Jiaobanshan park cycling trip

23.6.2023 Me, Jason and R-tone gathered at the early morning and we rode from Chungli to Jiaobanshan. It took us 3 hours up to Jiaobanshan park. The altitude we climbed up, was around 450 m. The distant was around 65 km. It’s also Jason’s first time to the Jiaobanshan park and R-tone’s first time cycling up to this place.

Atayal

Taiwan has many aboriginal groups, most of them living in the mountain. In my city Taoyuan we have “Atayal” in Fuxing District. It’s also the place where Jiaobanshan located. In 2015 I worked as a elementary school teacher in Quxiayun Elementary School, I taught all 6 grades ( 6 classes ) aboriginal kids there. Therefore, I would like to introduce a bit more culture of Atayal.

Face tattoo

One of the most obvious culture figures of Atayal in ancient time. Its there were significate tattoo on their adult’s face. For male, in order to get the face tattoo, they have to cut off enemy’s head and prove that they are capable to fight or hunt. For female, they have to master the skill of weaving skill.

Back to the ancient time, male has to supply the tribe and female has to support and take care of kids. So, this culture sort of fits their survival situation.

Other meaning of face tattoo

The face tattoo also has many social and spiritual functions, for female it looks more beautiful with tattoo on their face if there is no tattoo, they might hard to find someone to marry her. For male as well.

When they get the face tattoo, they have to promise to follow the code from ancestors, do not do bad things to other people and be blessed from the Ancestral spirits. The tattoo can also protect them from the bad spirits and it’s a pass after their death to pass the rainbow bridge to gather with their ancestors.

From the practical aspect while males are in the battle field, it’s also a symbol to distinguish friendly or hostile force.  

Modern day of Jiaobanshan

Jiaobanshan was also an old battle field of Atayal with imperial Japanese force in 1907. Of course, there was no match for our aboriginal people with the east Asian super power imperial Japanese army. In modern day it’s fairly peaceful, not that bloody and hard like ancient time. We took three hours around to rode all the way up to the mountain and enjoyed the sweet Peach Smoothie. It costed 70 NT$ and if you go there with your bicycle, you can have another cup for free.

Many cyclists stay in line for the Peach Smoothie

After a short break in Jiaobanshan, we descended to Daxi old street and had a lunch there. Talked about how great the experience was for this time. It’s my second time riding bicycle up to Jiaobanshan, last time was 18 years ago, I rode a bicycle with my dad there. This trip is also significant for me. Some time it’s not about just cycling it’s about the self-improvement and challenge. For me it’s also about management I had to pick up the route and consider about my friends R-tone and Jason’s condition and also planned where to have supplement and rest.

Beside the old memory with my dad, it’s also a new good time with friends.