Zhaiming Temple Ancient Trail

Zhaiming Temple, now one of Taoyuan's 30 city-designated historical sites, has an adjacent ancient trail built around 1923. It served as an essential route for devotees making pilgrimages to the temple and is currently one of the three major ancient trails in the Hexi area (the other two being the Onari Road Ancient Trail and the Panlongqi Ancient Trail). The stone slabs for the path were sourced from the Dahan River and were chiseled and laid by workers hired by Mr. Jiang Lianzhi (Dharma name Puhai), the fourth-generation grandson of Zhaiming Temple's founder, Mr. Li Ajia. Stepping onto the dense stone steps, one can imagine the pilgrims of the past who would arrive by ferry and then proceed on their knees towards Zhaiming Temple, evoking a profound sense of cultural immersion. Where the Zhaiming Temple Ancient Trail connects to Taoyuan Line 64, a memorial archway (paifang) stands silently, inscribed with the words: "Day and night, river sounds seek the path's shore; winding Buddhist tracks embrace the gateway of the wise." Here, a century of time seems to stand still. Along the serene forest path, ancient trees reach for the sky, and gurgling streams cool the heart. Looking down from above, although "Kanjin Returning Sails," once one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Daxi, is no longer visible, one can still embrace a feeling of nostalgia. Visiting this century-old trail offers a different perspective to admire the charm of Daxi, providing a delightful experience of exploring hidden gems and ancient sites.