DAY1: Cou Tribe Culture
Chukou Visitor Center at Alishan National Scenic Area
Basing on the construction goals of preserving natural environment and incorporating the original terrains and surrounding mountains, designing methods such as “intertwining landscapes”, “floating”, and “interchanging movements” were implemented. And the end result is a naturally harmonical landscape architecture. Between the Management Center and the rear mountain, a tourists’ backyard was set up with the elements of mini trains, cherry blossoms, Cou tribe gazebo, sacred tree, and tea garden. In front of the Management Center, rows of trees penetrated through the “Plaza of Wind and Rain”, extending the symbolic image of sacred trees all the way to the backyard. Mini railways in the shapes of “之” and “8” have been arranged as the tourists’ main path of movements. Wandering amidst the cherry blossom woods and circling up to the hilltop, tourists would experience the fun similar to climbing up to Alishan. Various kinds of trees also bring biodiversity and changing sceneries and colors of four seasons for the Scenic Area.
Mihu Trail
Located by Alishan Township Office is the starting point for the 1.2km-long Miyang Creek Trail. A beautiful and elegant Miyang Suspension Bridge quietly stands over the river valley, and the hiking trail is softly summoning the tourists at the other end of the Suspension Bridge. Along the way, there are also many plum trees. And at the meeting point with Fushan Ancient Trail, visitors could also find the “FO’na” or “life bean” that symbolizes life and romance in Cou tribe. Miyang Creek Trail is also a great bird-watching trail, which offers views of Steere's Liocichla, Taiwan Sibia, red-headed tree babbler, barbet, and more.
Leyeh Village Guided Tour
Compared with other Alishan’s tourist destinations at high altitudes, Leyeh is at merely a bit more than 1,200m. For many tourists who cannot bear high-altitude mountains, Leyeh is an excellent choice. Cou people call Leyeh “Lalauya”, which means the maple woods; Leyeh used to have mountains of maple trees, and a maple decorated image is even shown on the entrance sign of the Leyeh Community. Over the past few years, Leyeh, where is suitable for high-altitude and cold-climate agriculture, has begun focusing on exporting its high-mountain teas and wasabi, which have then replaced the maple woods sceneries in the past. Leyeh is also Taiwan’s largest production site of moth orchids, possessing substantially large-scale orchid cultivating techniques and environment.
DAY2: Tefuye Ancient Trail, Lulin Sacred Tree
Tefuye Ancient Trail (Walk 6.32km from Tefuye end to Zizhong end)
Tefuye Ancient Trail was originally a hunting trail that Cou people had especially opened up in the early days. During the period of Japanese rule, later segment of the Historic Trail was transformed into a log transporting railway – “Shuishan Line”; and till this day, there are still many railway ruins remained. Early segment of the Trail is fairly flat and is surrounded by Japanese cedars along the way. In the later segment, there is the steeply downward wooden pathway within a primeval broadleaf forest, which offers scenery changes of four seasons. Diverse ecosystem of animals and plants here also make it an excellent bird-appreciating hiking trail.