Things to do in Taiwan, Taiwan: The Best Forests

Taipingshan area is a broad region that includes Tuchang, Hatonozawa, Jhongjian, Taipingshan, Maosing and Cueifong Lake. It is also regarded as one of Taiwan’s three major forestlands in addition to Alishan and Basianshan. The old lumber transportation railroad and lumber collecting machines have been left as relics of the past lumbering business. The Bong Bong train, hot spring, alpine lake, giant forest and Taiwan beech trees (Fagus, Fagus hayatae) reflect more than one hundred years of historical trails of the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area.

Located in Jhu-Shan Village, Nantou County, Sun-Link-Sea Forest and Nature Resort has been on of the best tourist spots in Taiwan. Sun-Link-Sea near apart from the Sun Moon Lake. Visitors can exit the freeway from Jhu-Shan interchange. Change to route 3A, head for Luge and just follow the direction guidance, then, visitors can get to the destination at approximately time 70 minutes. Sun-Link-Sea is at an elevation of about 1,600 meters, belonging to the weather of the temperate zone monsoon, and it’s average temperature is 20℃ in summer. Visitors can see the cloud and must curl up the whole year round. Sun-Link-Sea is undoubtedly a perfect spot to spend a holiday.

Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area nurtures a wide variety of wildlife and plants. It is internationally famous for bird watching in the middle altitude region. The red maples in autumn and winter, the starry sky on summer nights, the sea of clouds in the evening, the muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and Mikado Pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado) wandering through the forests and along the trails, and thousand-year-old giant Taiwan red cypress are the most appealing scenes in the Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area.

The most impressive sightseeing spot in Wuling National Forest Recreation Area is the gorgeous mist-shrouded “Taoshan waterfall” found at the end of Taoshan trail. The diverse ecological features here include muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus), Formosan rock-monkeys (Macaca cyclopis), Mikado Pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado), Swinhoe's Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) and Vinaceous Rosefinch (Carpodacus formosanus). The precious national fish, the Formosan landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus), can be observed swimming below in the Chijiawan creek when standing on the Wuling suspension bridge.

The Alishan Mountain Range is one of the five largest mountain ranges in Taiwan. However, “Alishan,” which means “Ali Mountain,” is in fact not a single mountain, but rather refers to the entire mountain range. The area has been home to a rich stock of Taiwan red cypresses and Taiwan yellow cedars since ancient times. From 1912 until the late 1960s this was the site of the largest forestry center in all of Taiwan. The Giant Trees Plank Trail within the recreation area currently has two sections. Walking along the trail, you’ll encounter 36 red cypress giant trees that have survived through the centuries, reminders of the magnificence of these sacred trees.

Embracing the sacred trees in the mountain mists to enjoy the beauty of the biggest scale of Sarucallis zelkowae (Myzus mushaensis). “Guanwu “ in Atayal is "Maoyili", which means “higher mountain peak”. Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area is named for the frequent fog and mist and the sea of clouds that often appear in the mountains. Special views include waterfalls, Syueba connecting peaks and giant Taiwan red false cypress trees. A number of Taiwan’s endemic species such as Impatiens devolii and Agehana maraho (Papilio maraho) in addition to the Guanwu Salamander (Hynobius fuca), which is named after the area, contribute to the ecological diversity.