aeeble

The best spot for admiring Japanese Paulownia blossoms at the end of spring is surely the Xiao Cukeng Forest Path. This tranquil trail connecting Cukeng and Shimen areas attracts many visitors every year between March and May during the Hakka Paulownia Blossom season, as the white blossoms scatter delicately across the layered green forest. Walking along these ancient stone steps with a history of more than 100 years, you may unexpectedly find a heart-shaped garland made of Paulownia petals on a stone bench at a turn in the path, providing an utterly relaxing experience! Visiting in the summer at night brings an entirely different surprise; fireflies whispering tales glow like flickering stars in the darkness, adding a charming atmosphere to the night-covered mountainous terrain. These emotionally stirring scenes, unattainable in cities, are definitely worth your anticipation, a journey into the darkness to explore! Xiao Cukeng Forest Trail was built during Japanese colonial rule following the Xiao Cukeng Creek, serving as a cart path. At that time, mountain residents transported goods between Hsinchu Kanshi's Zhukeng Shiliao and Maobudushu via Sanshikgae (present-day Longtan) and Dashihang (present-day Tsaihe), making Xiao Cukeng Forest Trail an important route, once flourishing. However, with the development of transportation roads alongside the Shimen Reservoir, visitor numbers declined, and the trail was gradually forgotten. Fortunately, because of this, it preserved a rich original ecosystem. Along the path, you can observe plants such as "Shuitongmu", Datura grandiflora, ferns, camphor trees, and other species, as well as rare animals like the golden birdwing butterfly, giant barb frog, and Swinhoe's frog. It has now become a popular destination for outdoor explorations. Near the trailhead at Longyuan Road lies the ancient Baohua Land God Shrine built in the Qing Dynasty, which is notable for enshrining the "Boddhisattva holding a child" statue, an unusually rare sight. The trail offers moderate difficulty: the initial section features gentle, flat terrain, allowing hikers to enjoy the tea plantations while strolling. The middle part turns into an earthen trail, and the final stretch requires climbers to ascend by tying a rope. If physically up to the challenge, hikers may add the Shimen Mountain trail immediately afterward, enjoying an uninterrupted, thrilling journey.