Antong Traversing Trail, An Experience of the Hundred-year-old Ancient Trail
To reach the west entrance of the Antong Traversing Trail, visitors should take Provincial Highway No. 30 toward the Fuxiang Bridge at the 23.5 km mark. Then, turn to the industrial road toward the 4.2 km mark.
Antong Traversing Trail starts from the Antong Hot Springs Area in Yuli Township, Hualien County; it ends at Zhuhu Village in Zhangbin Township, Taitung County. It is the first trail that spans through the Huadong Coastal Mountain Range. It is rich in ecological landscape and has historical significance. Hiking on the trail is a reminiscent experience. Visitors can explore their ancestors’ lifestyles.
A Hundred Years of History A Tranquil Curvy Path
The trail was built following the policy of “open up the mountains and pacify the aborigines” in the Qing dynasty. Also, from the Qing dynasty until Japanese rule, the trail became the path for marriage and missionary work (promoting Christian doctrines). Some residents who smuggled fish or tobacco used this path to avoid detection.
In the late 1970s, because Ruigant Highway, Dongfu Highway, and Yuchang Highway were open, the trail started losing its functions and became deserted. However, as the tourism industry has developed in recent years, the Forestry Bureau renovated the west section of the trail in 2008 for approximately 2km-long. Thus, Antong Traversing Trail is reopened again.
Trees surround the trail. A view of mountains and sea in the distance.
You will see the tall green primitive forest along the Trail. The pallet wood walkway leads tourists all the way to see the beautiful scenery of the historic trail. There are two lookout platforms along the trail. You can see the vast blue Pacific Ocean to your east and overlook the farmlands in the East Rift Valley to your west.
The second lookout platform sits at the end of the west section. Here, visitors can either backtrack to the start or continue towards the east section. However, as the east section is stepper than the west section, visitors will need to climb the rope at some points. So, it is rather challenging.
Following the footstep of forerunners, visitors can seek the historical trace of Antong Traversing Trail. Along the meandering footpath, the towering ancient trees preserve their primitive and natural look, making the trail suitable for edifiers to explore the serenity in the mountain and refresh their mind in the verdant forest.