Pioneering the Wilderness Stele

During the Tongzhi period, when Japanese forces invaded Taiwan, Wu Guangliang was tasked with planning the opening of mountain routes and pacifying indigenous tribes. He personally inscribed this on a giant stone by the Zhuoshui River at the foot of Caoling in Jiji. Subsequently, he dispatched people to explore paths in the mountains, leading to the opening of the 'Batongguan Ancient Trail' in the first year of Guangxu (1875), which benefited future generations. His great spirit is commemorated on the Pioneering the Wilderness Stele, serving as an eternal model. The Ministry of the Interior designated this stele as a national first-class monument. In 2001, with funding from the Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, the surrounding environment of the monument was improved with landscaping, beautification, and drainage upgrades. The calligraphy on the Pioneering the Wilderness Stele is powerful and vigorous, imbued with ancient charm. In front of it are the old piers of Jiji Bridge, and behind it is Lion's Head Mountain. Hikers are welcome to stop here to admire the monument and reflect on ancient times.