Taiwan Today

The Zuocang Trail in the eastern foothills of Suopodang Mountain was originally a mining path belonging to the Taiwan Cement Company, which ceased mining in the area in 1995. In 2003, the Hualien Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau took back the trail from the company and has since turned it into a 3,930-meter hiking trail, starting at an altitude of 60 meters above sea level and going all the way up to 490 meters. It takes about 90 minutes to make the hike one way. A viewing platform has been erected at the end of the trail, giving hikers a panoramic view of Hualien, the Pacific Ocean and the East Longitudinal Valley. Originally known as Chiedongjiao (the foot of the Red cedar), Zuocang, located on the outskirts of Hualien, was named by the Japanese when they occupied Taiwan between 1895 and 1945, as its pronunciation is similar to that of the Red cedar in Japanese, "sakulu.” Zuocang is currently a part of the Guofu neighborhood, about a 10-minute car ride from downtown Hualien. The trail was an immediate hit when it was opened to the public. Hikers on the trail can see black marble, which is notable for the large amount of carbon it contains. Over the course of history, when the mountains were formed, weathering took place, causing the rocks to break into fragments, and a gorgeous geological fold emerged. All sorts of gravel with jagged edges and beautiful colors, caused by the high calcium carbonate content of the rocks, can be seen along the trail. The plants that can be seen along the trail belong mostly to the banyan family or the camphor family. Many are shade-loving species. Many trees were cut down when the trail was first built, and the mining activities carried out in the area also damaged much of the flora, causing secondary forests to emerge over time. As a result, a wide variety of vegetation now covers the land, including trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, climbing vines and other epiphytes. Together, these plants have created a comprehensive low-altitude forest. Surveys of the local fauna have established that the area is home to a very great number of species of insects and spiders, as well as 11 species each of reptiles, amphibians, and birds, nine species of crustaceans, and three species of mammals.