Fish Path Ancient Trail Introduction
The historical ancient path connecting Dapu and Daping, known as the "Fish Road" or "Xiatilu," has a history of over a century. It served as an important route for fishermen in Dapu to transport their catches to Daping during times of hardship. In search of sustenance, residents of the two settlements traveled back and forth between Daping and Dapu. Today, with the decline of the fishing industry, the ancient path became desolate as the population of both villages decreased. However, through the collaboration of the Dongju Community Development Association and Dongju Elementary School, residents have worked together to clear weeds and plant trees, restoring the ancient path and converting it into an ecological park. The ecology of the ancient path is extremely rich, with various migratory birds and butterflies bringing surprises at every turn with the changing seasons. Native plants add colors to the path as the seasons change. In September each year, the red spider lilies bloom abundantly along the hillside trails; in October, visitors can enjoy the sweet, milky flavor of the "zhé guǒ"; and in November, clusters of yellow goldenrods create a golden carpet. In recent years, the Dongju Community Association has also begun updating the forest landscape. Along with the native spider lilies, they have started to reintroduce Matsu's lilies and pear trees, as well as planting peach blossoms, cherry blossoms, and passion fruits, hoping to bring more diversity to the ancient path. The Fish Road originally had two exits. Starting from Dapu, one can walk straight to reach Daping Village. With a turn at the fish drying area, one can pass through "Puzuo" (now the area around the power plant) to reach Mengao Harbor. Making a trip along the ancient path allows one to experience the hardships endured by the ancestors as they carried their burdens along this route.
