Following on from the national trails book series on the Nenggao Cross-Ridge Historical Trail, Jinshuiying Old Trail, and Hehuan Historic Trail, after two years, the Forestry Bureau and Ms. Hsu Ju-lin once again collaborated and published the fourth book in the series, "A Story of the Xiakalo Historic Trail" today (March 27). Nearly 200 people, including domestic mountaineering history scholars, experts, and historic trail enthusiasts, participated in the launch. Ms. Hsu led the readers down the time tunnel to share the historical tales that occurred along Syakaro Historic Trail during the past 300 years, starting with the Atayal indigenous people, as well as the beautiful sceneries and historical sites along the ancient trail. The Forestry Bureau provided a live broadcast of the event so that those who were not able to participate could also watch the video online. In addition, the e-book of "A Story of the Xiakalo Historic Trail" was also launched online at the same time, in response to the global paperless digital reading trend, so that readers can also get to read this exciting book wherever they are. Syakaro Historic Trail - The First National Trail In 2001, when the Forestry Bureau was planning the national trail system, the "Syakaro National Trail", consisting of the Syakaro trail and the Sakeyajin police patrol road of the Xiakelo-Luchanglienling National Trail System, was selected as the first demonstration trail, which is what everyone calls the Syakaro Historic Trail nowadays. This historic trail was originally situated in the activity area of the "Kinaji Group" of the Atayal Tribe of Jianshi Township, and the "Syakaro Group" of Wufeng Township, both from Hsinchu County. The Atayal tribal wars, intermarriage, migration, and anti-Japanese activities of the past were all closely related to this trail. The Syakaro National Trail begins from the Xiuluan Hot Springs in the northern end to the Qingquan Hot Springs in the southern end, crossing the ecologically diverse mid-altitude region of the upper reaches of the Dahan River and the upper-middle reaches of the Touqian River. Along the way can be found beautiful natural sceneries such as bamboo forests, maple trees, cedar groves, and century-old cherry forests. Together with its rich historical background and in comparison to the more remote historic trails, the Syakaro National Trail is much more accessible and the lovely sceneries along the way are worth repeat visits, hence it has always been a firm favorite with the Taiwanese people. The author, Ms. Hsu Ju-lin, shared at the event that in the history of mountaineering in Taiwan, the Syakaro Historic Trail was the earliest climbing path of the "World's Most Amazing Peak" - Dabajian Mountain. The cross-peak climb of the "Holy Ridgeline" was only successfully completed through relying on the Syakaro Group people acting as guides and pack carriers. This trail is also a path down the lane of history, the density of the remnants of Japanese police patrol posts along the way is the highest in Taiwan. The buildings were constructed with rammed earth walls with a thickness up to 50 cm, covered with weatherboards on the outside and lined with lime on the inside. This was an architectural style unique to the "Luchanglienling Police Patrol Road System". From the remnants of the patrol posts, including Inoue, Sakai, Kobayashi, Tamuradai, Aoyama (Qingshan), Asahi, Ishigaki, Shiroishi, Mabuchi, and Ritsuen along the way, one can re-imagine its scale in the past. In the book, the author also mentioned an Atayal hero unfamiliar to the public: Buta Karaho - a wise, benevolent, and courageous chief who led his tribe and created the era of the Atayal across northern Taiwan. His descendants, in order to defend their homeland and resist the plunder of the Manchurian and Japanese officers and soldiers, left behind many tales of blood and tears and of resistance until death. This journey down the historic trail led by the author gained enthusiastic responses from the onsite audience. Forestry Bureau Completed the Wish of the Late Mr. Yang, Ms. Hsu Compiled the Syakaro Story Alone Director of the Forestry Bureau, Lin Hwa-ching, said that he was very grateful to the late Mr. Yang Nan-jun for helping the Forestry Bureau to complete the completion of about 700 kilometers and 152 national trail systems, together with his wife Ms. Hsu Ju-lin, before his death. When Mr. Yang was in hospital for medical treatment during his final days, his great concern was that the original field investigation information of the "Syakaro National Trail" had not yet been organized and published. Therefore, the Forestry Bureau and Ms. Hsu began collaboration in 2017 and sorted through the original field investigation information, with the publication of the book "A Story of the Xiakalo Historic Trail" penned by Ms. Hsu, it completed the wish of the late Mr. Yang. The Forestry Bureau said that the Syakaro National Trail was damaged by Typhoon Soudelor in 2015. After more than three years of repair work by the Hsinchu Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau, it was finally fully re-opened at the end of 2018. Today, with the publication of the new book on the Syakaro Historic Trail, for climbers who want to experience the Syakaro National Trail, they can first preview the natural and human history of the Syakaro Historic Trail from the detailed introduction in the book. When walking on the trail, they can think about the epic anti-Japanese deeds of the Atayal people in the past, and through the remaining earth walls, bunkers, forts, and monuments of the posts along the trail, experience the strict control of Taiwan's forests by Japan back in the days. Together with the local stories of legendary personage Chang Hsueh-liang and the renowned writer Sanmao, the detailed descriptions in the book will allow the readers to deeply experience the pulse of history. Fascinating Historic Trail Film, Watch It on the Forestry Bureau Media Information Platform Mr. Yang Nan-jun, a forerunner in historic trail investigation and his wife Ms. Hsu Ju-lin, had investigated historic trails together for more than 30 years. Before the publication of this book, the Forestry Bureau and the Mr. Yang husband-wife duo published respectively the "A Story of the Nenggao National Trail" in 2011, "A Story of the Jinshuiying National Trail" in 2015, and "A Story of the Hehuan National Trail" in 2016 for the national trails book series, to lead the public on in-depth journeys of the historic trails and the rich history of Taiwan's mountains. In the future, the Forestry Bureau, together with Ms. Hsu Ju-lin and enthusiasts of the historic trails, will continue to promote the preservation of the historic trails, as well as the beauty and the history of the trails. For more information on the Mr. Yang husband-wife duo and the national trails, please visit the Forestry Bureau Media Information Platform. ◎ "A Story of the Hehuan National Trail" new book launch promotional film: https://media.forest.gov.tw/video_page.php?mID=TFB-vi-105_00_08776 ◎ "A Story of the Jinshuiying National Trail" new book launch promotional film: https://media.forest.gov.tw/video_page.php?mID=TFB-vi-103_00_08113
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