The Mysterious Gorge of Central Taiwan - Beigang Creek
Beigang Creek - There are four creeks with the same name in Taiwan, and the Beigang Creek we visited is the upper reaches of the Dadu Creek in Taichung, near Huisun Forest Road, roughly the Beigang Creek Valley between the confluence with Jiuxian Creek. A well-known spot on this route is Yixiantian Gorge, which contains an important engineering project - the Nenggao Canal, an essential irrigation water transport system diverting water from the upper Beigang Creek to Puli in Nantou. This canal is located on a narrow slit on a mountainside and is especially spectacular when viewed from the ground.
Along the way are many waterfalls, ranging from large to small, which can mostly be crossed by riding, occasionally needing to wade through water, offering a different riding experience. The accessible route on Beigang Creek varies every time it opens; in 2013 it was accessible from the right bank to left bank, while this year it’s all along the left bank, reflecting significant changes over the years. Access relies on the maintenance trail of the irrigation canal, which is only accessible during dry seasons. During rainy seasons, the creek swells too much for access. When maintenance work is completed, the trail closes and is not repaired, so it might take years until it reopens. Such a "limited-time" route is recommended for adventurous explorers.
The Beigang Creek entrance is inside the Huisun Forest Farm, which is a private experimental forest farm of National Chung Hsing University. During Japanese rule, it belonged to Hokkaido Imperial University’s "practice forest." The elevation ranges from 450 meters at the entrance to 2418 meters at Shoucheng Mountain. This 2000-meter altitude difference creates different climate zones including subtropical, warm temperate, and temperate. Besides exploring Beigang Creek, cyclists are encouraged to take an extra day to enjoy this intellectual ecological journey. The forest farm also offers hot spring resort lodgings, making trip planning convenient.
