2020 Year of Mountain Tourism

Sheipa National Park

The Sheipa National Park has an area of 76,850 acres, it was established in 1992, beautiful and fascinating land with high mountains, deep valleys, and rough hills. It's Taiwan's 3rd mountain-type national park. There're 51 mountains at higher than 3,000 meters altitude; the 19 of them listed into Taiwan's top 100 mountains are the best of the best resources in the Hsueh Mountain (Hsuehshan) Range and the supply of Dajia River (Dajiaxi) and Daan River (Daanxi) river systems. The park bears the responsibilities of protecting special species, watersheds, forest ecosystems, and biological diversity.  There's a variety of terrains inside the park, including Xueshan cirque, Daba Peaks Trail, Buxiulan cliff, Pintian Mountain (Pintianshan) folding terrain, stalactite, etc. The extraordinary scenery makes people hugely impressed. Also, the rare plants, Draba Sekiyana Ohwi, that has grown through the geological times as well as the critically endangered animals, such as Salmon Formosanus (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus) and Papillo Maraho, they have made the area more attractive and reveled the secrets of nature.    The series mountains connecting each other with low accessibility is the leisure signature of the Sheipa National Park. Therefore, it's possible to well keep the primitive appearance of nature without human disturbance. In the park, there're 3 tourist's centers as the entrances, Wuling, Guanwu, and Xuejian, which provide each kind of leisure information and guide tour service. They are the great start points for the visitors before entering the park. Xueshan Range is Taiwan's 2nd largest mountain; it and the Central Mountain were formed 5 million ago by orogenic movement; they were the sedimentary rock deposited from the Eurasian Plate. The ecological landscapes of the Sheipa National Park are mainly distributed in the Xue Mountain (Xueshan), which is most famous for the highest peak Xue Mountain (Xueshan) and Dabajian Mountain (Dabajianshan). Xue Mountain (Xueshan) is Taiwan's 2nd highest peak at the altitude of 3,886 meters. As to the Dabajian Mountain (Dabajianshan) at the altitude of 3,492 meters with its unique mountain shape got the name of Century Strange Peak. The distance from Xue Mountain (Xueshan) to Dabajian Mountain (Dabajianshan) is more than a dozen kilometers full of ups and downs and stunningly magnificent scenery, the abundant landscapes of geologic terrains are called "Holy Ridgeline" in the world of the mountain. The Holy Ridgeline and the four famous mountains in the Wuling area appear versatile weathers and landscapes with flourishing plants and animals. The well-organized trail systems in the park become the best mountain climbing and leisure touring routes for natural experience and environmental education. The unique landscapes include Xueshan cirque, Cuichi pond, Pintianshan folding terrain, Sumida cliff, Wuling river terrace, meander core around the mountain, meander, etc. The Holy Ridgeline standing towering in an array looks like a king overlooking at somewhere in a far distance with the background melody of Atayal Tribal songs in the rarefied air. The weather in the high-mountain Sheipa National Park is always cooling all year round. Guanwu, at the northwest corner, with a unique high-mountain terrain is always surrounded by cloud and fog, it's like a fairyland free from vulgarity. When overlooking at the Holy Ridgeline from the Leshan Forest Trail, people can see the falling sunlight with the soft and beautiful curves. As to Wuling, there're beautiful Taiwan Cherry and plum blossoms in spring, Aix Galericulata and Atrophaneura Hoishana everywhere in summer over the green water and under the blue sky; in fall, it's the reproductive period of Salmon Formosanus (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus), which are under rehabilitation; the lovely ancient fish species has a plain body with yellow-black spots, swimming in the freezingly cool Qijiawan River (Qijiawanxi), the species is a living record since the Ice Age. Including beautiful mountain groups, rarely seen terrain, abundant plant groups, the habitat of the national treasure fish, these are the most precious and attraction of the Sheipa National Park.

Taroko National Park

The Taroko National Park has an area of 92,000 acres, it's a mountain-type national park surrounded by the mountains on three sides and next to the Pacific Ocean; Liwu River (Liwuxi) is flowing through the park, a connection between the mountain and the ocean. A series of connected mountains, high-altitude mountains, and deep valleys make up its most significant landscapes. 90% of the area is covered by mountains. The northern section of the Central Mountain range connecting with other mountains forms a unique and complete geographical landscape, including peaks of Hehuan Mountain (Hehuanshan), Black Qilai (Qilai Mountain), and, Mt. Zhongyangjian, which is one of the top 3 peaks in Taiwan, as well as Mt. Nanhu. Furthermore, there're other unique terrains, including cirque, valley, cliff, lifted river terrace, and meander core, etc.  Comparing with other mountain-type national parks, Taroko National Park is a more friendly national park. Climbing along the Central Cross-Island Highway, tourists can experience through the changing weather of 4 seasons ranging from subtropical zone to subarctic zone in one day. With the different altitudes, the changes in plant landscapes varying from broad-leaved forest, needle-leaved forest, to alpine tundra. Also, the animals, such as Taiwan Blue Magpie, Formosan Macaque, enrich the appearances of the ecological environment in the area. Moreover, the prehistorical remains, (Truku Tribe) tribal remains, as well as the humanistic historical sites including the ancient and the current road systems have made the area filled with a humanistic atmosphere. Due to its high accessibility and the abundant humanistic property as well as the versatile changes of landscapes, there're many scenic spots along the way with convenient access, it's an ideal site for ecological tour and environmental education. The Taroko Gorge cut by the Liwuxi River (Liwuxi) is a breathtaking geologic history. Formerly, the Taroko Gorge is an area of sea-bottom sediments; after many times of high-temperature extrusion and deformation, including being lifted by the orogenic movement and river-cutting, the gorge has been gradually formed. Due to the nature of marble, fine and impermeable, the cliff was cut down by the river into almost vertical cliffs, a world-class gorge landscape. In the area, a series of mountains at more than 2,000 meters altitude covers more than a half area; there're 27 mountains listed into Taiwan's top 100 mountains. The most famous mountains in the areas are Mt. Nanhu, Qilai Series, Hehuan mountain groups and Mt. Zhongyangjian. The face-tattooed Truku women have good weaving textiles techniques, the Truku men are born to have impressive hunting skills, and the roads built by the Han Chinese over the hundred years with the marks left by cart and chisel tools; these were the stories of Liwu River (Liwuxi) after people's contribution. Because of this heartfelt dedication, the Taroko National Park with the world-class geologic landscapes is added with in-depth value.

Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park is located in northern Taiwan; it was established in 1985 with an area of 11,338 acres. The whole area has been famous for the unique volcanic landforms mainly in the area of Datun mountain; all the volcanic landscapes including crater, sulfur vapor exits, underground heat, hot spring, etc. It's a national park keeping the complete volcanic terrain.  Owing to the influences of longitude and altitude, the Yangmingshan National Park belongs to the subtropical zone and warm temperate climate zone with an extremely obvious monsoon climate. Therefore, the seasonal resource with versatile scenery in the small area becomes the signature of the Yangmingshan National Park. In the early spring, the dazzling Azalea blossoms and the new buds of Formosan Sweet Gum (Fragrant Maple) enrich the landscapes in the Mount Yangming, colorful, beautiful, and flourishing; in summer, the sunny days after the drizzling rain, the Qingtiangang Grassland will be filled with the fragrant grass aroma; when the fall comes, the Japanese silvergrass (Miscanthus) in the areas of Datun Mountain (Datunshan), Qixing Mountain (Qixingshan), and Qingtiangang Grassland swinging in the wind creates a poetic atmosphere. Different from other national parks featuring volcanic terrain and monsoon climate, the Yangmingshan National Park is next to the densely populated Taipei City. The land with beautiful mountains and water plays an important role as an "urban national park".  Although there're 20 volcanos situated in the area, the Yangmingshan National Park is not at the high altitude to compete with the high-mountain national parks. After the last eruption of the 2 million years of volcanic activity occurred 200,000 years ago, the round-shaped Shamao Mountain (Shamaoshan) is its last masterpiece. Wondering the temperature in the dormant volcano? There're still other attractions, including endless underground heat coming out to the ground through the slips in the faults, fresh yellow-colored sulfur exists diffuse the vapor all the time, as well as the most important and pleasing Yangmingshan hot spring. The park has set up 3 conservation reserves, Menghuan Pond, Huangzui Mountain (Huangzuishan), and Lujiaokeng; they are for the purpose of protecting and rehabilitating the habitats of the plant and animal species. Besides the invaluable unique terrain and ecological environment, the park bears the responsibility of reviving the leisure activities for the urban people in Taiwan through the historical trails in the park with the beautiful scenery along the way as well as the refreshing and pleasing waterfalls and ponds. Every year in the flower festival in the early spring, the mountain covered by Azalea blossoms and surrounded by the cloud and fog reveals a magic beauty, and the place will be transformed into a beautiful wonderland of beauty for urban travelers. That's the secret attracting thousands of tourists to the Yangmingshan National Park. 

Yushan National Park

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.  The mountains in the Yushan National Park can satisfy your imagination of the possible maximum height of a mountain. The highest peak of Yushan at 3,952 m above sea level is the closest place to the sky in Northeast Asia. Its weather is far different from that of the Lakulaku River valley at the lowest altitude in the area. The significant weather difference between the subtropical zone and the subarctic zone as well as the differentiated distribution of fostering environments have created the diversity of creatures and ecological environments. Yushan National Park is at the center of Taiwan, it's an indicative area of land reclamation. The Batongguan Historical Trail going through the mountains and the security paths that the Japanese used to suppress the local natives of the Bunun tribe have kept the ancestral stories in silence throughout the deep mountain and the open fields. Besides, the core of the Yushan area has a greater significance, the abundant rainfall sourced from the snowfall in the area is converged into the upstream of the 3 major river systems, the central, the southern, and the eastern river systems of Taiwan. With the constant flow of water and the benefits to innumerable people living in Taiwan, the park is truly recognized as the heart of Taiwan. 

Kenting National Park

Kenting National Park is on the south of the Hengchun Peninsula with a total of 32,570.14 acres of land and marine areas. It was established in January 1984, the 1st national park of our nation. It's surrounded by the sea on three sides, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Bashi Channel to the south, the Taiwan Strait to the west; starting from the Hengchun valley Plain on the north side, it extends across Santai Mountain (Santaishan), streets in Mazhou Township, Gangkou River (Gangkouxi), Jioupeng River (Jioupengxi), etc. The park is 24 km north to south and 24 km east to west.  Kenting National Park with the most characteristic coastline has been a popular travel destination. Owing to million years of crustal movement and the deep infusion of the ocean, the area features stunning geographic landscapes, and the world under the sea is even more amazing and gorgeous with the prominent signatures including a variety of fish species and the beauty of colorful coral reefs. In respect of the ecological environment, there're plants full of vitality and growing along the tropical coastal areas; numerous transit birds every fall and winter have made the place a great bird watching site. Moreover, many prehistoric remains and cultural remains of the indigenous people discovered in the area are the invaluable humanistic properties. At present, Kenting National Park has set up different conservation areas; the 5 ecological conservation land reserves, Banana Bay (Xianjiaowan), Nanren Mountain (Nanrenshan), Shadao (shell sand beach), Longkeng, and Sheding Uplifted Coral Reef; and, the 4 ecological conservation marine reserves on the western and southern areas of the ocean. A total of 9 conservation reserves has kept their primitive appearances, it's the evidence showing the conservation determination and achievements of the national park. Touring about Taiwan's most "senior" national park, the stunning landforms, a variety of beautiful animals and plants, and humanistic inspirations have made the crown-like twin cape of Kenting fully covered with diamond-like non-fading embellishments with impressive shiny glows.