Nangang Mountain Range_Gengliao Ancient Trail Introduction
Gengliao Ancient Trail is the most well-preserved and still in use of the five ancient paths connecting Nangang to Shen Kong and Shiding in the early years. This ancient trail is not only a convenient route to Shanzhiku and Tuku Mountain, but also a century-old path for exploring ancient house ruins. Today, granite step stones have been laid along the trail; however, the narrow road at the beginning and end still reveals the ancient ruggedness, and parts of the unpaved gravel sections are adorned with small white flowers, enhancing the path's rustic charm. The later section of Gengliao Ancient Trail connects with Laoliao Ancient Trail, which used to be an area densely populated with tea houses. Since the ancient trail was once a freight and camphor production area, it was originally called Laoliao Ancient Trail; about 110 years ago, it turned into a busy road frequented by tea traders and villagers, later adopting the phonetic nickname Gengliao, which is still in use today. The name change to Gengliao Ancient Trail comes from it being a path used by night watchmen during the Qing Dynasty for inspections. Once a flourishing route for the ancestors, it has now faded into a hiking path for seeking tranquility and enjoying the outdoors. Chunshuan Farm, originally named Nangang First Citizen Farm, has transformed into a comprehensive farm with both educational and recreational functions. The farm cultivates over a thousand fragrant ash trees, daylilies, and sweet osmanthus trees, and is equipped with tree houses and observation decks for visitors to enjoy the scenery. Wanggaoliao, located at the highest point of Tuku Mountain, offers a view of Greater Taipei and has unique military fortifications. It is said that there was a lookout tower stationed by armed watchmen during the Qing Dynasty. The currently constructed platform provides an even better and wider perspective, making it truly worthy of the name Wanggaoliao. Along the Gengliao Trail, one can often see the bustling view of National Highway 5, and there are several century-old houses nearby, such as the Pan Family Ancestral House, which has a history of 160 years. This historical relic of the ancestors bears scars of gun holes from when it was a defensive fortification, and the descendants of the Pan family have lived here for eight generations, testifying to this segment of history. In seeking ancient interests in the mountains, Gengliao Ancient Trail remains the best-preserved and still functional path among the five ways from Nangang to Shen Kong and Shiding. It is not only a passage to Shanzhiku or a climb to Tuku Mountain but also holds many "ancient treasures." Even though granite steps have been laid along the way, the narrow stone steps at the beginning can only accommodate one person, presenting a sense of antiquity. As one climbs to the mountainside, behind the pavilion, there remains a 70-year-old stone house, "Huang Wang Former Residence," which still has old tea-making machines; the upward path toward the earlier section seems to be swallowed by weeds, suggesting a wrong turn. However, stepping onto the gravel road, where little flowers like daylilies bloom on both sides, the short 300-meter trail is easy to walk, yet it leaves a lasting impression. The starting point of Gengliao Trail leads to the only century-old house in Nangang that still retains gun holes and is inhabited, known as "Pan's Gun Hole House." The descendants of the Pan family have lived here for eight generations, estimating the age of the house to be at least 160 years, yet like the ancient trail, it remains "evergreen." On the way to Laoliao Ancient Trail, the limestone mine is a relic of past development by the ancestors. The site of Wei Jing-Shi's former residence, though in ruins, reflects the prosperous past of the tea mountain. Along the trail, the earth oven, Zheng family cemetery, and the diminutive "miniature" Tudi Gong temple, all testify to the ancient history of the path. Tea Township rediscovered, the development history of tea mountains can be traced back to over 200 years ago during the Qing Qianlong era, when it was an important production area for early camphor and tea exports in Taiwan. The methods developed by Wang Shui-Jin and Wei Jing-Shi for "Wenshan Baozhong Tea" and "Nangang Baozhong Tea" respectively birthed the golden age of Nangang tea, renowned even in Southeast Asia, with old tea houses in Thailand still using the Nangang name to attract customers. 110 years ago, Laoliao Ancient Trail was a busy tea route for tea traders and villagers. It was also a path for camphor gathering and production, hence the original name "Naoliao Ancient Trail," later altered to "Laoliao" for phonetic reasons. Gengliao Ancient Trail derived its name from its function as a road for night watchmen during the Qing Dynasty and later became the transportation route for tea traders between Shen Kong and Nangang during Japanese rule; today it has shed its former glory and turned into a hiking path for everyone to explore nature. Gengliao Printing Pavilion is located after a narrow stone stairway where a five or six minute walk leads to view the Beiyi Expressway passing through the mountain, which cuts through Tuku Mountain, Shanzhiku Peak, and beneath Gengliao Ancient Trail towards Shiding and Pinglin. Stopping here, one can amusingly appreciate today's traffic while standing on the historical communication route. On sunny days, en route to Shanzhiku, standing on the stone steps allows one to gaze back at the Grand Hotel, Songshan Airport, Dazhi, and the Neihu incinerator, capturing the beautiful sights of the Taipei Basin. As one ascends to the mountaintop, the scenery becomes more abundant, with the complete appearance of the mountainous landscape and ecological flora nearby. Just before reaching the mountaintop, there is a rare grove of pencil cedar trees resembling a tropical rainforest, and the sounds of flowing stream water wash away the fatigue from the steep slopes.
