The original "Baling Ancient Path," previously constructed by the Taoyuan Indigenous Atayal people as tribal passage through the Fuxing mountainous area, is not a circular trail following the mountain contours, but rather ascends directly along the mountain ridgeline. Although it became abandoned over time due to the development of nearby roads, it now nurtures a rich biodiversity, with dense primary broadleaf forests in its deeper reaches and native plants such as Hua Xiang Shu, Baling Stone Cactus, blood vine, and the epiphytic orchid Fan Ni Lan offering vivid natural beauty to the landscape. Currently, the Taoyuan City Government has preserved remnants of the ancient path and renovated an accessible route from Baling Bridge to Lala Mountain Visitor Center. Along this trail, wooden boardwalks and rope bridges have been constructed to reconnect the path into the present "Baling Ancient Path Ecotourism Park." Exhibits in the Baling Museum complex, including a Butterfly Gallery, Beetle Gallery, Broadleaf Forest Gallery, and Geology Gallery, present condensed representations of the area's unique geological formations and terrain. These exhibits are thoughtfully integrated with local indigenous cultural narratives, offering a profound and meaningful journey that harmonizes nature and cultural exploration.
Though retaining its name as the "Ancient Path," the walking trail is predominantly composed of newly built wooden boardwalks, with a total length of 1.28 kilometers. Within the serene path, visitors are immersed in scenic elements of the surrounding natural environment. The most unique feature is the "Ecological Exploration Rope Bridge" suspended high among the trees. Walking a narrow single-person path across the forest canopy offers an up-close opportunity to observe the treetop ecology while experiencing a thrilling sensation of wind beneath one's feet. The view downward from these bridges also presents an astonishing sight of winding blood vines interwoven like dragons through the forest, offering a new perspective on the wild beauty of the mountains.
The surrounding Lala Mountain area, abundant in natural resources, supports four themed galleries within the Ecotourism Park: the Butterfly Gallery, the Beetle Gallery, the Broadleaf Forest Gallery, and the Geology Gallery. The bright and airy exhibition halls display diverse specimen types and ecological interpretations. The Butterfly Gallery, only a five-minute walk from the visitor center, presents representative butterfly and insect specimens, as well as the largest model of the Purple Emperor Butterfly in Taiwan. From March to May annually, Lala Mountain becomes one of the best areas in Northern Cross-County for butterfly watching.
Converted from a repurposed pavilion into a Beetle Gallery, this area is ideal for family visits that provide a complete overview of the remarkable diversity of beetles found in the Lala Mountain region. Additional highlights include the Broadleaf Forest Gallery, which introduces the primary forest features of the area, and the dedicated Geology Interpretive Gallery, which showcases unique local geology. Through these exhibitions, visitors are invited to fully understand and appreciate the ecological importance of Lala Mountain's natural resources and, by extension, the environmental value of preserving such green spaces.
After touring the visitor galleries, one can descend along a trail to reach the scenic overlook viewpoint. Standing at this platform, the vista offers panoramic views, including both the modern Baling Bridge and the older Baling Bridge, as well as the impressive vistas of the Dahan River below. For those wanting a close-up experience of the bridges themselves, following the "Flying Squirrel Corridor" down to Baling Bridge is possible and allows for an up-close exploration of the area's newest landmark.