Taiwan Travelogue: Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園)

Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) is another attraction in the area of Beitou; one of the eight national parks of Taiwan, located between the city of Taipei and the new Taipei. It is listed as one of the most scenic wonders in the country; and boasts of the beautiful cherry blossoms, fumaroles, hot springs, hiking trails, grasslands, sulphur deposits, sceneries and even an inactive volcano, just to name a few of the gems kept so proudly over the years.
The inactive volcano mentioned, is also one of the highest peaks at 1,120 metros high; Qixingshan (Seven Star Mountain); among all the other inactive volcanoes in the country.

The secrets behind the grassy lands and murky white water filled with sulphur deposits landscaping the national park are many; from the treacherous paths along the hiking trails to the cattle resting to the secret burrows of the poisonous snakes, there is just something to surprise the unaware traveler who visits the national park. It was all part of the package that comes with nature; and the beauty of the breathtaking views here makes up for it.

Yangmingshan had her past with the Japanese during their occupation here; from the transporting of cannons along the zigzagged Japanese trail to the secret base of the Japanese military, parts of the park were important to the strategic planning of their establishment during the colonial era.
During the Japanese rule, the park was known as Datun National Park (大屯国立公園), evolving from its original name of Grass Mountain (草山); a name which was given to the place dating back to the Qing Dynasty.
As the story goes, it seemed that the sulphur deposits in the area were prized possessions and often eyed by the thieves in the area so much so that the officials would secretly set fires to the mountainous area to keep them away. Most of the trees were burnt down and only the grass were left; leaving vast grasslands everywhere and in a rather unattractive state. The trick worked to keep the thieves away but also keeping visitors at bay from visiting the mountain.
While the first national park in Taiwan was established in 1937 during the Japanese occupation period, it was only after the World War 2 when the KMT (Kuomintang party) renamed and put the place together to establish it as a national park.

Grass Mountain; as it was originally known, was then named Yangmingshan National Park in commemoration of the famous scholar, Wang Yangming from the Ming Dynasty, by President Chiang Kai Shek in the year 1950 and works of restoration of the natural beauty of the land followed soon after in the year 1962.

There are many scenic spots and points of interest to look out for while in Yangmingshan and one just need to hop onto the bus which stops at each and every of the point along the way; taking you on a wild ride through the national park.
Oh, and make sure you have your Metrolink card with you(and it's loaded with credit) to tap onto the reader on the bus each time you hop on and off. (yes, it's not a free ride)





The recommended scenic spots:
1. Tianmu Trail (天母古道)
2. Lengshuikeng (冷水坑)
3. Qingtiangang (擎天崗)
4. Xiaoyougeng (小油坑)
5. Mt Qixing (七星山)

I did not manage to stop by each and every one of them; not due to the time constraint, but rather due to the cold weather even with my windbreaker and warm sweater on.
The wind chills up here on the mountains can be really bone-chilling.

The following are my favorite spots:-

Xiaoyougeng (小油坑)
This is probably the best recreational spot in the whole of Yangmingshan; from the rising steam or gases continuously spewed from the sulphuric passages to the sights of bubbling hot puddles and the odor of sulphur, all ready to take you on a scenic journey you will not forget.
The yellowish color from these sulphuric vents spotted provides a rather beautiful image, though one may need to bear with the pungent smell of the sulphur at the same time.











Although it is an inactive volcano, post-volcanic activities are evident in action here; through the upward/outward spewing of the steam caused by the continuous heating of the water underground by the residual heat as a result of a volcanic eruption. These formed the steam which can be seen rising here through the rocks; forming the many fumaroles and hot springs, solfataras and the landslides landforms in this area, which are part of what makes the attractions here.





A panoramic view of the area



Qingtiangang (擎天崗)
This is another interesting spot; with vast areas of grassland where it was once an important spot for the grazing of cattle during the Japanese occupation era. It seemed that the tradition stays until today.
The fertile ground was a result of the lava flowing from the Mount Zhugao; forming this lava plateau and a rather level terrain (elevation of an approximation of 770m) filled with a wide area of grassland.
It was indeed a peaceful and enjoyable sight; and a good reference to the term 'green pastures'.






Besides being a land, the level terrain also was located at a strategic location between the Mount Zhugao, Mount Huangzui and the end of Mount Dajian, which linked to the Mount Qixing mountainous areas. This provided a direct route from Jinshan to the Shilin and Tianmu areas, coming from Qingtiangang and this was taken advantage of the natives who used it as a major base for transportation back in the early days of settlement.
There are many trails to the Japanese occupational era; with the zigzagged paths of the Japanese trail where these trails were used to transport weapons (mainly cannons) down the road. Then there are also anti-airborne pillboxes and military sites which can be found if you were to follow the trail guides and take a walk around the area.
(Qingtiangang Loop Trail, Jinbaoli Trail Gate where they used to transport food, Mount Ding-Mount Shiti Trail where there is a Japanese fir forest and the famous Oldham's Azalea along the area).


A panoramic view of Qingtiangang





Yangmingshan National Park, was unique in her own ways and provides a memorable scenic journey into the beautiful nature that Taiwan is so proud of, making this unarguably one of the top attractions in Taipei.
Getting there is easy via the train which one can take to Taipei Main Station and then take Bus 260 which will take you directly to the Yangmingshan station where you can hop on the bus to get to the the spots mentioned above.

Tips for enjoying Yangmingshan:-
1. The temperatures are significantly lower in the mountainous areas; particularly during the winter season and it is recommend that you bring along a down jacket or just pile on layers to keep yourself warm during the period. Otherwise, you could find yourself freezing instead of enjoying the scenic views.

2. As this is nature, it helps to put on good walking shoes which are meant for a little hiking as well. Slippers, flip flops or heels are not recommended. Jeans and thick pants would be good to keep you warm while up on the mountains; and with the strong wind, it is also not advisable to wear skirts or dresses.

3. The buses are pretty much in the forms of small vans and it can get really crowded as people get off and on at various stops. Hold tightly to the rails, as the roads can be rather winding in nature and one could easily lose balance. If there are elders boarding the bus, it goes without saying that you should offer your seats as it would be dangerous for them to keep their balance while on the winding road.

4. Follow the instructions on the signs posted at each of the scenic sites and do not attempt anything funny; such as going near the fumaroles or hot springs if you are forbidden to do so. The signs are there for a reason, and please respect them for your own safety.

5. Make sure your Metrolink card is loaded with credit to pay for the bus fares and also enough for your return trip home (including the train).

Lastly, bring along your camera with additional batteries or memory/SD card and enjoy the view offered by the beautiful Yangmingshan!~

Lunch at Aunty Pat's Pantolo Cafe

Lunch was at the local restaurant cafe located inside the ranch; and is probably the only option for those who are waiting in eager anticipation for their tours to start (yes, like us!)
I love the simple decor of the cafe; and though the choices for food may be slightly limited, they are still not too bad. (Oh, I do like the homey name of the cafe too; probably to spice up that ranch feel factor?)

We had our lunch at Aunty Pat's Pantolo Cafe.

Grilled fish with corn cob



Can't remember how much this cost; think it was about USD$8-9 per plate?
This is a single portion, but it could very well feed the two of us!:-)

I didn't set much expectation for the food; perhaps due to the excitement or the holiday mood?
However, the grilled fish, sans the oily bit, was surprisingly quite good!



Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the corn cob :-(
A pity, since I love corn cob usually!



After lunch, we waited for another half an hour before making our way to embark on our tour, yeah!

To be continued...

Valley of the Temples Memorial Park

Located at the foot of the Ko'olau mountains and on the windward side of the O'ahu island, is a peaceful site where the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park stand.
At the name of memorial park, one may be inclined to think of tombs and resting places for the dead and the sight of the lush greenery surrounding the area, one may not be wrong, at all.



The memorial park on the windward side of O'ahu; also the eastern side, is the resting place for many local Hawaiians who are believers of Buddhism, Christianity (Catholic and Protestant faith) and also of Shinto faith upon their departure from the living.








The place is indeed a tranquil place; with its surroundings of the greenery and the amazing views of the mountains as its backdrop.
 


However, the question remains, why would one want to visit a memorial park on their honeymoon?
To be honest, this is not really the main destination but a place we had to pass through to get to the destination; which is the famous Byodo-In temple; a replica of a Buddhist temple in Japan which is located towards the end of the park; set against the mountains.

The Byodo-In temple; to be featured in the next post...

Yuanyuan Folk Park (圆缘民俗园)

Yuanyuan Folk Park, or also commonly known as Huanglongdong Yuanyuan Folk Park is one of the scenic and recreation spots in Hangzhou which is less crowded due to its lesser known reputation.
Off the beaten path, this is an attraction which reveals a unique and interesting find among the many other tourist spots in the city; being home to fascinating culture and religious faith.


Home to the Temple of the Matchmaker God, or Yue Lao(月老) as he is more commonly known, the park also house unique landmarks representative of the Oriental cultures and mythical folklores.



Yue Lao (月老), or also referred to as the Old Man under the moon, is believed to be the matchmaking god in the Taoist faith and his role is similar to that of the Western version of Cupid. Yue Lao plays matchmaking by tying red strings/red threads around the ankles of a man and a woman destined to be together, according to the book he carries of the destined lovers.
It is said that the red strings could stretch or even get entangled, but it would never break; signifying that those who are meant for each other will eventually be together in the end no matter the trials and tribulations they undergo.


Most devotees and believers flock to Yue Lao temples all around the world to pray for a good spouse, if they are single and for those who are married, they pray for a good marriage and lasting romance.

There are red strips of paper hanging from a tree; which are believed to represent that of the red strings. The devotees write down their wishes/prayers and maybe, the names of their crushes and then hang it on this tree in the temple, waiting for their wishes to be fulfilled.


The temple is beautifully designed with man made ponds, waterfalls and pebbled walkway through the naturally grown park.



The surrounding of the temple forms the folk park which are adorned with Oriental elements such as intricately carved walls and stones, statues and sculptures representing the mythical figures from the folklore and legends.





The beautifully landscaped garden is also one to be enjoyed, surrounded by trees and peace.




There is a man made waterfall where water sprouts from a golden dragon head perched on top of the small hill which was a rather amazing sight.


An ancient wedding palanquin can be found in the temple as well; a symbolism of the marriage ceremony and happy endings for lovers



A few statues representing the local folk stories can be found around the park; for instance, Liu Hai and the Golden Toad

This is a symbolism of luck, as the local folklore is believed.
A man who lived in the Five Dynasties Period, Liu Hai was the Prime Minister of the Yan Kingdom. He turned to study Taoism and his faith led him to ascend to celestial status; following which, he was worshipped by the local folks as the God of Wealth.
The Golden Toad, on the other hand, is believed to be an object of wealth and prosperity; or a magical treasure from the Heavenly realms and whoever gets it will be gaining wealth and luck.
Thus the joint image of Liu Hai and the Toad signifies access to wealth.
This combination is believed to be auspicious and in the ancient days, people used to hang paintings, pictures or even have the statues of these placed in their homes for luck and to pray for wealth in their lives.
It is said that it is a good thing to take a photo of and with this image, as who knows, it can bring one plenty of luck and of course, wealth!

Another auspicious sculpture to look at in the park is this; the Child-Wishing Dragon Angels

Yet another image/statue of good luck, these angels are said to be worshipped by married women who wants to bear children.
The Child-wishing Dragon Angels are depicted by the four angle statues here; and they symbolize the healthy, flourish, fertility, and continuity/multiplication of the dragon descendants with their active statures.
Women who would like to conceive are to touch the buttocks of these angels and their wishes would be magically granted.
A folklore or truth, it is entirely something to one's belief.

I love being able to visit places off the beaten path, and enjoy moments of serenity free of the crowds and tourist stress to revel in the beauty of the place alone.

This visit wraps up my tour-driven trip to Wuxi and Hangzhou; which although brief had been really fruitful, not to mention interesting and informative.

We headed back to Suzhou that night on bus, and it was a disappointing ride and experience with the tour company which had such unprofessional people.
We were dropped off in the middle of nowhere; which we believed to be an outskirt town of Suzhou when we were supposed be left at the main train/bus station.
In the end, we had to find our way through and it was not easy, with elderly folks and children with us.


I was quite disappointed, not to mention angered by the unethical tour guide team, who just did that so that they could leave for home earlier and for that, they ignored the welfare of their customers totally. Totally despicable, and needless to say, we informed the organizing tour company with which we booked the tour; though I didn't think anything was done.

It was a lovely trip, but a disappointing end.

Anyway, there is more to continue with attractions in Suzhou and Shanghai...

Hupao Spring (Tiger Running Spring) in Hangzhou

Set against the beautiful backdrop of nature is the Daci(Compassion) Hill, the home of the famous and inspiring Hupao Spring.





Hupao is literally translated from Chinese to mean Tiger Running, hence the name of this spring which may sound weird to most people when one first hear of it.


The name of the spring owes its origins to a legendary story of a monk, Xing Kong, who was living in the temple named after the Daci Hill; the Daci Temple. Due to the lack of source of water in the area, Xing Kong was feeling unwell and he was planning to leave Hangzhou as he was unable to continue to survive any longer. It was then that same night when he thought of leaving, he had a queer dream where an immortal appeared before him and told him not to worry any longer as there will be two tigers appearing tomorrow. The two tigers will be running and they will be leading to the new source of fountain/water where they will dig and water will spring out from the ground.
True enough, the next day, two tigers appeared at the foot of the hill and dug a hole from the ground and there was water, thus the spring was named after the two running tigers who brought the water to life.
That was how Hupao got its name; from two running tigers.


A statue of tiger in honor of the tiger who found the spring.

The uniqueness of the Hupao Spring is the quality of the water, which was reputed to be the third best in the whole of China.

In actual fact, the spring was formed from the underground water seeping through the faults; veins and cracks of the quartz sandstone on the cliffs/rocks which were unspoilt by foreign materials, thus the water that flows from the spring comes out crystal clear and clean due to the natural filtration system in place. The water also contains a high level of radon content (a type of radioactive material) and tastes sweet and pure, not to mention the cold taste, making it undoubtedly the third best in China, for its good taste and also the health benefits due to the contents in the water.

The quality of the water of Hupao Spring also makes it excellent to brew the famous Longjing tea; in fact, the combination tastes great, adding another attraction to this place and also Hangzhou.



Another interesting thing to note about the water from the spring is that apparently if you were to pour the water into a bowl, the water would rise 3mm above the bowl edge and it will not overflow even when a coin is put into the bowl. This is a scientifically proven phenomenon and it is all due to the high tension surface of the water.

The Hupao Spring is surrounded by trees and forests, and the place is now turned into the Tiger Running Spring Forest Park.


Besides the nature and also the sounds of clear water gushing against the small rocks forming a small stream around the park, there is also a memorial dedicated to a famous scholar and poet, Li Shantong which was erected to pay homage to him for his outstanding works in drama, painting, poetry, calligraphy and music.


There were originally three wells from the spring; however, they have since combined them and there are now two large pools in the park.




There is also a tea house, to enjoy the brew of the Longjing (Dragon Well) tea with the water from the Hupao Spring.


The whole park itself is a myriad of colors; from the tall trees with colorful leaves to the landscapes and the clear water.


It was said that the park could remind one of spring, as there is that unmistakable scent of spring in the air, and I hereby echo that call as walking through the whole park, despite it being winter, still makes me think of the beauties of spring.


It's fascinating that the locals are even seen filling water from water sources and the spring within the park, and that confirmed the theory or any doubt whether the water is suitable for drinking.


Our tour guide, who was telling us against taking photos of some of the statues


A statue of the monk Xing Kong with the two tigers (photo from the web)


A statue of tiger head sprouting water from the spring (photo from the web)


This is definitely a beautiful place to boast of Hangzhou's treasures, and it is even said that having a cup of Longjing brewed with water from the Hupao Spring will just complete your trip to Hangzhou :)