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Yushan National Park & Western

Why Go? Yushan If you’re looking for variety in your Taiwan travel experience, National Park...... 204 look west. The Matsu Pilgrimage, one of the country’s big- Taichung ...... 208 gest and holiest celebrations, is definitely a highlight. This nine-day parade across half of Taiwan is an extravaganza of Chiayi ...... 213 feasting, prostrating, praying and great acts of generosity. Changhua ...... 222 Keen on hiking or trekking? Head to Yushan National Lukang (Lugang) . . 224 Park to climb the highest peak in Northeast Asia; if you Sun Moon Lake . . . . 228 continue down the back route trails you’ll be in total wil- Jiji Small Rail Line. . 233 derness for days at a time. Alternatively, hike Dasyueshan or Hehuanshan, two awe-inspiring, high-altitude forests of pristine alpine scenery. For a glimpse of indigenous tradi- tions, spend the night at one of the firefly-lit aboriginal vil- lages in the Alishan Range. Best Hikes For a bit of nostalgia, look no further than the quaint Japanese-era railway legacy in Alishan or the frozen-in-time ¨¨The Yushan Peaks (p205) streets in villages such as Lukang, both of which provide ¨¨Yuanzui–Shaolai–Xiaoshue beautiful examples of the Taiwan of yore. National Trail (p211) ¨¨Taichi Gorge (p235) ¨¨Aowanda National Forest When to Go Recreation Area (p236) Taichung ¨¨Hehuanshan Forest °C/°F Temp Rainfall Inches/mm Recreation Area (p238) 40/104 20/500 16/400 30/86 12/300 20/68 Best Temples 8/200 ¨ ¨Chenghuang Temple (p214) 10/50 4/100 ¨ ¨Fengtian Temple (p216) 0/32 0 J F M A M J J A S O N D ¨¨Chaotian Temple (p216)

¨¨Nanyao Temple (p222) Apr Colourful Mar–Jun Firefly- Sep–Dec Best ¨¨Longshan Temple (p224) nine-day Matsu watching in time for hiking in Pilgrimage hon- Alishan. Yushan National ¨ ¨Glass Matsu Temple (p226) ours the patron Park. ¨¨Chung Tai Chan Temple of seafarers and (p232) fisherfolk.  Yushan National Park & Western Taiwan 203 - 7 4 Lishan 1 Trail Nenggao Cross-Island 14 8 3886m) (3416m) FRA Syueshan

National

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Hehuanshan o (Snow Mountain; Lake Cingjing Jiaming Wushe 14

Yushan FRA Cl Road Dasyueshan Highway Park National Park Sheipa Yushan (3952m) fairy fairy pitta, and is also National Sun Moon Lake Puli Revel in the picture- Revel Explore ancient forests forests ancient Explore Take in the quaint Take 16 Dongpu Reserve Guguan 14 countryside around Jiji around countryside ). Line (p233 Small Rail 7 8 6 perfect mountain scenery of of scenery mountain perfect ). (p236 14 Highway at Alishan (p217). Chung Tai Tatajia FRA Chan Temple Huisun Forest 21 Tekuye Bashianshan 18 Shanlinhsi ). 3 Hwy (Closed) Checheng (3666m) Guanshan South Cross-Island Jiji Dabang Fengyuan Jiji Small Rail Line 169 Fengshan Taiji 1 Alishan The Linnei area has a bird reserve for the the for reserve bird a has area Linnei The Gorge Lugu Lijia Caoling 21 149 and and Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area offer the venues in best birdwatching For Hehuanshan rugged while country, the above hikes scenic offers Area Recreation est the treeline. Huisun, Sitou and Shanlinhsi Areas are Recreation cool Forest mountain good of plenty and hikes short with retreats scenery. globally threatened a on point the crow mass gathering purple 3 Linnei - Houli TAICHUNG Taichung Changhua Shizhuo Rueili Fenqihu 159 3 Jhushan Huben 3 Shanmei Scenic Area Alishan National Get lost in the old streets streets old the in lost Get Bird- and butterfly- Bird- Seek the spiritual at the Seek 1 1 17 Touliu 3 18 20 miles around Linnei (p227 around watch , which , Pilgrimage Matsu (p212). in Dajia starts 4 5 3 ). (p224 Lukang of Chiayi 30 km Park & Western Taiwan Changhua 1 Forest Sinying

Minhsiung 19 &

Gaomei Wetlands Lukang Dajia (Matsu Pilgrimage) Areas

Beigang 17 Parks

Yenshui Aogu S T R A I T 0 0 T A I W A N Putai Wetlands Cycle, boat and stroll and stroll boat Cycle, Climb Yushan, Northeast Northeast Yushan, Climb Sun Moon Lake along Sun Moon Lake (p228). Asia’s highest mountain, mountain, highest Asia’s National Park in Yushan (p204). 2 Highlights 1 Yushan National Nankunshen Tropic of Cancer cluding pristine Yushan National Park, home home Park, National Yushan pristine cluding Mountain), (Jade Yushan 3952m-high the of by tame Rather Taiwan. in peak highest the the comparison, Alishan Forest Recreation alpine old an with opposite, polar its is Area as trees the main and cherry-blossom train Area draws. Forest Recreation Dasyueshan Western Taiwan has Taiwan its Western share of parks, in National Recreation