Mount Beidawushan Introduction
Beidawushan is located at the border of Pingtung County and Taitung County, belonging to the southernmost major ridge of the Central Mountain Range, with an elevation of approximately 3,090 meters. It offers a view of the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the Pacific Ocean simultaneously, and is the only peak in southern Taiwan that exceeds 3,000 meters, earning it the titles of "Barrier of Southern Taiwan" and "Mother of Pingtung." In the traditional beliefs of the Rukai and Paiwan tribes, Dawushan is considered the dwelling place of ancestral spirits and is thus revered as a sacred mountain. The mountain's shape is majestic and dramatic, with sheer cliffs rising sharply. Geographically, it belongs to a fault landform and is listed as one of Taiwan's Five Major Mountains. Due to the area's natural and primitive environmental conditions, it provides a good habitat for various plant resources and wildlife. Botanically, the plant community ranges from tropical broadleaf forests to the cold-temperate coniferous forests near the summit area, making it the largest remaining "primitive forest belt" in Taiwan. The birdlife along Beidawushan is also extremely rich. Common bird species between Jiaping Highway and Xintaiwu include the Japanese White-eye, Formosan Blue Magpie, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Common Redstart, Red-headed Bulbul, and others. From Xintaiwu village to the trailhead, one can find bird species such as the Formosan Scops Owl, Little Forktail, White-eared Sibia, Bamboo Partridge, Crested Serpent Eagle, and various eagles. For birdwatching, one can reach the summit triangulation point of Beidawushan from the trailhead via the Huigu Mountain Lodge at an elevation of 2,200 meters, where species like the Taiwan Blue Magpie, Formosan Whistling Thrush, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, and the Scarlet Minivet are commonly seen. In addition to the ecology of flora and fauna, the most captivating scenery of Beidawushan is the tranquil and secretive sea of clouds. Under the illumination of morning sunlight and evening sunset, it appears like a celestial paradise, indescribably beautiful. Beidawushan is also the only mountain from which one can view the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the Pacific Ocean simultaneously, earning it the reputation as a "Grand View of Mountains and Seas."
