Walami Trail: Tracing Historical Footprints

Step onto the ancient trail, remembering the past. The Walami Trail is located in Zhuoxi Township and is part of the Batongguan Historic Trail built during the Japanese colonial era. In 1915, the "Kashepanan Incident" erupted in the Zhuoxi mountainous area, leading to the deaths of several Japanese police officers. Recognizing the difficulty of managing indigenous communities, the Japanese planned to build the Batongguan Historic Trail across the Central Mountain Range. The entire route was completed in 1921, stretching approximately 124.6 kilometers from Xinyi Township in Nantou County in the west to Yuli Township in Hualien County in the east. The eastern section, from Nanan to Walami (Fuji Station), spans 13.6 kilometers and is what is now known as the "Walami Trail." Walami, in the original Bunun language, means "to do something together." Its pronunciation is similar to the Japanese word for "fern" (蕨, warabi), and coupled with the abundance of ferns in the area, the Japanese named the police station built here "Fuji (Fern) Station." The Walami Trail is located within Yushan National Park, about a 10-minute drive from Yuli downtown. Before hiking, visitors can learn about the history of the Batongguan Historic Trail at the Nanan Visitor Center and also visit Nanan Waterfall. Currently, the 4.5-kilometer section from the trailhead to Jiasin can be hiked without a permit, and it attracts a continuous stream of visitors on weekends and holidays. The latter section, from Jiasin to Walami, requires mountain and park entry permits and is more suitable for overnight trips, making it a very popular mountaineering and hiking route. Explore the Mountains and Enjoy Natural Scenery Starting from the trailhead, after walking about 500 meters, you will reach "Shanfeng." Place names along the trail such as Shanfeng, Jiasin, Huangma, and Walami were all sites of Japanese police stations, but today only the remnants of their foundations remain for visitors to reflect upon. The trail ascends along the Lakulaku River, featuring as many as five suspension bridges crossing above the valley, which is one of the distinct characteristics of the Walami Trail. Shortly after leaving Shanfeng, you will arrive at Shanfeng No. 1 Bridge. As a gentle breeze blows, gazing at the distant mountains and deep valleys from the suspension bridge inspires a sense of awe for nature. Shanfeng Waterfall is located next to Shanfeng No. 2 Bridge, and from the suspension bridge, you can admire the spectacular sight of water powerfully cascading down the rock face. At the 4.5-kilometer mark of the trail, "Jiasin" offers facilities such as public restrooms and pavilions, serving as the turnaround point for most day hikers, where they can rest before heading back. The Walami Trail not only boasts beautiful scenery but also rich cultural history and ecological landscapes. The 13.6-kilometer journey from the trailhead to Walami Cabin, with an elevation gain from 565m to 1060m, is relatively gentle and easy to walk, making it suitable for beginner hikers, while the latter section is more challenging for experienced mountaineers. From every perspective, Walami is an excellent hiking route.