Antong Mountain 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 Coastal Mountain Range. It is part of the western segment of the Antong Ridge Trail and is the first road that spans the Coastal Mountain Range, connecting the eastern coast and the Hualong Valley. During the Qing Dynasty, due to the "open mountain and pacify the indigenous tribes" policy, General Wu Guangliang led troops to cross the Coastal Mountain Range, opening the route from Pushi Pavilion (Yuli) to Chengguangao (Chenggong), thus forming the ridge trail. From the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese colonial period, it became an important route for marriage, mission work, and the transportation of goods. After the 1970s, as highways were opened, it gradually became a desolate abandoned trail. However, due to its rich natural resources and significant historical and cultural value, the Forest Bureau completed its renovation in 2008. The ancient trail has long been hidden in the mountains and forests, featuring a primitive ecological environment with misty mountain clouds, and walking into it feels like stepping into a paradise. Today, those wishing to explore this ancient trail can walk from the entrance of the Antong Hot Springs in Yuli, through the Antong Ridge Trail to the Coastal Mountain Range Ridge Trail. The round trip takes about three hours and is a moderately challenging trail.
