Ecotourism, not Ecocide in Ilan

The track immediately narrows to a dirt path cut into the side of a deep valley, and once used to transport logs. A “wood horse,” a crude wagon once used to transport up to 3,000 kilograms of logs at a time down the valley to the road below, stands beside the path, resting on a bed of rounded logs over which it was once rolled.

After passing over a couple of bridges, the gorge narrows, the rocky cliffs start to close in, and the path is forced onto a wooden catwalk jutting over the lush, fern-filled gorge, as the stream below forms a series of tiny cascades and a beautiful aquamarine pool.

Round one more corner and across another footbridge the walls close in like pincers, forcing the path onto a long and steep set of wooden steps anchored into the side of the rocky cliff, while the stream plunges unseen over a series of waterfalls in the rocky defile to the left.

At the top, an observation platform gives an oblique view of Shihpan (“stone stage”) Waterfall, while on the other side is a spacious, slightly sloping platform of rock, from which the fall gets its name. The stream’s big plunge is only about twenty meters or so in height, but it makes up for its modest size in sylvan, unspoilt beauty.

The stream is crossed by a footbridge just above the waterfall, after which the trail follows the opposite side of the gorge back to the gate at the beginning, passing through a grove of maple trees which make a fine display in late autumn.

It’s been less that an hour since collecting the pass and beginning this short nature trail, but Linmei Shihpan Trail makes up for its short length in sheer variety and great natural beauty. There’s no doubt that this is going to be Jiaoshi’s new big attraction, so get there now — before the crowds do!

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