Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mass production moved to China in the '90s, but with the 1999 opening of the NT$6
billion Yingge Ceramics Museum and the creation of the 'Old Street', the town made a
very successful leap from manufacturing base to cultural venue. These days, Yingge
makes an enjoyable day trip from Taipei and fits in naturally with a stopover at nearby
Sanxa with its masterfully restored Tzushr Temple and blocks of heritage buildings. If
you have all day, consider renting a bike and riding down the riverside to Daxi.
WORTH A TRIP
TWO RIDGE WALKS: BIJIA SHAN & HUANGDI DIAN
The little town of
Shihting
(Shídìng), known for its tofu and mountain chicken, sits
in the foothills about 15km east of Taipei Zoo. The valley it sits in cuts a long
ridgeline in two, making the village the start of not just one but two of the best ridge
walks in Taiwan. There's English signage on both trails now, and ropes and guide
poles in the more-dangerous sections, but only go if you have a head for heights.
Though not quite knife-edged, in many sections these ridgelines are narrow
enough that two people can't pass.
Bijia Shan
The 18km Bijia Shan (Bǐjiàshān) trail runs west of Shihting (back to Taipei) along a
wooded ridgeline which creates the illusion that you aren't so high or so precari-
ously situated. From the bus stop in Shihting cross the narrow red-brick bridge and
head down the street. In 600m, at a junction, you'll see maps and signs for the
trail, which climbs up to the ridgeline in about 40 minutes.
The way is obvious for the next three to four hours until you drop into a little
saddle at the junction to
Ergeshan
. Follow the signs down towards Mt Hou-shan-
yue and a few minutes later stay left at the sign for
Cao-nan
. Keep left on this trail
all the way down to a road (about a 15-minute walk). Then simply follow that road
down past the old banyan in Cao-nan Village until you reach a major road. Buses go
by here back to Taipei Zoo or Wanfang Community MRT Station.
Huangdi Dian
Huangdi Dian (Huángdìdiàn, the Emperor's Throne) runs east of Shihting and is the
more sporting of the two hikes and the more dramatically scenic, with views over a
range of forested hills and jagged peaks. From the bus stop in Shihting head up the
narrow road to the left of a Hi-Life convenience store (as you face it) and take the
first left. Follow this road up to the stone steps and map board that start the trail.
After 30 to 40 minutes of climbing stairs you'll reach the ridgetop. Progress is
slow from here on with numerous climbs up and down steel ladders and chains,
