Hsinchu: Smangus & Zhenxibao Giant Tree Forest 2-Day 1-Night Hiking Experience
- 2-Day/1-Night Smangus & Cinsbu Tour: Includes meals, accommodation, transportation, experienced mountain guides, and assistance with entry permits.
- Smangus & Cinsbu: Explore two famous giant tree trails in one trip.
- In-depth hiking itinerary with assistance in applying for mountain entry permits.
- Embark on a forest journey and immerse yourself in the charm of secluded mountain landscapes.
What to expect
Smangus, meaning "The Tribe of God" (Atayal language), is an Atayal tribe located in the deepest, highest-altitude mountain area of Jianshi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan. All residents are indigenous Atayal people. Due to its remote location, inconvenient transportation, and long-term lack of electricity, it was once called the "Black Tribe" and was the most remote indigenous tribe in Taiwan. Later, the discovery of giant tree clusters led to the development of tourism, and it has now become an important tourist attraction. It is located nearly three hours away by car from Zhudong Township, the largest and closest town at the foot of the mountain.
Hometown of Divine Trees - Zhenxibao Giant Tree Cluster is located in the back mountains of Jianshi Township, Hsinchu, at an altitude of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 meters. Local Atayal indigenous people say that their ancestors crossed mountains and ridges from Dabajian Mountain and settled in the Zhenxibao tribe. Within this vast primeval forest, there are numerous giant trees such as red cypress and Taiwan cypress. Zhenxibao is connected to Qilan and Fuxing Township in Taoyuan, forming the largest existing red cypress giant tree area in Taiwan. Among them, the Zhenxibao Giant Tree Cluster has the largest number of divine trees in the country, with hundreds of giant red cypress and Taiwan cypress trees.
Reviews
Although the journey was long and bumpy, I really appreciate the tour guide, Qiang Qiang, for taking us hiking for two days and driving us back to Taipei for several hours! The hike wasn't too difficult, and this itinerary is very friendly for hiking beginners who like to explore nature. Although we didn't see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, the scenery along the way was worth remembering. Immersed in the mountains surrounding Smangus, a Tayal tribe village located deep in the mountains has its own culture and way of life, which is the purity and tranquility that cannot be seen in the city. The children of Xinguang Elementary School riding bicycles on the only small road left a deep impression on me. The grandma at Yaya Homestay kept urging us to eat well because it was cold in the mountains, as if she was treating her own grandchildren, and she actively offered more food. This human touch makes people feel warm. I would want to go back again, and it's worth recommending!
Thank you for taking us on a two-day trip from 2025/03/06 to 03/07. The Simakus Cherry Blossom Garden is spectacular. You can't capture it with your phone. You can't see it with your naked eyes. Thank you to the leader for being able to see the cherry blossom garden that only our team enjoys. We set off at around 7 in the morning in the Shenmu Group B area of Zhenxibao. Before we started to climb the mountain, the leader asked us to warm up first. It was also because of the rain that the ground, stones and branches were very slippery. We passed through the river twice. At this time, I was very glad that I wore mountaineering equipment to make it convenient to walk. The altitude of Zhenxibao is about 1,720~2,180 meters. The air quality is super good. I haven't been so close to nature for a long time. I also saw 13 Shenmu Groups. Off-topic accommodation is a small wooden house in Yawu. I experienced the bunk bed and bought local snow lotus.
The whole trip felt pretty good~ Although the weather happened to be very cold when I went there... (the temperature was only 3-4 degrees at night). But before I placed the order, I knew that I would be staying in a simple B&B (without heating), so I was a little mentally prepared. , you need to wear a down jacket and gloves when sleeping to be able to sleep better. Although we only had simple side dishes at the B&B, there was a special mochi-making activity in the evening, and the owner also led us to dance and sing Atayal songs with a guitar, which was very heartwarming. Simacus and Zhenxi Fort are both beautiful and really worth a visit!
Our guide this time was Wu Xin-Yue (Qiang Qiang), a very enthusiastic person with great driving skills and a gentle demeanor. The accommodations weren't super luxurious, but they were adequate. Overall, the value for the price was pretty good. The itinerary to Smangus and Xinxing was well-paced, not too rushed. We encountered lots of dogs and cats along the way. This trip is suitable for those who want to experience something new, love cats and dogs, but aren't too concerned about the quality of the accommodations!
The leader, Cherry, was very attentive in leading the group and taught us correct mountain climbing knowledge, which was of great benefit! The driver, Brother Wu, has good driving skills and takes good care of his fellow passengers. I really enjoyed this experience in the secret forest! The flavored meals and B&B are full of Atayal characteristics. Seeing the sacred trees and bathing in the forest is very relaxing and healing. Some members of the same group said that the energy field of the sacred trees is very good and the body is really full. Electric feeling🤣
It was a great trip. The tour guide, Snowman, was very informative and explained the stories of the mountains and tribes. In addition to viewing the magnificent sacred trees, we also learned about the efforts made by the tribe to maintain the giant forest. In summary, I prefer the giant tree trail in Zhenxibao. The spectacular giant tree forest, the natural and primitive mountain forest trail, and the temperature in early spring are very comfortable.
The guide is very kind and has a lot of hiking experience. The driver brother knows that there are friends who are prone to motion sickness, so he drives slowly and steadily. Thank you very much. Although I went alone, the whole group of partners are easy to get along with, helping and chatting with each other. The two Shenmu districts are very worth visiting. It is very moving to see the Shenmu erected for thousands of years.
This trip was quite satisfying. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom during the 228 holiday. In addition, the number of sacred trees was also exaggerated and amazing. The tour guide Qiangqiang is also highly recommended.
The driver and the guide were very professional. Although the two-day hike was tiring, the scenery was great. It was a pity that there were no cherry blossoms in Simakus in mid-February. Zhenxibao was more primitive than Simakus, I liked it! The homestay in the tribe was clean at night, and the millet pounding activity was quite interesting. After eating, we walked around the tribal street, ate millet stinky tofu and drank coffee. Finally, before returning, we went to Neiwan Old Street to eat and drink. It was a very good experience.
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