Sankong Spring Hiking Trail Introduction
Sankong Spring, also known as Sankong泉, is located between Shuxing Village and Pingding Village in Tamsui. It is named for its three natural spring outlets that emerge from the ground. Sankong Spring is situated in the upper reaches of Huanggao Creek, one of the fourteen streams in Tamsui, which originates from the Shulin Kou Creek near Fanjih Lake and the Sankong Spring Creek from Xingfu Liao. These streams converge to form Huanggao Creek, which flows west into the Tamsui River. Located on a hillside east of the current Tamsui MRT Station, the area has been developed since the Qing Dynasty, when Han Chinese began to settle and cultivate the land, evident from the traditional brick-built Sanheyuan (a type of traditional Chinese courtyard house), terraced vegetable gardens, and the transformed leisure farms. The three spring outlets are an important local water source. In addition to piping water for home use, there are "wash sinks" located below the springs where residents often wash their clothes or clean their pots and pans. Early agriculture in the Sankong Spring area relied on the three springs and streams for irrigation, primarily growing rice and tea. However, following government initiatives for fallowing farmland and transforming agricultural practices, the Sankong Spring area has gradually shifted towards leisure agriculture and ecological restoration. The entrance to the Sankong Spring hiking trail is not very noticeable and the trail is relatively short. Walking along Pingding Road, one can find the entrance next to the Shengbao Company (Shengbao Training Center). The natural springs make the small streams crystal clear, surrounded by mountains on three sides with an opening towards the Tamsui River estuary, making it a great spot for sunset viewing.
