qing Dynasty, due to the "Opening the Mountains and Pacifying the Indigenous People" policy, General Wu Guangliang led troops to cross the Coastal Mountain Range, opening the path from Pushi Gate (Yuli) to Chenguangao (Chenggong), thus forming the ridge trail. From the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese colonial period, it was an important route for marriage, missionary activities, and transporting goods. After the 1970s, with the opening of highways, it gradually became a desolate and abandoned path. However, due to its rich natural resources and significant historical and cultural value, the Forestry Bureau completed its renovation in 2008. The ancient path has long remained hidden in the mountains and forests, boasting an original ecological environment where mist and mountain clouds create a surreal, heavenly atmosphere. Nowadays, to explore this ancient path, one can walk from the entrance of Antong Hot Spring in Yuli, traversing the Antong Ridge Trail to the Coastal Mountain Range Ridge Trail, which takes about three hours round trip and presents a moderate challenge.
