黃蟬園 — Attraction in Xinyi District

Amazing cosy rest stop in the mountains! Feels like a well-earned secret spot since it’s nestled up some mossy, difficult steps. Definitely recommend a visit for a hidden piece of history and (if you’re lucky to bump into a volunteer caretaker) hospitality.

It was on the way on our hike to Jiu Wu Feng. We decided to take some cobbled steps up the hill rather than the paved road, after a local we’d asked for directions said there was some nice architecture up there. When we made it up the steps, we were lucky to bump into Auntie Chen （陈阿嬤）, a regular caretaker of the rest stop, and she sat us down for some warm tea and conversation. She even gave us a tour of place!

The story of Huang Chan Yuan (黃蟬園; literally “Yellow Cicada Garden”) is incredible. Professor Yi Yi Shi (易賢仕), after retiring from National Taiwan University at 50, became an avid mountain climber of Tiger Hill (虎山). He noticed that there was a lot of furniture abandoned in the mountains as a result of mountain dwellers moving into the city, and also realised the lack of rest stops on the trail. Collecting this furniture and bringing raw materials up the mountain, over 40 years he singlehandedly built Huang Chan Yuan into what it is today. Though he passed on 23 March 2018, other avid mountain climbers (often senior citizens) were touched by his work and still help him maintain it today through volunteering to take care of the garden or clean the houses. They often come to the rest stop to drink tea or eat bento lunches, and are very friendly to any visitors that come to rest their legs. We met one of them, Auntie Chen—although she’s already 85 years old, she still climbs up the mountain to maintain the rest stop almost every day of the week (apparently she rests only for 2 days!)

The rest stop has 6-7 floors, following the incline of the hill. There are plenty of big tables to share meals or drink tea, a beautiful flower garden and a clean toilet. The view of Taipei from the rest stop is also beautiful.

It’s a little difficult to climb up as the steps are mossy and slippery, but it’s worth the climb if you’re careful. From Huang Chan Yuan it’s also convenient to rejoin the main hiking trail to Jiu Wu Feng (九五峰）; 95 Peak) . The architecture is also very quaint and historic, so its a...

Secret Garden at Four Beast mountain. Beautiful old-fashioned buildings perfectly match forest around. Go up to enjoy the beautiful view of Taipei City.

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今天打算去拜訪 黃蟬園 跟 爬 九五峰.

黃蟬園 是由 已故的 退休教授 易賢仕 開墾闢建的. 他過世後, 有幾位山友組成義工小組, 繼續奉獻心力 維護園區, 以供山友休息泡茶用. 踏進園內, 仍留有許多易教授 生平的事蹟 跟 讓人感念的 詩文雅句. 雖然已經過了多年, 房子多少有點斑駁老舊, 但你仍會驚訝於當 初 建築技術 的鬼斧神工. 庭園,房舍, 一石一瓦, 一草一木, 都別有韻味.

依依不捨 離開黃蟬園, 接著就是 今天的重頭戲 - 前往 九五峰. 九五峰 我以前爬過, 但久到 不記得多久了, 也就忘了它的辛苦. 這次的感覺是 爬過一峰又一峰, 轉過一山又一山, 怎麼 還沒看到 九五峰? 這才知道 前體協理事長楊森將軍, 在九十五歲的高齡攀登此山 是 多麼厲害的事.

最後 千辛萬苦地 終於爬到了 九五峰. 這裡 視野極佳, 101, 四獸山都盡在眼底. 當然少不了 要好好拍一拍照. 終於完成今天的最大挑戰, 可以下山啦. 下山途中 經過 豹山峰頂, 巧遇火紅的夕陽. ...