Yilan Tourism

Caoling Historic Trail is located at the junction of Yilan’s Toucheng Township and New Taipei City’s Gongliao District, with a total length of about 8.5 km. Along the way, there are pavilions and public toilets provided for tourists to take a rest. It was one of the main arteries of traffic from Tamsui Prefecture to Kavalan Subprefecture during the Qing dynasty, and a part of the Danlan Historic Trail. It is also currently one of the ancient trails in Taiwan remaining from the Qing dynasty as well.


Caoling Historic Trail starts from Tiangong Temple of Dali in Toucheng Township, Yilan County, and ends at Yuanwangkengkou. Setting off from Yilan and hiking along the mountain hiking route of the Trail, you can look over Guishan Island when arriving at the Pass. Or you can turn towards the Taoyuan Valley Trail featuring a large tract of grassland, and continue along the Caoling Historic Trail to enjoy the historical monuments, Tiger Inscription and Petroglyph of Xiong-Zhen-Man-Yan, preserved from the Qing dynasty, along the way.

A forest fire had once broken out in the Caoling Historic Trail. Both sides of the Trail are covered with Miscanthus, since the environment at the top of a mountain is too poor to grow trees. This is where the name of Caoling comes from (literary, “Grass Hill”). Every autumn and winter, when the Trail is covered in Miscanthus flowers, try climbing to the top of the mountain, and watch the endless white silver Miscanthus flowers swaying with the autumn wind; it can be mesmerizing.


The Trail that was cultivated by earlier settlers makes one look back upon the hardship of our ancestors. Immerse yourself in this long corridor of time and space, while enjoying a healthy and leisurely time.