Ren Shan Botanical Garden Introduction
Ren Shan Botanical Garden was formerly known as Zhongshan Nursery, which primarily promoted tree saplings for afforestation in its early days. Later, it was developed into Ren Shan Botanical Garden, featuring gardens styled in Japanese, French, and Chinese designs. It is a great hiking destination conveniently located near Yilan City. As vehicles are prohibited within the park, visitors can only walk, allowing them to enjoy the sounds of insects and birds, and see Formosan macaques climbing and leaping among the trees. The cheerful calls of colorful birds provide a relaxing atmosphere, letting one immerse in nature's embrace and absorb the phytoncides. Continuing along the path, visitors can see the former camphor distillery and charcoal kilns, which were key industries in Zhongshan Village for producing camphor oil, also known as one of Taiwan's three treasures. Nowadays, these sites serve as nostalgic spots for tourists. Walking up the Ren Shan hiking trail offers the best views of the Lanyang Plain; on clear days, one can gaze toward Guishan Island from the highest point, enjoying the panoramic beauty that instantly alleviates fatigue from hiking. Ren Shan Botanical Garden boasts rich ecology and is close to Xinliao Waterfall. Along the way, there are small farming villages, a visitor center, and gardens, providing opportunities for hiking and fitness, as well as the chance to buy agricultural products and small potted plants to take home, making for a fulfilling day.
