Shiyan Valley Trail Introduction
Reminder: The road is damaged and the trail is closed in its entirety; please pay attention to safety! Shihpan Valley in Fengshan is surrounded by mountains, with steep cliffs and giant rocks scattered throughout. It features a stair-step canyon terrain, with Dry Geng Creek flowing through, creating various waterfalls and pools. There are six waterfalls in total, each with its unique charm, making it a must-visit destination for those who love primitive flavors and nature exploration. The planned trail is divided into two sections. The first section runs from the parking lot to the Shihpan Valley rest pavilion, passing through a suspension bridge and stone-paved trail, offering magnificent scenery along the way. In particular, the view from the bridge allows visitors to fully appreciate the majesty of the towering boulders. The area around the rest pavilion is designed to resemble an aerial garden, with towering trees, birdsong, and fragrant flowers. Cattleya orchids and crab orchids have been planted on the camphor trees, along with wild mountain bamboo, aiyu, and cliff ginger ferns climbing the Eucalyptus and maple trees, creating a refreshing and beautiful sight. There are several artificial ponds under the trees reflecting the surrounding greenery, providing a water source for birds. The birdwatching here is quite good; in the early morning, it’s common to see red-headed laughingthrushes, bush warblers, grey-throated martins, crowned bullfinches, and species from the tit family gathering there. The second section of the trail leads uphill from the rest pavilion to the Shihpan Valley waterfall group, where one can admire the beauty of the steep cliffs and waterfalls. If one has good stamina, it’s worthwhile to continue on to the Maple Valley waterfall. Along the way, there are mixed bamboo forests, secondary forests, and primary forests. The further one goes, the more primitive and magnificent the scenery becomes, with even better birdwatching, as one passes through the natural Zongye forest, Jiuxiong art forest, and the grand cliff. The leaves of the Zongye forest, also known as mountain pig ears and spider lily, emit a zongzi fragrance, and they are the true zongzi leaves of Taiwan, which locals often use to wrap zongzi. The Jiuxiong art forest features several uniquely shaped Jiuxiong trees that create natural artistic landscapes resembling grasshoppers, centipedes, deer antlers, flying ants, and spider kings, which is quite astonishing. The grand cliff rises vertically dozens of meters and is equipped with ropes for climbing. The Maple Valley waterfall is the final stop of this journey, where wild maple trees grow in the valley. Every late autumn, the maple leaves turn red and fall into the creek, creating a stunning view, hence the name Maple Valley waterfall. The round trip from the parking lot to the Maple Valley waterfall takes approximately 3 to 4 hours.
