Dali-Datong Trail: A Hiking Path to a Hidden Paradise

The entrance to the Dali-Datong Trail is located directly opposite the Taroko Terrace Visitor Center. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, you can spot the abandoned cableway hanging on the mountain peak, which tells the history and daily life wisdom of the Taroko people who once resided here. Dali Village sits at an altitude of 915 meters. Its old name, "Xoxos" in the Taroko language, means "a place with many snakes." The "Dali Church" served as the spiritual center of the village; although it is no longer in use due to outward migration, the church building remains well-preserved. The Dali-Datong Trail, which spans approximately 9.5 kilometers, winds through this area and can be divided into three sections: the 1.3-kilometer Dekalun Trail, the approximately 2.3-kilometer path from the end of the Dekalun Trail to Dali Village, and the approximately 6.2-kilometer route from Dali Village to Datong Village. A one-day trip can be planned to Dali Village, with a round-trip hike of about 7 hours; visiting Datong Village requires a two-day itinerary. The trail is suitable for those with moderate physical fitness, who should plan ahead and carry sufficient water and dry food. **Dekalun Trail: Steep Wooden Stairs** The first section of the Dali-Datong Trail is the approximately 1.3-kilometer Dekalun Trail, named after the Dekalun tribe, who were the first to arrive at the plateau, and whose name means "sweetgum tree." Lush, ancient forests flank both sides of the wooden stair trail. From the start, it challenges visitors' stamina and leg strength with its steep ascent. Handrails along the stairs allow for a slow, steady climb. Numerous rest platforms and interpretive signs are set up at suitable viewpoints or in mountain hollows. Those with less stamina might enjoy gazing down from higher vantage points at Fushi Village and Mount Xincheng on the opposite bank. After the Liwu River meanders into the Pacific Ocean, a vast panorama unfolds before your eyes, and the cool breeze blowing from the sea mouth refreshes the sweat from your climb, easing worldly worries. **Dali Village: A Secluded Paradise** Beyond the Dekalun Trail, the path to Dali Village is an approximately 2.3-kilometer dirt and stone staircase, ascending to an altitude of about 900 meters. Although the original mountain path is not overgrown, there are several sections with significant elevation changes where hikers often need to use both hands and feet to ascend. The exposed rocks and stone steps along the trail reveal the unique marble patterns and textures characteristic of Hualien. At the summit, it connects to the starting point of the Shakadang Forest Road, which was also the starting point of a cableway. In those days, both the forest road and the cableway were crucial channels for transporting timber. Consequently, rusty lifting equipment can still be seen by the roadside, narrating the history of a once-thriving logging industry. Continuing along the Shakadang Forest Road for another 6.2 kilometers will lead you to Datong Village. Alternatively, amidst an environment enveloped by clouds and mountain mists, you can walk along small paths lined with plants like Makino bamboo and lantana, catching a glimpse of the beauty of Dali Village. Dali Village, formerly known as Xoxos, means "Engelhardtia roxburghiana" (a type of tree). This village, gently sloping down the mountainside, now only has a few houses remaining, with fruit trees and crops planted on its slopes and terraces. Occasionally, you will see abandoned cable car facilities used for transporting villagers' supplies, as well as a defunct police station and church, all of which enhance the beauty of this place as a secluded, idyllic paradise. "Datong Village" was formerly known as "Skadang," meaning "molar tooth." It is located at an altitude of 1,128 meters. During the Japanese colonial period, a police substation and an indigenous children's school were established there, and it was a necessary route to Mount Qingshui.