Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
※ The Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area has been closed since the Morakot disaster, and currently only the Xiangyang Trail, Xiangsong Trail, Songjing Trail, and Songtao Trail leading to the Jiaming Lake National Trail are open. If you wish to proceed beyond the observation platform, please apply for a mountain entry permit from the Ministry of the Interior, National Police Agency, and a same-day round-trip permit (or mountain hut approval) from the Taitung Forest District Management Office in advance. For more information, please visit the official website of the recreation area. The park is located in an important habitat for wildlife in Guanshan, where rare species such as the Mikado Pheasant and Blue Pheasant may be encountered. Additionally, the area is home to Formosan Black Bears, so visitors must keep food and kitchen waste properly stored and carry all garbage down the mountain, practicing Leave No Trace principles. The Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is situated at the border of Kaohsiung and Taitung, approximately 2.5 hours from Jiaxian, Kaohsiung, and about 1.5 hours from Guanshan, Taitung. The park, at an elevation of 2,320 meters, belongs to a mist forest climate, with the rising air currents in the Xinxin River area carrying moisture to create a cool, misty environment where sea of clouds can be easily seen. The first sight you will encounter upon entering the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is the Visitor Service Center, which features an exhibition room, multimedia room, and a lounge that provides ecological explanations of local flora and fauna, introductions to forest trails, and insights into the Bunun culture. The lounge offers visitors a location to enjoy the stunning views of cloud seas and mountains, but is currently closed for construction. The forest recreation area features four forest trails: Xiangyang Trail, Xiangsong Trail, Songjing Trail, and Songtao Trail, allowing visitors to enjoy the fragrance of the mountain greenery and the majestic high mountain gorges. From November to January, during cold spells, the Xiangyang Trail and Xiangsong Trail are adorned with bright red fallen leaves. From March to May, the Songjing Trail is lined with blooming Dendrobium orchids, swaying in the wind and filling the path with their delicate fragrance. There is an observation platform along the Songtao Trail that offers the best viewpoint for gazing at Daguanshan. At the intersection of Songjing, Xiangsong, and Songtao Trails, you can find the remains of the Xiangyang Garrison Station built during the Japanese colonial period. It’s worth mentioning that further up the Songtao Trail is the entrance to Jiaming Lake. Besides its grand scenery, what truly attracts visitors to Xiangyang is its rich ecological environment, featuring primarily Taiwan Red Pine, Red Cypress forests, Formosan Alder, and a variety of ferns. The area is also home to several species of wildlife, including mammals such as the Formosan Serow, Formosan Macaque, Taiwan White-Faced Flying Squirrel, Mountain Goat, and Striped Squirrel. Reptiles include the Hundred-Pacers, Red Tail Green Whip Snake, Turtle Shell Flower, Keelback, Umbrella Snake, Rice Paddy Rat Snake, Mountain Sword Snake, Southern Snake, Fine-striped Southern Snake, Red-spotted Snake, Flower-patterned Snake, Stinkhorn Leptodactylus, and Ratsnake, among others. If you encounter them, do not disturb them. Butterflies are also abundant in the valley, with common species like the Common Mormon, Pale Yellow Butterfly, Red Dot Butterfly, Small Red Dot Butterfly, Formosan Common Blue Butterfly, Taiwan Common Blue Butterfly, Formosan Little Purple Butterfly, Glassy Tiger, Starry Three-lined Butterfly, Red Butterfly, Red-edged Yellow Small Gray Butterfly, and Formosan Black Gray Butterfly. Their graceful flight is truly captivating. The melodious local mountain birds are another highlight, primarily found near the Meishan and Xiangyang areas. Bird species between Meishan and Guanshan include the Golden-winged Sunbird, Crested Bush Warbler, and Hill Wren, with winter visitors such as crows, Red-headed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue-backed Tits, and Fire-capped Tit. Throughout the year, you can spot the Grey-headed Garden Warbler and Ali Mountain Rock Thrush. Nearby Xiangyang, common bird species include the Golden-winged Sunbird, Taiwanese Bulbul, White-eared Bulbul, Crested Bush Warbler, Grey-headed Garden Warbler, Brown-flanked Bush Wren, Tsushima Red-start, Greenish Warbler, White Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, crow, Formosan Blue Magpie, Red-headed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue-backed Tit, Crimson Minivet, Black-faced Bunting, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Red-tailed Robin, Yellow-breasted Blue Tit, Greater Spotted Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Grey-backed Drongo, Lead-colored Thrush, Purple-backed Thrush, Fork-tailed Sunbirds, Red Mountain-Tanager, and more. The rare Mikado Pheasant and Blue Pheasant can also be encountered early in the morning before human activity. ※ Currently, the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is closed. For detailed information, please contact the Xiangyang Forest Recreation Area or visit the official website.
