【 Type of attraction open for tourism 】

• Length of trail: Of 170km in full length, the trail that is in use at this time is of 3.5km in length and the 8 other sections total about 65km.
• Time required for the trip: A trip by the trail would take 2-3 hours and time required for the entire trip is not available as conditions of part of the trip remain unknown.
• Difficulty: Part of the Historic Trail comes in slow gradient, though it contains rugged portions. The Jade Mountain Administration provides paths with sleepers for trekkers. This part is of low difficulty and the rest of high difficulty.

【 Management 】

• Environmental limit: Part of the trail is in the Ecological Reserve in the Jade Mountain National Park and another part of it passes the Xinwuluxi Fish Reserve and the Wildlife Habitat in Haiduan and the Guanshan Wildlife Habitat in Taidong.
• Intensity of development/Type of facility: As the sectors in the reserve are not apt for development, number of tourists shall be kept under control, as this is a type 3 trail in the specifications of national trail systems. As other sectors are not apt for explorations and to keep the area as it is, only local repairs shall be allowed to the existing trail. When necessary, number of tourists shall be kept under strict control; this is a type 2 trail in the specifications of national trail systems.

The Guanshan Cross Mountain was an east-west migration trail of the Luanshe and Chunshe, branches of the Bunon Tribe, who lived in the mountains between Kaohsiung and Taidong. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese built the Cross Mountain Trail as a taming road in 1926, with a total of 32 police station with canons along the trail. When the Chinese government recovered Taiwan, the Nationalist Government built the Cross-Island Highway along the trail. At this time, only 8 sections totaling 65km survived the Guanshan Cross Mountain. The sector between Zhongzhiguan and Tianchi is now open to the public, which is available in the Jade Mountain National Park.

The trail between Zhongzhiguan and Tianchi is covered by tall trees, which provide abstract phenols, juniper, ???, ??? and Taiwanese Lily among other alpine plants and flora. Taiwan monkeys and squirrels are around in the woods. Creeks are found in the Yushui Mountain to the north, with peaks to the east. On the rear stands the jade Mountain, where the Laonung River flows down the Yushui Mountain with enriched historical remains the attract people confused by the past. Zhongzhiguan stands at 2,l20m above sea level and it provides a spectacular view over Yushuishe, home to Laheahlei, the renowned anti-Japanese leader of the Bunon Tribe. During the Japanese Occupation, police stations were built with high-ranking officers, making the spot a key military post in the Guanshan Garrison Trail.

After enduring erosion by rainwater, the Tianchi colluvium is now shallow water that takes both surface and ground water to form the alpine lake, which is a renowned attraction by the Southern Taiwan Cross Island Highway between Meishan and Yakou. At 2,290m, the 50m-wide Tianchi comes in the shape of a heart. The shallow water contains a large quantity of slurry. Located in the low land in the narrow valley, it stretches north 20° east. There is another small lake around.

The Historic Trail has 3 special sectors. One is the 20 and odd tall junipers on the hillside by Tianchi. No. 2 comes the maple path by Zhongzhiguan and finally the remains of the carbon furnace at about 1km from the exit of Zhongzhiguan and erected during the Japanese Occupation. The Zhongzhiguan sector is where the Japanese Police Station was located and sound preservation of the remains of the carbon furnace would show the human effort and resources waged by the Japanese administration on the Bunon Tribe. At some 200m from the carbon furnace, there is an explanatory monument and rest station provided by the Jade Mountain Administration.

Along the Southern Taiwan Cross Island Highway, in the Jade Mountain National Park, there are juniper, ???, ??? and Taiwanese Lily among other alpine plants and flora. Taiwanese monkeys and red-belly squirrels and white-faced flying squirrels are found near Tianchi and the Yakou Forest Trail. Other species are Taiwanese goat, muntajacs and Taiwanese black bears.