Jinshuiying National Trail: A Century-Old Green Tunnel Across Mountains and Seas
Walk from Pingtung to Taitung! Step into the highly humid 'Jinshuiying' to explore Taiwan's richest trail for ferns and experience a hiking journey through 500 years of history.
TL;DR / Quick Summary
Walk from Pingtung to Taitung! Step into the highly humid 'Jinshuiying' to explore Taiwan's richest trail for ferns and experience a hiking journey through 500 years of history.
In southern Taiwan, there is a magical trail that allows you to walk from the west coast (Pingtung) to the east coast (Taitung) of Taiwan on your own two feet in just one day.
The "Jinshuiying National Trail," which spans about 15.4 kilometers, boasts a history of over 500 years. It served as a communication route for the Puyuma indigenous people, a gold-hunting path for the Dutch, a pacification road during the Qing Dynasty, and a police cross-mountain road during the Japanese colonial era. Every stone you step on here is a microcosm of Taiwan's history.
1. Why Is It Called "Jinshui" (Immersed in Water)?
"Jinshui" means soaked in water in Chinese. Situated on a windward slope, the trail's terrain easily intercepts moisture. For more than half the year, it is shrouded in clouds, mist, and drizzle, remaining damp year-round. Therefore, the military camp stationed here during the Qing Dynasty was named "Jinshuiying" (Camp of Water Immersion).
- Preparation: Due to the extremely humid climate, the trail is muddy and slippery. It is highly recommended to wear rain boots or anti-slip hiking shoes, and always carry rain gear and gaiters (to guard against leeches).
2. A Paradise for Taiwanese Wild Ferns and Ecology
This year-round humid and misty environment, while a test for hikers, has created Taiwan's most important botanical gene bank.
- Fern Wonderland: This is the area with the richest diversity of ferns in all of Taiwan. Both sides of the trail are covered with giant tree ferns and various rare epiphytes. Walking on the lush trail that almost blocks out the sky feels like stepping into a scene from Jurassic Park.
- Pangolins and Wildlife: The ecology along the trail is excellent. If you're lucky, you might find holes dug by pangolins in the mud or encounter endemic frogs and insects.
3. Trail Route and Difficulty
The Jinshuiying National Trail is a "Point A to Point B" route. The usual way to hike it is from west to east (entering from Dahan Mountain in Pingtung and exiting at Dawu in Taitung).
- All Downhill: The greatest advantage of this route is that, aside from a slight ascent at the beginning, about 80% of the journey is a gentle downhill slope. It places less burden on your physical strength and is very suitable for hiking enthusiasts with regular exercise habits.
- Shuttle Service: Because the starting and ending points are in different counties, it is highly recommended to book a local commercial shuttle service or join a tour group to solve the troublesome transportation issue at both ends.
4. The Reward at the End: The Coastline of Dawu, Taitung
When you walk out of the lush, humid forest and hear the sound of the ocean waves in the distance, it means you have successfully crossed the Central Mountain Range and arrived at Dawu, Taitung, along the Pacific coast. At this moment, a steaming bowl of local seafood soup is absolutely the perfect reward for this 6-hour hiking journey.
Conclusion
The Jinshuiying National Trail does not have the steepness of high mountain peaks, but it holds Taiwan's deepest historical profoundness and the greenest forest atmosphere. If you crave a "forest breathing" experience away from cell phone signals and completely immersed in nature and history, this trail across the mountains and seas will definitely not disappoint you.
