艾琳愛吃愛爬山的部落格

2020.12.27

My last hike in 2020, we used almost 8 hours to hike from Fulong Station - Yuanwangkeng Water Park (Caoling Historic Trail Entrance) - Wukou Pavilion - Taoyuan Valley - Dasi Station, approximately 18.3km Hike.

【Transport to Caoling Historic Trail】

There is a lot of train from Taipei Main Station to Fulong Station, but there is ONLY limited timing for the bus to Yuanwangkeng Water Park.

887 - Bus from Fulong Station to Yuanwangkeng Water Park

Time Schedule: Weekdays - 7.05am, 8.30am, 4pm

                      Weekends & PH - 7.30am, 8.30am, 9.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm

Arrange your time wisely in order to catch the bus, otherwise you have to walk to the trail entrance like us.

We decided to drive to Fulong Station, but the parking near visitor center is NT30 per hour which is consider expensive as we not sure how long it takes for us to come back. Luckily we found there is parking behind Fulong station near resident area is NT100 per entry, we parked in a resident compound (orange star in the map) because we already talked to the resident and it seems more safe to park there as well. But there is more parking at the red star marking in the map which is NT100 per entry, but we didnt see anyone there to collect parking fees, so i assume, you might get free parking if u come at odd hour as it looked like an illegal parking.

Turn in the junction with that sign, that is where we parked.

【Caoling Historic Trail MUST EAT - Famous Fulong Lunch Box】

Buy a FFLB - Famous Fulong Lunch Box for breakfast or lunch, i would suggest to bring it to the hike, there is many lunch box shop near Fulong Station, they open as early as 7am in the morning, I just went in a random shop to buy and bring it with us. Basic Fulong Lunch Box is only NT65 with full of vege, braised meat & rice. I think the portion might be too small for guy, will suggest to buy 2. 

【Walk to Caoling Historic Trail Entrance】

It was almost 10am in the morning, we missed the bus at 9.30am, so have to walk to trail entrance, luckily it wasnt too far away, only 3.2km

This is the map from Fulong Station to Caoling Historic Trail Entrance, or u can google map to there: https://goo.gl/maps/Ju9eipGvQDz5ht5T9

The way to entrance got nothing to cover, as you can see in the photo below how i covered myself from sunlight. Met a super friendly kitten on the way, can consider bring some cat food to the hike next time to bribe the kitten.

And you will be crossing some forest, then come out beside a resident house. Yes, you are still in the right way, you will see a river after you walk down from there. Caoling Histotic Trail Public Toilet is just right after the bridge. If you see terrace field, you are very close to trail entrance now.

【Caoling Historic Trail Entrance】

Trail Map at the trail entrance, this map is showing normal trail route from Fulong Station to Dali Station. But we are going to Taoyuan Valley, which will turning at the Wukou Pavilion. 

there are many signboard to lead you in the trail, Caoling Historic Trail was one of the main road to travel from Taipei to Yilan during Qing Dynasty, it played an important role in developing Yilan province. 

Boldly Quell the Wild Mist Inscription

This is the largest stone inscription in Taiwan, listed as a third grade Historic site

We saw a lot of people holding Fulong Lunch Box on the way, and most of them having their lunch break here at the first pavilion. But we think it was too early for our lunch, in addition, Wukou have better view, so we decided to move on. After a while, we reach "Tiger" inscription, the weather in this area was always very bad in ancient time, Qing government believed that Tiger can suppress it, so they create "Tiger" inscription, and the weather getting better miraculously afterward.

Wukou means pass, the view from here is great, so we climb up to the pavilion and having our lunch there, we were so regret that we only bought 2 Fulong Lunch Box for 4 person, because it was so yummy!! 

【Taoyuan Valley】

After lunch, we heading to the fun part of our hike today - Taoyuan Valley, there is so many Instagrammable place to take photos on the way! The coast line view is so remarkable.

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There is a few peak in Taoyuan Valley Trail, If I not mistaken, this photo was taken at the 2nd peak, it look like a dangerous cliff, but actually is quite safe. the other side of this peak is some seating area, but it looks like ruins of pavilion, maybe it was a pavilion, but the roof blown away by typhoon.

December is the end of silver grass season, if you come around November, i bet the view will be spectacular, because the photos we took here is already damn awesome.

We are actually walking on the mountain ridge, which you can see other people walking like an ant on other mountain by your eyes, it was so cool!! Could you imagine we was there before? We have been walking so far.

Taiwan have Hundred Peak, and this place is belongs to 1 of Mini Hundred Peak. Even though is not the actual hundred peak, it is only 616m altitude, but is still an achievement for us.

We going to conquer Hundred Peak ONE DAY, dont know when.

Human Brain Holy Land?? didnt see any pathway here, so didnt go there. but i guess is cementary, leave it to someone who are brave enough to challenge.

Actually our plan was turning left from here or take shuttle to train station, the shuttle here is NT500 per car by resident nearby, they will ask you if you need a ride when u reach the carpark on the right. After our discussion, we decided to go further which is 5km more to Daxi Train Station.

Someone even have a camping party here, but the tent a bit small to fit so many people, so i guess they just gathering there with a tent for a while, not really staying overnight.

This part a bit slippery, need to be extra caution on your step.

This might be the best part of this last trail from Taoyuan Valley to Daxi Train Station, the rest of the trail nothing much to see, and not many people hike this part, so it is a bit under maintainance.

Another Mini Hundred Peak which is 456m altitude. Good Job gals!

Finally reach the destination of today, all the tired face, doing stretching at the pavilion. It is already 5.15pm, time to find a place for dinner.

This shop is just right next to Daxi Train Station, the food is not really fantastic, but good enough for 4 hungry soul. After dinner, we took 6.30pm train back to fulong, then drive back to taipei, if you taking train, there is a lot of train back to taipei as well.

We took almost 8 hours but very slow pace, so if you are good in hiking, you might be able to finish earlier. It is a good place to hike, will definitely come again!