aeeble

The Batongguan Historic Trail originally stretched westward from Zhushan Township (Linqi-pu) in Nantou County, passing through Lugu and Xinyi townships, crossing Batongguan and Xiuguluan Mountain, and ending in Yuli Township (Pusikuo), Hualien County—a total length of about 152 km. Built in 1875, it is one of three east–west cross-island routes constructed during Taiwan’s Qing period and the only one still extant, hence its designation as a National Historic Site. The only segment still passable today runs roughly 20 km from Dongpu Hot Springs to the Batongguan Grassland. The section open to the public lies in the Dongpu area; visitors can therefore combine a walk on the Batongguan Trail with trips to Yushan National Park, the “Father-doesn’t-know-son” Cliff, Dongpu Hot Springs, the Otome Waterfall, Yunlong Waterfall, Rainbow Waterfall, Lovers’ Gorge, and other sights. Yushan National Park, the largest in the country, typifies subtropical high-mountain geology, its terrain of lofty peaks and deep valleys fostering priceless ecological treasures. The Dongpu Cliff—also called Father-doesn’t-know-son or Father-and-son Cliff—lies along the trail above Dongguang; its loose, perilous rock face and constant rockfall leave even a father and son too busy saving themselves to look after one another, hence the vivid name.