Tiger Character Stone Introduction
Located at the wind gap between Taipei and Yilan County on the Caoling Historic Trail, the Tiger Monument stands at an elevation of approximately 330 meters. It was erected by Liu Mingdeng, the governor of Taiwan. Due to the strong winds that have plagued travelers for many years, the monument bears the character "虎" (tiger) to signify "Clouds follow the dragon, winds follow the tiger," aiming to ward off wind damage. The monument serves as a reminder to travelers of the frequent strong winds in this area, urging them to take extra caution when passing through. The Caoling Historic Trail was gradually developed by the indigenous Pinpu people to facilitate communication between the plains on either side of the Xueshan Mountain range. During the Qing Dynasty, near the coastline extending eastward from Aodi in today's Gongliao District of New Taipei City, there was a Pinpu tribe collectively known as the Sandiao community, which had a population of over five hundred in 1917. In earlier times, they lived along the coast, particularly near river mouths, relying on fishing for their livelihood. Today, descendants of the Pinpu people still reside in this area.
