Yako Introduction
The Yagou Pass on the Southern Cross-Island Highway is a must-visit spot during the journey, located at the county border between Taitung and Kaohsiung. At an altitude of 2,722 meters, the pass is best known for the Dakan Mountain Tunnel that traverses the main ridge of the Central Mountain Range. It is the highest point on the Southern Cross-Island Highway and the highest tunnel in Taiwan. The Dakan Mountain Tunnel separates the eastern and western halves of Taiwan: to the west belongs to Meishan, Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City; to the east is Lidao Village, Haiduan Township, Taitung County. The landscapes and climates of these two areas differ significantly. The eastern entrance of the Dakan Mountain Tunnel located within Taitung County often forms a sea of clouds at around 2,500 meters in the afternoon, due to the monsoon carrying moisture and the uplift of air currents being blocked by the terrain. Travelers can enjoy magnificent views along the way to the Yagou Pass, including the sun-facing cliff of Xiangyang Mountain, seas of clouds in deep valleys, towering mountains, lush giant trees, and high-altitude waterfalls. The surrounding natural environment and rich ecology provide opportunities for sightseeing and hiking, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the fresh atmosphere and forget the hustle and bustle of urban life. The Southern Cross-Island Highway has conditional access, but there are still fixed road control times. As the mountain road conditions can change frequently, please remember to check the real-time traffic conditions on the Highway Administration's Intelligent Provincial Highway Real-Time Information Service website before your trip to avoid any impact on your travel plans.
