Ren Shan Botanical Garden Introduction
Ren Shan Botanical Garden was originally known as Zhongshan苗圃 (Zhongshan Tree Nursery). In its early days, it primarily focused on promoting seedlings for afforestation. Later, it was developed into Ren Shan Botanical Garden, featuring various garden styles including Japanese, French, and Chinese designs. It is a convenient hiking destination not far from Yilan City. Since vehicles are prohibited from entering the garden, visitors can only explore on foot, allowing for the sounds of insects and birds to be heard, while macaques can often be seen climbing and jumping in the trees. The crisp calls of colorful birds can also be heard, providing a tranquil atmosphere for guests to relax and immerse themselves in nature, breathing in the fresh air. Continuing along the path, visitors can see the former camphor distillery and charcoal kilns, which were important industries for producing camphor oil in the early days of Zhongshan Village and are recognized as one of Taiwan's three treasures. Now, they serve as a nostalgic site for tourists. If you continue up the Ren Shan hiking trail, it offers the best views of the Lanyang Plain. On clear days, standing at the highest point, you can gaze out at Guishan Island and enjoy an unobstructed view that instantly eases the fatigue of climbing. The ecological diversity in Ren Shan Botanical Garden is rich, and it is near Xinshe Waterfall. Along the way, there are quaint farm villages, a visitor center, and gardens, allowing for both hiking and fitness as well as the purchase of agricultural products and small potted plants to take home, resulting in a fulfilling day.
