Hualien Scent Trail
Hiking in Hualien, sometimes
one will find more than
just waterfalls and majestic
views. There are lots
of stories to be found
too.
This
is the Yuli section
of Batongguan Trail.
It��s called ��Walami,��
meaning ��fern�� in
Bunun language.
Leo
Cheng, Hualien travel
expert
When the Chinese came
to Taiwan, they opened
this path to eastern
Taiwan, so this trail
is very old, about
100 years old. After
the Japanese came,
there was a violent
clash with the Bunun.
So from here to Dongpu,
there are about 10
police stations. You
can still see what��s
left of the buildings.
Speaking
of the occupation,
what is now the Linshantien
Forestry Cultural
Park was also built
by the Japanese.
Hello
everyone. Welcome
to Morisaka.
Chen
Guo-chang, Linsentien
This used to be a
logging village. Cypress
from here was either
exported or used in
the military. At one
point in the old days,
there were about 2,000
workers here. These
days we��re using what��s
left of the resources
for wood carving.
The
theme of these carvings
revolve around ecology,
indigenous culture
and forestry culture.
Visitors are free
to observe master
carvers work on their
craft and to look
at award winning pieces
from previous competitions.
Some say that this
could be the Sanyi
of eastern Taiwan.
For
a good meal, many
people recommend this
Amis restaurant. The
specialty here is
soup boiled with hot
rocks.
Even
the bowl is quite
different - it��s a
betelnut tree leaf
folded up and held
together by two skewers.
A
natural meal to finish
off a day close to
nature - a suitable
ending, wouldn��t you
say?