Written by By Michael Turton / Translated by: 陳安琪

The Ta-ken trails form two groups, one in northeastern Taichung next to Tanzi that contains trails 6-10, and another in eastern Taichung nearer to Taiping with trails 1-5. The opportunities for exercise and fresh air are endless.

One of the most appealing aspects of living in Taiwan is the proximity of the cities to the mountains. Step outside the urban jungle and you're suddenly inside a more primitive kind: lush, green, packed with colorful bugs, and with the way already prepared for you by thoughtful local governments.

To the east of Taichung lies the scenic area of Ta-ken, sprawling across the ridges between Taiping on the south and Tanzi on the north. There are at present 10 local government trails throught the area, connected to each other and to other nearby trail networks by a web of informal trails, farmers’ paths, and temple sites. The opportunities for exercise and fresh air are endless.

The Ta-ken trails form two groups, one group in northeastern Taichung next door to Tanzi that contains trails 6-10, and another in eastern Taichung nearer to Taiping that consists of trails 1-5. In both cases the trails, each 1-2 kilometers in length, start at roughly 150 meters above sea level and then rise sharply to the ridgeline at between 500-900 meters. Because of their short but rapid rise, they make an excellent morning walk packing plenty of exercise. Trails 1-5 are the more difficult, nearly vertical in places, and relatively longer.

Once you're on top of the ridge, the views are amazing. On the west side all the trails look out over the city of Taichung, offering a stunning panorama of dense urban development. On those rare clear days, Nantou, 20-30 kilometers away, can easily be seen. After you've crossed the ridge the trail offers stirring mountain scenery, range piled on range, and views across the valleys to Dongshih.

In addition to classic views of mountain and city, these trails also offer an abundance of critters, from tiny ants to gigantic golden orb spiders. Harmless to humans, scientific annals nevertheless record that they’ve killed a number of people, from falls and heart attacks in panicked encounters with the arachnids. Beautiful dragonflies clad in reds, yellows, browns, and blues dance along the path, while butterflies flit around you, too fast for the camera to catch. 

All of the trails are very well developed. Most are paved with logs, stone, concrete, or wood along their entire length. There are parking lots at the trailheads of trails 1-5, 6-8, and 9-10, each with well-kept bathrooms. Vendors selling breakfast, drinks, fruit, and even shoes and shirts can always be found, both clustered at the trailheads, or where the path is paved and wide enough for a vehicle. Paths are usually clearly marked, with warning signs and maps. At the entrance to trail 9 you can stop for a moment at a local earthquake monument: the ruins of an elementary school.

Larger critters may also been seen. If you go during the week in the early morning when there are fewer hikers, sometimes monkeys can be heard or even glimpsed among the trees. On lazy summer days hawks ride the thermals across the mountains. Squirrels chatter among the trees, and birds of all kinds are a constant sight. If you are lucky, a harmless insectivorous snake may slither across the path right in front of you – if not, it may be one of the poisonous snakes the signs along the path warn of.

The best part of hiking, though, is the people you meet. The trails are crowded on the weekends with families on outings, retirees, and photo enthusiasts. You’ll be greeted with a cheery “Hello!” and a smile from every face, and frequently passersby will stop to chat you up in English and Chinese. When you arrive back at the trailhead among the vendors, the KTVs, the speeding motorcyclists and the joyful barking of pet canines out of the house for the first time in weeks, you can congratulate yourself on photos taken, friends made, and calories expended on yet another enjoyable hike right next to the city where you live.

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