HOSHINOYA Guguan, the first luxury hot spring resort in Taiwan by Hoshino Resorts, will host a hiking program at the Sikeba trail from August 2, 2023. Depart from the foot of Malun Mountain, to go to the "Five-leaf Pine Platform" to enjoy a drink using the five-leaf pine. Guests can enjoy the beauty of this hiking trail in the virgin pine forest and deepen their understanding of the historical and cultural pilgrimage of the Atayal people, the indigenous people in the Guguan area.
Background
Taiwan has a mountain climbing population of over 5 million, and recently, mountain hiking is gaining a lot of popularity (*1). Guguan, surrounded by mountains, is famously known as one of the Seven Heroes and there are still many hiking trails that are yet to be visited. The Sikeba trail has been an important hunting ground for the Atayal people since ancient times. This program was created with the hopes that guests can experience this hiking trail, 6 km away from HOSHINOYA Guguan, to deepen their understanding of the historical and cultural pilgrimage of the Atayal people.
Characteristic 1: Understanding the Culture and History of the Sikeba Trail
This 3-hour hiking program begins at 8:30 am with a guide to Sikeba Trail, which is about 20 minutes away by car. The Sikeba Trail lies between Malun Mountain and Baxian Mountain, with an elevation of between 1000 and 1400 meters with a dense forest. Through hiking, its scenery will soothe one's mind, and the soft wind will bring the scent of pine to guests. The giant tree standing in the center of the trail is a centuries-old five-leaf pine, a sacred existence that the Atayal people used to pray for when they went hunting in the mountains.
Characteristic 2: Experience the charms of the hunting trail
Hunting is one of the important traditional cultures in the life of the Atayal people. This activity will lead our guests to experience the ceremony of entering the mountain before the hunting of the Atayal people and express their gratitude and respect to the mountains and forests before hiking. Bamboo is an essential crop for the Atayal people for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and the hand-woven bamboo baskets provided for our guests will imitate the equipment used by the Atayal people when they went hunting in the mountains.
Characteristic 3: A view of the mountains with a cup of five-leaf pine drink
Upon arrival at the Five-leaf Pine Platform, the guide will prepare a drink to replenish the body with water and minerals. When Atayal people used to enter the forest to hunt, they used to cut bamboo at the entrance and use it as a cup to pour Taiwanese sweet rice wine to pray for the mountain god to hunt safely and smoothly. The custom-made bamboo cups used for the five-leaf pine drink were inspired by the bamboo cut before the ceremony for entering the mountain. It is hoped that in the morning when the cool breeze blows, passengers can lean on the wooden railings of the Five-leaf Pine Platform and look at the mountains in the distance. The fragrance of five-leaf pine.
References
(*1) Statistical Database of the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Communications. (2021). Cumulative Table of Tourist Arrivals at Major Sightseeing and Recreation Bases from January to December 2021. Forest Recreation Area.
Overview
Date & Time: Every Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Price: 4042 NTD (including tax and service charge)
Reservation: Required by 12:00 pm/noon three days prior
Eligibility: Hotel guests over 16 years old
Appropriate attire: Recommended to wear quick-drying and easy-to-move clothing and non-slip footwear.
Others:
*This program is available for 2 persons or more.
*Cancellation 24 hours before the program will be charged 100% of its fee
*Depending on availability, the ingredients and beverages may change.
*For safety reasons, the program will be canceled in case of rain
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