Shumeiping Historic Trail Introduction
Shumeiping Ancient Trail is located next to the 19K sign along County Road 102 (between 18.7K and 18.8K), in a spacious parking area with an elevation of about 502 meters, marking the highest segment of County Road 102. To reach it from the intersection of Jiufen and Jinguashi, one must travel approximately 3,500 meters further. The road was originally widened for military purposes but has now become one of the best viewpoints for the public to enjoy the scenery of the Shuinandong and Jiufen area. With broad land and extensive views, it encompasses landmarks such as Wuer Teapot Mountain, Banping Mountain, Keelung Mountain, Shuinandong, Jinguashi, Jiufen, Xiao Jinguashan, Xiao Cukeng Mountain, and Da Cukeng Mountain, providing breathtaking scenery. To the east lies the Banshan mountain range, and to the south is the Mudan mountain range. From this perspective, Xiao Jinguashan, resembling a hippopotamus, is particularly adorable. This viewpoint offers a full view of the majestic and spectacular Keelung Mountain. This location is also a junction for several important trails; to the south, one can find the entrance to the Diaoshan Ancient Trail (the wartime road, be cautious of the dense miscanthus along the route), which connects to the rest stop Fude Temple on the Diaoshan Ancient Trail. Heading east provides access to Caoshan Industrial Road towards the Golden Shrine Trail, or a turn to the former mining area of Shumeiping. If traveling south, you can follow the Diaoshan Ancient Trail, which leads southeast to the Sandiao Bridge (Zhengguang Sanqiao) over Mudan Creek and southwest along the ridge of Mudan Mountain connecting back to County Road 102. If you continue along County Road 102 for another 300 meters from Shumeiping, you will successively see the endpoints of the Xiao Cukeng Trail and the Da Cukeng Trail; another trail's first fork, according to the sign, leads to Xiao Jinguashan, allowing you to personally experience the origin of the gold rush. There is also a trail that can lead to Qinxian Junior High School. The second fork leads to the Da Cukeng Trail, which passes through the Shengfu Pit Mine, currently the only existing coal mine still in operation in Taiwan.
