Erziping is located on the west side of Yangmingshan National Park in Taiwan. The original meaning of “ping” is flat ground, which is why this volcanic depression between the main peak of Mt. Datun and Mt. Erzi is called Erziping. The Erziping Trail is about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) one way, with a height difference of only 30 meters (98 feet). Because it is flat and easy to walk on, the Erziping Trail is a fully accessible path suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, making it a perfect scenic outing for the whole family.
When I set foot on the lush forest trail, I suddenly felt much cooler; it was the perfect place to escape the furnace-like summer of the Taipei Basin. Because Erziping lies between the subtropical and warm temperate zones, you can find a vast variety of plants here. In June 2022, I had the privilege of traveling alongside several friends with extensive knowledge of plants and birds; throughout the journey, I learned a great deal and gained a wealth of insights. Now, in 2024, as I revisit these same places with my daughter, I am able to share some of that knowledge with her.
In the 1980s, the Erziping Trail was known as the “Butterfly Corridor.” At that time, many sun-loving nectar plants grew here, attracting numerous butterflies and making it a favorite spot for butterfly watching. Over time, however, the dense forest canopy blocked the sunlight, causing the nectar plants to gradually disappear and forcing many butterflies to migrate elsewhere. Even so, I still managed to spot a few beautiful butterflies, though they kept moving too fast for me to capture a picture.
While walking the trail, the most surprising experience was hearing the different species of cicadas (Pomponia linearis and Tanna sozanensis). It felt like listening to a concert by a massive chorus. At times, they sang in perfect unison, and the sheer volume of their song was absolutely breathtaking.
二子坪位於台灣陽明山國家公園的西側。坪本義為平坦的地面，正因如此，這座介於大屯主峰與二子山之間的火山凹地才得名為「二子坪」。二子坪步道單程全長約 1.8 公里（1.1 英哩），高度落差僅 30 公尺（98 英尺）。由於平坦好走，二子坪步道是一條完全無障礙的步道，輪椅與娃娃車都能上步道，是個適合全家大小踏青的景點。
當我踏上那條林木蓊鬱的林間小徑時，頓感周身涼爽了許多；這裡無疑是逃離台北盆地那如火爐般酷暑的絕佳去處。由於二子坪位於亞熱帶與暖溫帶的交界地帶，植物種類繁多。2022 年 6 月，我有幸與幾位對植物和鳥類知識豐富的朋友結伴同行；一路上獲益匪淺，學了不少東西。如今，時隔兩年，當我在 2024 年帶著女兒重遊故地時，便能將當年學到的部分知識分享給她。
1980 年代，二子坪步道曾被稱為「蝴蝶花廊」。當時，這裡生長著許多喜陽的蜜源植物，吸引了無數蝴蝶翩翩而至，使其成為備受青睞的賞蝶勝地。然而隨著時間更迭，茂密的林木遮蔽了陽光，導致蜜源植物逐漸枯萎消失，迫使許多蝴蝶必須遷移到他處。即便如此，我依然有幸瞥見了幾隻美麗的蝴蝶，只可惜它們飛得實在太快，讓我沒能捕捉到它們的行影。
漫步在步道上，最令人驚喜的體驗莫過於聆聽不同種類蟬（台灣騷蟬及陽明山暮蟬）的鳴叫聲。那感覺彷彿在聆聽一場大合唱團的音樂會。有時牠們時而齊鳴，巨響的蟬鳴令人震撼。
水鴨腳秋海棠, 台灣水鴨腳、裂葉秋海棠
Chatting as we walked, we soon arrived effortlessly at the Erziping Recreation Area. Gazing out at the landscape, I saw Mount Miantian standing at the far end of the trail, with three ecological ponds resting just ahead. I suddenly recalled a photograph of my father and several retired teachers posing together right here—and in that instant, I was overcome with a deep longing for him.
我們邊走邊聊，不一會兒便輕輕鬆鬆的到了二子坪遊憩區。放眼望去，只見步道的盡頭矗立著面天山，而正前方則靜臥著三座生態池。我猛然憶起一張照片──父親曾與幾位退休教師在此合影留念；頓時一股深沉的思念之情湧上心頭。
Blossoming water lilies, coupled with the white, star-like Brazilian waterweed, blanketed the ponds. What a dreamy scene! Occasionally, a few small yellow pond lilies popped up here and there, and I couldn't help but stop to admire them. On the other side of the water, there was a large row of trees and several picnic tables, making it a very relaxing spot to have a picnic and rest. To my absolute surprise, I even spotted the Taiwan Blue Magpie and the Five-Colored Bird, both of which are endemic to Taiwan. What a treat! This hike was completely worth it.
生態池中睡蓮朵朵與潔白如星的水蘊草花交相輝映，偶爾點綴幾朵黃色的萍蓬草。這景象簡直如夢似幻！令我不禁駐足觀賞。在池的另一側，一排高大的樹木巍然佇立，旁邊的幾張野餐桌更是為這裡增添了幾分閒適，野餐、聊天、休息都很適宜。令我倍感驚喜的是，我甚至在此看到台灣藍鵲與五色鳥——這兩種鳥類都是台灣特有的物種。這真是難得的幸遇！讓我覺得真是不虛此行。
台灣特有種的臺灣萍蓬草，又叫黃睡蓮、水蓮花、孤戀花、河骨、台灣川骨或白蘭地酒瓶
Dung beetle that feed on feces. Many dung beetles, known as rollers, roll dung into round balls, which are used as a food source or breeding chambers.
黑翅蟬
臺灣藍鵲又稱紅嘴山鵲、長尾山娘或長尾陣仔等，為臺灣特有種鳥類。攝於2022年6月
Travel/Point of Interest Posts 旅遊景點帖子