Batongguan Old Trail Introduction
The Batongguan Ancient Trail originally starts in Zhushan Township, Nantou County (Lin Qi Pu), passes through Lugu Township and Xinyi Township, crosses Batongguan and Xiuguluan Mountain, and ends in Yuli Township, Hualien County (Pushi Pavilion). The trail is approximately 152 kilometers long and was built in 1875 during the Qing Dynasty as one of three roads connecting the eastern and western parts of Taiwan. It is the only one still in existence, which is why it has been designated as a national historic site. The currently usable section of the trail spans about 20 kilometers from Dongpu Hot Springs to Batongguan Grassland. The area accessible for public exploration on the Batongguan Ancient Trail is in the Dongpu region, allowing visitors to also explore Yushan National Park, Father-Son Cliff, Dongpu Hot Springs, Otome Waterfall, Yunlong Waterfall, Rainbow Waterfall, and Lover's Valley, among others. Yushan National Park is the largest national park in Taiwan, characterized by subtropical alpine geology, with its terrain primarily consisting of high mountains and river valleys, which create precious resources and rich ecological environments. The Dongpu Cliff, also known as Father-Son Cliff, is located along the Batongguan Ancient Trail, above the eastern light area. Due to its unique geological hazards and continuous rockfalls, it is said that even if a father and son were to walk together here, they would not be able to look out for each other, hence the name "Father Does Not Know Son."
