Cukengkou Hiking Trail Introduction
The Cu Kengkou Trail is located in the upper Tienli of Sijiaotong in Ruifang District. You can enter by turning right at the first entrance after the Sijiaotong bus stop on Route 8. The trail first leads to the Changxing Temple, which has existed since the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, making it a site of significant historical value. Not far from the Changxing Temple, there is an overgrown and abandoned Sanrong Coal Mine located beneath a roadside cemetery. It is said that the owner of the Sanrong Coal Company at that time was a woman, and the locals have referred to Cu Kengkou as "Chamo Keng." Although there are several forks along the trail, signposts are present to prevent getting lost. When reaching the upper exit of the trail, don't hurry back; instead, walk about 3 to 5 minutes to the right along the production road, where there is a viewing platform that not only overlooks the Sijiaotong area but also offers distant views of Wufen Mountain. Dacun has a nearly century-long history of gold mining. At its peak, the gold mining industry attracted a population of 3,000, making it one of the three areas in Taiwan known for the highest consumption capabilities, alongside Jinguashi and Jiufen, featuring numerous entertainment venues such as casinos, hotels, and billiard halls, earning the nickname "Little America." Films like "Dust of Time" and "A City of Sadness" were shot here, and the settlement described in the film "Duo Sang" refers to the Dacun community. The settlement has two abandoned classrooms that were originally part of the Dashan branch of Hong Dong Elementary School, where director Wu Nian-Zhen completed the first four grades of his primary education.
