Beidawu Mountain Introduction
Beidawushan is located at the boundary between 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. It is also the only peak in southern Taiwan that exceeds 3,000 meters, earning it the titles of "the Barrier of Southern Taiwan" and "the Mother of Pingtung." In the traditional beliefs of the Rukai and Paiwan tribes, Dawushan is regarded as a sacred mountain, the dwelling place of ancestral spirits. Beidawushan features majestic and magnificent mountain shapes with sheer cliffs, classified geographically as a geological upwarp and listed as one of Taiwan's Five Peaks. The mountain area's environment is natural and primitive, providing a good habitat for various plant resources and wildlife. In terms of plant communities, the area transitions from tropical broadleaf forests to near the ridge line around the Dawu Temple, which has turned into cold-temperate coniferous forests, representing the largest remaining "primitive forest belt" in Taiwan. The birdlife along Beidawushan is also abundant. Between Jiaping Highway and Xintaiwu, common birds include the Taiwanese Scimitar Babbler, the Eyebrowed Thrush, the Black-browed Bushtit, the Red-faced Liocichla, the Ferruginous Flycatcher, the Brown-headed Thrush, and others. From Xintaiwu Village to the trailhead, birds such as the Red-billed Leiothrix, the Short-tailed Chiffchaff, the White-eared Sibia, the Bamboo Partridge, the Crested Serpent Eagle, and various eagles can be observed. For birdwatching, visitors can reach the triangulation point at the summit of Beidawushan from the trailhead via the Huigu Cabin at 2,200 meters elevation, where birds like the Black-throated Titu, the Gold-winged Bunting, the Blue-back Tit, and the Crimson-collared Tanager are often spotted. In addition to the ecology of flora and fauna, Beidawushan's most charming scenery is the tranquil and secretive sea of clouds. Bathed in the morning sunlight and evening glow, this place appears as a fairyland, beautiful beyond words. Beidawushan is also the only mountain that can simultaneously overlook the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the Pacific Ocean, thus earning the nickname "Great View of Mountain and Sea."
