Shumeiping Historical Trail Introduction
Shumei Ping Old Trail is located beside the 19K marker on County Road 102 (between 18.7 to 18.8K), featuring an open parking lot at an elevation of approximately 502 meters, which is the highest point along County Road 102. From the boundary between Jiufen and Jinguashi, it requires an additional 3,500 meters of travel. Originally, County Road 102 was widened and renovated primarily for military purposes, and it has now become one of the best viewing spots for the scenic area of Shuinandong and Jiuquwan. The vast area offers an unobstructed view that encompasses Wuer Teapot Mountain, Banping Mountain, Keelung Mountain, Shuinandong, Jinguashi, Jiufen, Xiao Jinguashi Outcrop, Xiao Cukeng Mountain, and Da Cukeng Mountain, with stunning scenery. To the east lies the Banshan Mountain Range, and to the south is the Mudan Mountain Range. From this perspective, the Xiao Jinguashi Outcrop, shaped like a hippopotamus, is particularly charming. The whole Keelung Mountain can be admired from here, and its majestic and spectacular form is breathtaking. This place is also a junction for several important trails; to the south of Shumei Ping is the entrance to the Diaoshan Old Trail (Battle Preparedness Road, where one must be cautious of the dense miscanthus along the way), connecting to the relay point Fude Temple on the Diaoshan Old Trail. Heading east from here leads to the Caoshan Industrial Road towards the Golden Shrine Trail or turns towards the former mining area of Shumei. Going south will take you along the route of the Diaoshan Old Trail, with a southeast connection to the Sandiao Bridge (Zhengguang Sandiao) along Mudan Creek, while heading southwest follows the ridge of Mudan Mountain back to County Road 102. If you continue about 300 meters along County Road 102, you will successively find the endpoints of the Xiao Cukeng Trail and the Da Cukeng Trail; another trail's first fork, as indicated, will lead to the Xiao Jinguashi Outcrop, where you can personally experience the origin of the gold mining craze and embrace the feeling of being in Jinguashi, with paths also leading to Qingxian Junior High School. The second fork can take you to the Da Cukeng Trail, passing by the Shengfu Pit mine, which is currently the only operational coal mine in the country.
