Biodawushan Introduction
Beidawu Mountain is located at the border between Pingtung County and Taitung County, belonging to the main ridge at the southernmost end of the Central Mountain Range, with an elevation of approximately 3,090 meters. It offers views of the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the Pacific Ocean, making it the only peak in southern Taiwan that exceeds 3,000 meters. It is affectionately known as the "Barrier of Southern Taiwan" and the "Mother of Pingtung." In the traditional beliefs of the Rukai and Paiwan tribes, Beidawu Mountain is considered the dwelling place of ancestral spirits, thus regarded as a sacred mountain. The majestic and steep shape of Beidawu Mountain belongs to the geological classification of fault-block terrain and is listed as one of Taiwan's five sacred mountains. Due to the pristine environmental conditions in the mountainous region, it provides a favorable habitat for various plant resources and wildlife. In terms of plant communities, the vegetation changes from tropical broadleaf forests to boreal coniferous forests near the confluence of Da Wu Shrine, making it the largest remaining "primitive forest belt" in Taiwan. The birdlife along the route to Beidawu Mountain is also rich. Between Jiaping Highway and Xintaiwu, common bird species include the Black-faced Bunting, Taiwan Bush-Warbler, and several types of bluebirds and orioles. From the Xintaiwu tribe to the mountain trailhead, one can encounter the Formosan Blue Magpie, Taipei Sparrow, and various eagles. For birdwatching, one can reach the summit of Beidawu Mountain via the mountain trail, which ascends through Huigu Valley Lodge at an altitude of 2,200 meters, where species like the Taiwanese Bush-Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, and Flame-colored Tanager are often spotted along this path. Besides the ecological landscape of flora and fauna, the most charming sight at Beidawu Mountain is its serene, mystical sea of clouds. Bathed in the morning sunlight and evening glow, it resembles a paradise on earth, so beautiful that it leaves one speechless. Beidawu Mountain is also the only high mountain that can simultaneously overlook the Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel, and the Pacific Ocean, earning it the epithet of "Grand View of Mountains and Seas."
