Dongyan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
Dongyanshan National Forest Recreation Area is located in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City, at the end of the Xueshan Mountain Range. Viewed from Amuping in Taoyuan, the mountain shape resembles a reclining girl gazing eastward with large eyes, giving rise to the name "Dongyanshan." The entire recreation area covers nearly 1,000 hectares and features a stunning sea of Japanese cedar trees stretching over 300 hectares. The highest point in the area is Dongyanshan, with an elevation of 1,212 meters, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and distant sights such as Taoyuan, Sanxia, and the Tamsui River, making it a great spot for viewing the night scenery of Taoyuan. The biggest highlights of Dongyanshan are the "Japanese cedar forest" and "sea of clouds." Due to its altitude of around 1,000 meters and its history as an artificial reforestation site, the cedar forest has become the park's most important landscape, extending across hundreds of hectares, lush and dense. Thanks to the ample forest cover, the region's amphibian ecology is quite rich, making Dongyanshan a great place for family interaction and ecological education. The mountainous terrain is varied, and clouds and mist often gather in the afternoons, creating the most beautiful moments in Dongyanshan; if lucky, one might even witness a rainbow landing on the girl's eyes. Dongyanshan National Forest Recreation Area features a 16-kilometer forest bathing trail system, which includes four major hiking trails: the "Self-guided Trail" leading to the main peak of Dongyanshan at 1,212 meters; the "Cultural Trail" focusing on forestry culture and timber collection displays; the "Parent-Child Peak Trail," resembling a mother with her child at the end of the forest road; and the "Fossil Trail," showcasing fossil traces from about 30 million years ago. Each trail offers different ecological landscapes and forest scenery, allowing visitors to experience Dongyanshan from various perspectives. The best way to enjoy Dongyanshan is to walk along the self-guided park trail, which, including its branches, totals about 4 kilometers. The route to the triangulation point on Dongyanshan's main peak is approximately 1.6 kilometers long, and visitors can follow the introduction provided by the Forestry Bureau's pamphlet or navigate using the signposts. Several informative stations are set up along the trail, and by following the wooden steps, visitors can reach the summit in about 60 minutes, encountering rich flora and fauna along the way, immersing themselves in the natural landscape and the joy of phytoncide SPA in nature. Upon reaching the trail's highest point at an elevation of 1,212 meters, another charming view unfolds. From the observation deck, surrounded by mountains, one feels refreshed, and on clear days, even the Greater Taipei Basin can be admired from afar. Clouds and mist occasionally come to the observation platform, intertwining with the green mountains to create stunning scenery. The Cultural Trail located behind the restaurant features dense forest cover, with streams flowing through occasionally. The display of forestry culture and machinery is also a major attraction of the Cultural Trail, allowing visitors to experience both the refreshing phytoncide from nature and the immersion in historical culture.
