Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
※ A Reminder: 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 connecting to the Jiaming Lake National Trail are open. If you wish to proceed beyond the viewing platform, please apply for a mountain entry permit from the Ministry of the Interior's National Police Agency in advance and obtain a same-day round-trip permit (or cabin stay approval permit) from the Taitung Forest District Office. For related information, please check the official website of the recreation area. The area is located in an important habitat for wildlife near Guanshan, where you may encounter the rarely seen Swinhoe's Pheasant and the Blue Pheasant. In addition, the area is home to Formosan Black Bears, and visitors must secure food and kitchen waste and take all garbage down the mountain to implement Leave No Trace principles. The Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is situated at the border of Kaohsiung and Taitung, approximately 2.5 hours from Jiasian in Kaohsiung and about 1.5 hours from Guanshan in Taitung. The area, at an elevation of 2,320 meters, is characterized by a cloud forest climate, and the rising air currents carrying moisture from the Xinwulu Creek area create a cool and misty environment, making sea of clouds easily accessible. Upon entering the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area, the first thing you will see is the visitor center, which has an exhibition room, multimedia room, and lounge, providing ecological explanations of the area's flora and fauna, introductions to forest trails, and insights into the Bunun culture. The lounge offers visitors a space to enjoy the breathtaking sea of clouds and mountain views. Currently, due to ongoing construction, it is temporarily closed. The recreation area has built four forest trails: Xiangyang Trail, Xiangsong Trail, Songjing Trail, and Songtao Trail, for visitors to enjoy the fragrance of the mountain greenery and the grandeur of the high mountains and valleys. The Xiangyang and Xiangsong Trails are covered with vibrant red leaves during the cold waves from November to January. From March to May, the trail alongside the Songjing Trail is adorned with blooming Dendrobium orchids swaying in the wind, filling the pathway with their fragrance. On the Songtao Trail, there is a viewpoint, which is the best spot to gaze at the Daguanshan. At the intersection of the Songjing, Xiangsong, and Songtao Trails, there are the ruins of the Xiangyang police station built during the Japanese colonial period. Additionally, the entrance to Jiaming Lake is located further up the Songtao Trail. Aside from its majestic scenery, what attracts visitors most is its rich ecological environment, with major vegetation comprising Taiwan White Pine, Red Cypress, Taiwan Alder, Taiwan Strawberry, and abundant ferns. Many wild animals reside here, including mammals such as the Formosan Serow, Formosan Macaque, White-faced Flying Squirrel, muntjac, and striped squirrel. Reptiles include the Trimeresurus stejnegeri, Ophiophagus hannah, Rhabdophis subminiatus, Xerotyphlops vermicularis, and many others, so please do not disturb them if you encounter them. The valley is naturally home to butterflies; common species include the Double-ringed Swallowtail, Light Purple Butterfly, Red-spotted Purple Butterfly, Small Red-spotted Butterfly, Yungchow Oak Butterfly, Formosan Sooty Butterfly, and others, whose graceful flight is stunning. The melodious mountain birds are another highlight of the area, primarily distributed around the Yaku and near Xiangyang. Bird species commonly seen from Yaku to Guanshan include the Gold-winged Blackbird, Crested Myna, and others, with winter visitors such as crows and various tit species. Throughout the year, you can also spot Grey-headed Bullfinch, Alishan Thrush, and in the vicinity of Xiangyang, species like the Gold-winged Blackbird, Eye-browed Thrush, and many others. The rarely seen Swinhoe's Pheasant and the Blue Pheasant provide a chance for sightings in the early morning hours before visitors arrive. ※ Currently, the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area is in a closed state. For detailed information, please contact the Xiangyang Forest Recreation Area or visit the official website.
