DAY1: Saisiat Culture Pasta'ay Festival
Hsinchu HSR Station
This is Taiwan's most uniquely designed train station, which is a masterpiece by renowned architect Kris Yao and has even represented Taiwan to participate in the 2002 Venice Biennale of Architecture; in 2006, the station was also presented with Taiwan Residential Architecture Award – First Prize. Elements of wafers and glasses were applied for its interior and exterior designs; roof with streamlined circular arc, on the other hand, borrowed the characteristics of Hakka style architecture – Hakka walled village. All in all, a localized, modern, and high tech architecture structure and train station space was sculpted and created.
Da'Ai Saisiat Pasta'ay Festival Venue
Yemaganshan
Yemaganshan Forest Trail has been historically renowned for its lingering clouds and mists as well as tens of thousands of plants. Starting point for the Trail is located within Shei-Pa National Park; and the Trail is considered a secret scenic spot and one of the key attractions within the National Park.
DAY2: Guanwu Forest Recreation Area
Boundary Stele of Shei-Pa National Park
The Sheipa National Park has an area of 76,850 acres, it was established in 1992, beautiful and fascinating land with high mountains, deep valleys, and rough hills. It's Taiwan's 3rd mountain-type national park. There're 51 mountains at higher than 3,000 meters altitude; the 19 of them listed into Taiwan's top 100 mountains are the best of the best resources in the Hsueh Mountain (Hsuehshan) Range and the supply of Dajia River (Dajiaxi) and Daan River (Daanxi) river systems. The park bears the responsibilities of protecting special species, watersheds, forest ecosystems, and biological diversity.
There's a variety of terrains inside the park, including Xueshan cirque, Daba Peaks Trail, Buxiulan cliff, Pintian Mountain (Pintianshan) folding terrain, stalactite, etc. The extraordinary scenery makes people hugely impressed. Also, the rare plants, Draba Sekiyana Ohwi, that has grown through the geological times as well as the critically endangered animals, such as Salmon Formosanus (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus) and Papillo Maraho, they have made the area more attractive and reveled the secrets of nature.
Kuaishan Giant Trees Trail
Yunwu Trail
Yunwu Trail, which is located by Yunwu Management Station, is an easily walkable and short-distance hiking trail, and it is therefore welcomed by many tourists. The trail is less than 1km and is designed in a circular shape. While climbing up the hills, visitors would be able to observe up close Abies kawakamii white snags, Taiwanese red pines, and other plants. Once reaching the hilltop along the trail, there are two observation decks, and the most splendid extensive views they offer would be the meandering and winding Holy ridgeline with its soaring mountain rocks.
Guanwu Salamander Ecology Center
DAY3: Mt. Zhen
West Branch of Dalu Forest Road
Qingquan
Qingquan Hot Springs is a famous scenic spot on the way to Dabajian Mountain. It has been well-known for the hot spring since the period of Japanese rule – mountains embrace the area with Shangping River flowing in between, offering a tranquil and exquisite scenery. In addition to hot spring, the beautiful suspension bridge is also one of Qingquan's top destinations. There are four suspension bridges within the Qingquan Hot Springs area, which crosses over Shangping River; they are all longer than 100m. River beneath the bridges is crystal-clear, and the mountains in the distance are verdant; as winter comes, sparkling yellow leaves and vibrant red poinsettia mingle within the green mountains – sceneries here are simply spectacular. These suspension bridges are currently the oldest and best preserved in Wufeng Township.
Hsinchu HSR Station
This is Taiwan's most uniquely designed train station, which is a masterpiece by renowned architect Kris Yao and has even represented Taiwan to participate in the 2002 Venice Biennale of Architecture; in 2006, the station was also presented with Taiwan Residential Architecture Award – First Prize. Elements of wafers and glasses were applied for its interior and exterior designs; roof with streamlined circular arc, on the other hand, borrowed the characteristics of Hakka style architecture – Hakka walled village. All in all, a localized, modern, and high tech architecture structure and train station space was sculpted and created.