TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Caoling Historic Trail will host its annual Silver Grass Festival in November, featuring a range of events and eco-friendly transportation choices, such as a dedicated shuttle bus.
This year's festival will run from Nov. 2 to Dec. 1. Guided tours and activities will be available every Saturday and Sunday during the period, per CNA.
Visitors can choose from two different travel packages designed for the Silver Grass Festival. A silver grass shuttle bus package and a viewing package are offered.
The silver grass shuttle bus package includes a shuttle bus from Fulong Visitor Center to the Yuanwangkeng entrance, and a discount passport. The silver grass viewing package includes a shuttle bus from Fulong Visitor Center to the Yuanwangkeng parking lot at the entrance of the Caoling Historic Trail, a Fulong bento box, a souvenir, and a discount passport.
The festival will feature a variety of themed activities, including a Tiger Stele rubbing experience. A market and handicraft experiences in collaboration with the northeastern coast tourism zone can also be explored.
Caoling Historic Trail is located in the mountainous region between New Taipei and Yilan. It is one of Taiwan's few remaining ancient trails from China’s Qing Dynasty, per Tourism Bureau.
The Qing Dynasty was officially founded in 1636 by Huang Taiji. It ended in 1912 with the abdication of the last emperor, Xuantong Emperor, or Puyi.
Taiwan went under the Qing Dynasty’s rule in 1683 when Qing Dynasty admiral Shi Lang, defeated south Taiwan’s Kingdom of Tungning. This period ended in 1895 with the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ceded Taiwan to Japan, according to eHanlin.
The mountainous terrain surrounding Yilan during the Qing Dynasty made transportation difficult. To address this, the Caoling Historic Trail was opened in 1807, providing a vital route for the region's development.
The trail, once buried under overgrown vegetation, is part of the Tamsui-Kavalan Trails network. It has now been restored and is approximately 10 km long, taking three to four hours to complete.
Near the mountain pass, the Tiger Stele stands as a testament to Taiwanese general Liu Ming-teng's (劉明燈) experience with a violent storm. The inscription celebrates the ideal relationship between a wise ruler and their talented and loyal advisors.
Besides Caoling Historic Trail, Yangmingshan National Park will also host the “2024 Autumn Festival of Silvergrass.” The activity will begin at the Shanghuang Creek parking lot.
Visitors can not only experience the hardships of the pioneers who carried fish overnight uphill but also explore the rich cultural relics along the way, such as the pottery pipes used for transporting white clay and the Xuyan Bridge. Registration is now open to the public.