Pingding Old Canal Trail (Qingtiangang Mountains)

Both are more than 150 years old and were first built for irrigation, drinking water and carrying water, and they are still an important source of water for residents of Pingdeng Village. The trail starts from Lane 95, Pingjing Street. Moss-covered stone steps run between bamboo groves. The trail first passes Qingfeng Pavilion, which has a stamp station, and soon reaches the canal intake marked with the large red inscription 'Pingding Old Canal'; a stone tablet beside it outlines the history of the canal's construction. For most of its length the trail runs beside the canal, ending at a stone tunnel at the end of the channel, with clear water and plentiful aquatic life. The trail lies between 300 and 500 m above sea level, with the Neishuangxi and Neiliaoxi streams flowing through, supporting dense forest with plants such as 姑婆芋, 紅楠, 風藤 and bamboo. The plentiful clean water supports a wide range of wildlife: freshwater shrimps and crabs live here, and it is a frequent haunt of 無霸勾蜓, Taiwan's largest dragonfly; 杜松蜻蜓 and damselflies can also be seen. If you look carefully you may see scarab beetles or stag beetles. It is also home to many protected animals, such as 大冠鷲, 台灣藍鵲, 黑冠麻鷺 and 台北樹蛙. On the stone table of the pavilion beside Taozaijiao Bridge you can even see droppings left by 台灣葉鼻蝠 bats hanging upside down to rest at night.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.