10 hikes that reveal the beauty of Taiwan
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Loading... - Mawar Anam
- 12 Oct 2022
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Of those, the baiyue ("100 peaks") represent the ultimate hiking bucket list: 100 high-altitude routes hand-picked by outdoors enthusiasts for the beauty and diversity of their terrain. And at the gentler end of the scale, Taiwan has scenic coastal paths, historic walking trails, adventurous day hikes and waterfall romps to suit all abilities.
The year 2020 was declared Taiwan’s Year of Mountain Tourism, and since the coronavirus outbreak took its toll on outbound travel, even more Taiwanese have taken to the trails. That’s some turnaround for a country where, before 1987 and the end of martial law, much of the mountains were off-limits.
Here are 10 memorable hikes to get you started.
Holy Ridge – Shei-pa National Park
Best for multi-day mountaineers
9.3 miles (15km), 3 to 6 days depending on route, challenging
Connecting Xueshan (Snow Mountain), Taiwan’s second highest peak, with Dabajianshan, this world-class route follows a precipitous ridgeline that never dips below an altitude of 3000m (9843ft). You’ll need to be comfortable using fixed ropes to descend vertical cliff faces, have a head for serious heights and be able to do it all with several days’ worth of gear on your back. The rewards are spectacular.
A number of route variations incorporate the Holy Ridge: the popular "O" route is a circular, five- to six-day adventure that summits six peaks above 3300m (10,827ft). Permits are required, which can be applied for via the Shei-pa National Park website.
Mianyue Line Trail – Alishan Forest Recreation Area
Best for whimsical adventure
5.6 miles (9km), 1.5 hours, easy to moderate
This unusual route follows part of a defunct old logging railway, built by the Japanese a century or so ago to carry timber out of the mountains. Following the tracks for much of the way, hikers have to step carefully from plank to plank over moss-shrouded railway bridges and pick their way through tunnels, some pitch dark and others partially collapsed by earthquakes, all the while marveling at the serene old-growth forest all around.
Permits are required for this particular trail in Alishan Forest Recreation Area, and should be applied for well in advance. Read More…
