DAY1: Alishan National Scenic Area, Xiaoliyuan Hiking Trail
Alishan National Scenic Area
Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, with its forest railways, Sacred Trees, sea of clouds, sunrise, and cherry blossoms, is the most famous and popular forest recreational area in Taiwan. It is a brilliant jadeite shinning on the Alishan Mountain Range.
Giant Trees Plank Trail
After the Alishan Divine Tree collapsed, efforts were made to prevent trampling on the soil by visitors and protect other giant red cypress trees and the roots in the area. Work was done in two stages to open a trail through the cluster of 36 thousand-year old red cypress trees to allow visitors to appreciate the most ancient and strongest red cypress trees in Ali Mountain. Guangwu Red Cypress (Xianglin Divide Tree), Qiansui Red Cypress, Shulingta and the Shenmu Station are important attractions.
DAY2: Tataka
Tataka Hiking Starting Point
“Tataka” in Cou’s language has the meaning as a spacious prairie plateau.
In the Tataka area, visitors can look over to the high-mountain landscape of Yushan’s main and continuous peaks in the east, and Zhushan and Tashan Mountain Range are at the opposite end over the west, across from Shenmu Creek. In early mornings and early evenings, sea of clouds and mountain mists would often appear amidst the mountain valleys. As winter approaches, Acer morrisonense in the mountains start to turn red, and the red-maple scenery within the lush green forest would accentuate Tataka Visitor Center to become ever so enchantingly beautiful.
Overnight Accommodation at Paiyun Lodge
DAY3: Yushan Main Peak, Tataka Giant Taiwan Hemlock, Couple Tree
Yushan Main Peak
Other than the high mountains, there're ancient geologic structures and magnificent landforms including cliff, steep, gorge, etc. With the conditions of abundant rainfall and flourish forests, the place has become the cradle of 3 major river systems in Taiwan. Besides, the ecological environment influenced by the extreme terrains, including high-altitude mountain and deep valley, the Yushan National Park has all the scenery ranging from the subtropical zone to the subarctic zone and shows the vertical distribution of plant groups and animal habitats. Taking a journey to the area is like entering a primitive miniature of Taiwan.
Moreover, the Batongguan Historical Trail in the area, listed as the first-grade national historical landmark, was an important milestone showing that the Qing government's attitude of managing Taiwan changed from a passive attitude of resistance to proactive development. As to the 2 security paths built during the Japanese occupation were the infrastructure under the Japanese policy implemented on the indigenous tribes in Taiwan; they tell the history of heroical achievement during Bunun people's 18-year resistance against Japanese rule.
Tataka Giant Taiwan Hemlock
Tataka Visitor Center
“Tataka” in Cou’s language has the meaning as a spacious prairie plateau.
In the Tataka area, visitors can look over to the high-mountain landscape of Yushan’s main and continuous peaks in the east, and Zhushan and Tashan Mountain Range are at the opposite end over the west, across from Shenmu Creek. In early mornings and early evenings, sea of clouds and mountain mists would often appear amidst the mountain valleys. As winter approaches, Acer morrisonense in the mountains start to turn red, and the red-maple scenery within the lush green forest would accentuate Tataka Visitor Center to become ever so enchantingly beautiful.