Cukeng Trail Introduction
The CuKengkou Mountain Trail is located in the Tianli area of the Ruifang District. To access the trail, turn right into CuKeng Lane at the first entrance after passing the Sijiaoting bus stop on Highway 8. The first destination along the trail is the Changxing Temple, which has existed since the Qing Dynasty during the Qianlong era and is rich in history. Not far from the Changxing Temple, below a cemetery along the roadside, lies the long-abandoned Sanrong Coal Mine, which is said to have been owned by a woman during its operation. The local people refer to CuKengkou as "Cha Mo Keng." Although there are several forks along the trail, there are signs to guide you, making it difficult to get lost. When you reach the end of the trail, don’t hurry to turn back. Instead, walk about 3 to 5 minutes to the right along the access road to find a viewing platform, where you can overlook the Sijiaoting area and enjoy distant views of Wufen Mountain. CuKeng has nearly a century-long history of gold mining. At the height of the gold mining boom, it attracted around 3,000 residents and was known as one of the three areas in Taiwan with the highest consumption capacity, along with Jinguashih and Jiufen. The settlement was bustling with entertainment venues such as casinos, hotels, and billiard halls, earning it the nickname "Little America." Films such as "Dust of Time" and "A City of Sadness" were shot here, and the settlement described in the film "Duo Sang" is that of CuKeng. There are two abandoned classrooms in the area, which were originally part of the Daxin Branch of the Houcuo Elementary School. Director Wu Nien-jen attended the first four years of elementary school here.
