National Trail

The Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail has always been the road used by the Sediq people to hunt and travel.

In the Taroko War in 1914, this road was also used by the Governor-General in Taiwan to send troops to attack the Turuku people. Later, in order to seek long-term stability, the Chuying to Qilai crossroad was excavated along the existing old Nenggao Trail. However, due to the high elevation of the east section of the trail and that it was difficult to pass during winter, the whole trail was rebuilt in the middle of the Japanese occupation period. Many police posts were also built along the way, including Tunyuan station, Fushijian station, Weishan station, Nenggao station, East Nenggao station, and Banbian station. In addition to the deployment of police, it also provided accommodation facilities for hikers.

The Songyuan Police Post, located between the Yunhai Tai-Power Hut and Tianchi Lodge, is 7.8 km away from the Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail and is about 2,600 meters above sea level. It is named Songyuan because there are pine forests around the place. Where the Songyuan Police Post sits occupies a wide area, including stone masonry platforms, walls, stairs, cisterns, and relics. There are steps and ramps at the entrance of the police post that connects to the historic trail. Today, the steps remain complete but are covered in weed shrubs.

The Yunhai Tai-Power Hut in Renai Township, Nantou County, is located 4.5 km away from the Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail. The building was formerly the Weishan Police Post built by the Governor-General in Taiwan in 1931. Later, it was burnt down during the Wushe Incident, and rebuilt again on the southern ridge of Mount Weishan at an altitude of 2,386 meters.

In terms of topography and space, the Yunhai Tai-Power Hut is on a wide and flat land with a good panorama. There are often seas of clouds in summer and autumn, hence the name Yunhai (sea of clouds). In the post-war period, the building was refurbished several times by Taipower, but only the interior and so the appearance remained roughly the same as during the Japanese occupation. The open space in front of the hut is currently where climbers rest or camp.

The Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail in Renai Township, Nantou County used to be a road for the Sediq people to hunt and travel.

In the Taroko War in 1914, this road was also used by the Government-General in Taiwan to send troops to attack the Turuku people. Afterwards, for the sake of long-term stability, the Chuying to Qilai crossroad was excavated along the existing old Nenggao Trail. However, due to the high elevation of the east section of the trail and that it was difficult to pass during winter, the whole trail was rebuilt in the middle of the Japanese Occupation period.

In the early post-war period, the Nationalist Government erected iron towers along the Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail as a protection route for power transmission from east to west. Nowadays, hiking from the Tunyuan entrance of the Nenggao Traversing Historic Trail has become a popular hiking route.

Xidi Camp was established right after the Jinshuiying Historic Trail was opened in 1885. It was a resting stop for officials and business travelers who passed through this trail during the Qing period. During the Japanese Occupation, the Governor-General in Taiwan set up a Guzilun Police Post here in 1916, and then a few years later moved it above the ridge. In the late 1960s, the National Government set up an afforestation nursery in Xidi Camp.

The Kantouying ruins, located in Xinkai Village, Fangliao Township, Pingtung County, was the starting point of the Jinshuiying Historic Trail during the Japanese occupation period. It was built on March 29, 1907. To this day, there is still a stone-built barracks from the Qing Dynasty period in the ruins, which is currently used as a warehouse.  Part of the original appearance of the barracks can still be seen from the stone foundation. During the Japanese occupation, the Kantou Police Post was set up at the former site of Kantouying as entry was regulated.  Due to private renting on the former site today, the Forestry Bureau changed the starting point for Jinshuiying National Trail to enter from Xinkai nursery garden, and set up an information board.