Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
The Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area has been closed since the Morakot disaster, currently only allowing access to the Xiangyang Trail, Xiangsong Trail, Songjing Trail, and Songtao Trail, which connect to the Jiaming Lake National Trail. If you wish to proceed to the observation platform, please apply for a mountain entry permit from the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior and a day return permit (or cabin accommodation approval) from the Taitung Forest District Office in advance. For more information, please check the official website of the recreation area. The park is located in an important habitat for wildlife in Guanshan, where you might encounter rare species such as the Formosan shoulder-billed magpie and the blue-bellied parrot. Additionally, Formosan black bears have been spotted in the area, so visitors must securely store food and kitchen waste and take all trash down the mountain to practice Leave No Trace principles. The Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is situated at the border of Kaohsiung and Taitung. It takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Jiaxian, Kaohsiung, and approximately 1.5 hours from Guanshan, Taitung. At an altitude of 2,320 meters, the park belongs to a foggy climate zone. The rising currents of the Xinwulu Creek area carry moisture, creating a misty and humid environment where sea of clouds is easily visible. Upon entering the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area, visitors first encounter the Visitor Service Center, which features exhibition rooms, a multimedia room, and a lounge that provides ecological explanations of the flora and fauna in the area, introductions to forest trails, and an overview of Bunun culture. The lounge offers a space for visitors to enjoy stunning views of the sea of clouds and mountain scenery. Currently, it is temporarily closed due to ongoing construction. Four forest trails have been built within the recreation area, namely the Xiangyang Trail, Xiangsong Trail, Songjing Trail, and Songtao Trail, designed for visitors to enjoy the fragrant greenery of the mountains and the majestic high-altitude canyons. The Xiangyang Trail and Xiangsong Trail are covered with vibrant red leaves in winter (November to January) during cold waves, while the Songjing Trail sees the blooming of the banner orchid from March to May, filling the path with the scent of orchids swaying in the wind. The Songtao Trail features a viewing platform that offers the best view of the Daguanshan. At the intersection of the Songjing, Xiangsong, and Songtao Trails, there are ruins of the Xiangyang garrison built during the Japanese colonial period. It's worth mentioning that further up the Songtao Trail leads to the entrance of Jiaming Lake. In addition to its breathtaking views, the rich ecological environment of Xiangyang is particularly attractive. The vegetation in the forest recreation area mainly consists of Formosan red pine, red cypress forests, Formosan mountain cherry, Formosan strawberry, and abundant fern species. Various wildlife species are also present, including mammals such as the Formosan serow, Formosan macaque, white-faced flying squirrel, and striped squirrel. Reptile species include the hundred pace snake, red-tailed green tree snake, snakehead flower, collared snake, umbrella snake, rice field snake, mountain skink, southern snake, fine-patterned southern snake, red-mottled snake, flower-patterned snake, stink bug, and king snake. Visitors are advised not to disturb them if encountered. In the valley, butterflies are a natural staple, with common species including the twin ring butterfly, pale purple butterfly, red-dotted butterfly, small red-dotted butterfly, Yongze snake-eyed butterfly, Formosan small patterned snake-eyed butterfly, Penglai small purple butterfly, glass butterfly, star-pointed three-line butterfly, red butterfly, red-edged yellow small gray butterfly, and Formosan black swallowtail butterfly. Their graceful flight is truly stunning. The melodious calls of mountain birds also contribute to the charm of the area. Birds are primarily distributed near the Yajiao and Xiangyang areas, with species found between Yajiao and Guanshan including the golden-winged white-browed bush robin, crowned bush robin, and mountain warbler. In winter, crows, red-headed tits, coal tits, blue-backed tits, and fire-crowned bulbul are common, while year-round sightings include the gray-headed bush robin and Alishan magpie. Near Xiangyang, species include the golden-winged white-browed bush robin, eye-painted bush robin, white-eared bush robin, crowned bush robin, gray-headed bush robin, bush tit, mountain redhead, patterned bush robin, green bush robin, white wagtail, gray wagtail, crows, pine crows, red-headed tits, coal tits, blue-backed tits, phoenix, black-faced, red-breasted flycatchers, red-tailed flycatchers, yellow-breasted blue flycatchers, crowned eagle, crested serpent eagle, gray-headed eagle, lead-colored thrush, purple bush robin, little cut-tail, white-browed robin, mountain warbler, brown-faced warbler, rock wren, brown speckled flowerpecker, and five-colored birds, including the seldom-seen shoulder-billed magpie and blue-bellied parrot, which visitors may encounter in the early morning before people are present. *Currently, the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is closed. For detailed information, please contact the Xiangyang Forest Recreation Area or visit the official website for inquiries.*
