aeeble

The Caoling Old Trail is located at the border of New Taipei City and Yilan County. It is a section of the Danshui-Yilan Old Trail. The trail was named "Caoling Old Trail" because it passes through Caoling. The total length is about 8.5 kilometers. The trail starts at Yuangwangkeng in Gongliao District, New Taipei City, and ends at Dali Tian Gong Temple in Toucheng Township, Yilan County. Walking the entire trail takes nearly 4 hours. During autumn, the area is filled with tall grasses, and the wild ginger flowers spread throughout the area, creating a beautiful autumn scenery. Along the trail, there are several historical sites, among which "Xiongzhen Manyan" (Mighty to Pacify the Wild Fumes) and "Hu Zi Bei" (Tiger Character Monument) are the most famous. Both of these sites are relics from the Qing Dynasty and are now listed as national third-grade cultural heritage sites, possessing great historical value. Xiongzhen Manyan Monument: The Xiongzhen Manyan Monument is located along the Caoling Old Trail. It is said that in 1867, when Liu Mingdeng, the local military commander of Taiwan, was on a tour to the north, the wind rose and the clouds gathered, making the direction difficult to discern. In addition, this area often had wild fumes and mists rising, endangering travelers. Liu Mingdeng then inscribed a character on a stone tablet to suppress the evil spirits from the mountains. The inscription on this monument has thick and solid strokes, and the surrounding carvings are simple yet solemn. It has now been listed as a third-grade cultural heritage site. Hu Zi Bei (Tiger Character Monument): The Hu Zi Bei is located at the风口 (wind passage) where the Caoling Old Trail meets the boundary between New Taipei City and Yilan County. The person who built the monument was also Liu Mingdeng, the local military commander of Taiwan. Due to the strong winds that frequently blew here, which harmed travelers, he inscribed the character "Tiger" here, intending to "the dragon brings the cloud and the tiger brings the wind" to eliminate the wind disasters. The ancient people built the monument to ward off evil spirits, which also served as a reminder to travelers that this place often experienced strong winds, and they should be especially careful when passing through. Image source: Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Taiwan's Cultural Landscape