Sankongquan Trail Introduction
Sankong Spring, also known as Sankong泉, is located between Shuxing and Pingding villages in Tamsui. It is named after the three natural spring outlets that emerge here. Sankong Spring is situated in the upper reaches of the Huanggao Creek, one of the fourteen streams in Tamsui, and is formed by the convergence of Shulin Kou Creek from Fenqi Lake and Sankong Spring Creek from Xingfuliao, which then flows westward into the Tamsui River. Positioned on the hillside east of the current Tamsui MRT Station, this area has been settled since the Qing Dynasty when Han Chinese began to develop it, as evidenced by traditional brick-structured Han three-in-one courtyards, terraced vegetable gardens, and transformed leisure farms. The spring is an important local water source, and in addition to piping water for home use, it features laundry pits where residents often wash clothes or pots and pans. The early agriculture in Sankong Spring relied on the three springs and streams for irrigation, primarily growing rice and tea. However, as the government promoted fallow land and transformation, the Sankong Spring area gradually shifted toward leisure farming and ecological restoration. The entrance to the Sankong Spring hiking trail is not very obvious; its length is short, and it can be found along Pingding Road next to the Sheng Bao Company (Sheng Bao Training Center). The natural spring results in clear streams, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with an opening towards Tamsui River estuary, making it a great spot to watch the sunset.
