Taipei Travel

Tianmu Historic Trail
The Tianmu Historic Trail meanders through the northwestern slope of Shilin’s Huagang area as well as the saddle to the south of Shamao Mountain. As the second half of the previous Yulu Historic Trail, the Tianmu Historic Trail comprises several footpaths that connect Huagang and Tianmu along a water main. These footpaths are perfect for a refreshing summer hike with the murmuring creek running through a pristine forest nearby. People who seek cool, tree-shaded trails may as well take the Cuifeng Trail and stop by Cuifeng Waterfall before reaching Houdong Industrial Road.

Once a major transportation corridor between Jinshan and Tianmu, the Tianmu Historic Trail has literally become an “old trail” since the inauguration of Yangde Blvd. and, in recent years, has been crowded with sightseers every weekend.

Ecological phenomena along the Tianmu Historic Trail
At an altitude of 300 to 120 meters, Tianmu Historic Trail features a broadleaf forest ecosystem typical of the low-altitude, subtropical Taiwan. Northeastern monsoons and the attendant gales, rainfall and low temperatures coming from the saddle of Datun Mountain helped to create a warm-temperate broadleaf forest along the trail on the windward hillside. The shady and humid valley on the leeward side, nevertheless, encourages the growth of tropical broadleaf trees and such tropical phenomena as the buttress roots, cauliflory, and Strangling plants. Although the trail is located only at 300 meters above sea level, it boasts a rarely-seen, compact ecosystem that simultaneously comprises broadleaf forests of tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate biomes.

◎Warning for hikers: When you reach a fork in the path leading downward toward Cuifeng Waterfall, do NOT feed the monkeys that frequently show up in groups because they may hurt you while fighting for food!