There can be few among the travellers hurrying north or south along the section of the freeway between Tai-an and Sanyi who are not struck by the sudden appearance of this desolate, barren scenery where plain meets plateau, as they pass by the Taan River and Huoyan Mountains. As far as the eye can see, there is no sign of human activity, apart from the matchbox-like gravel trucks on the river embankments.
高速公路上南來北往的旅人，當行經泰安、三義之間，平原與台地接壤處的大安溪火炎山路段時，很少人不被倏地撲來的荒瘠景像震懾住。