Jiaming Lake Introduction
Located on the Southern Cross-Island Highway, on the eastern side of Xiangyang Mountain, Jiaming Lake is an alpine lake about 7 kilometers in a straight line, renowned as the "blue sapphire lost by the emperor in the human world" and "the tears of angels." Surrounded by lush green forest vegetation, the clear lake surface reflects the deep blue sky, appearing as a serene fairyland. Situated above Xiangyang, Jiaming Lake is the second highest alpine lake in Taiwan, only after the Cui Pond of Xueshan. The lake is oval in shape, measuring approximately 120 meters in length, 80 meters in width, and 6 meters in depth, with an elevation of about 3,310 meters. Before heading to Jiaming Lake, one must register for the mountain climbing process at the Xiangyang Police Station within the Xiangyang National Forest Recreation Area to ensure safety. After exiting the Xiangyang Forest Recreation Area, the trail leads through the Jiaming Lake trailhead, Xiangyang Lodge, Heishuitang, Yushan Juniper, the Xiangyang Great Cliffs, Xiangyang Mountain, the Jiaming Lake intersection, the Xiangyang Mountain Triangulation Point, Yushan Rhododendron, Sancha Mountain, Xiangyang Mountain junction, Sancha Mountain, Jiaming Lake junction, Sancha Mountain Triangulation Point, Sancha Mountain, Jiaming Lake, and the New Kang Mountain junction, before finally reaching Jiaming Lake. This hiking trip takes about three days, with Xiangyang Lodge, Jiaming Lake Mountain Lodge, and the Jiaming Lake campsite being places to stay on the mountain. Along the way, as the elevation increases, the mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest transitions to coniferous forest, then to alpine meadows, with a starry night sky creating a breathtaking scenery. The vast meadow resembles Jiaming Lake, like a stunning blue sapphire embedded in endless green velvet, dazzling and captivating. The forests and meadows around Jiaming Lake are also habitats for sika deer, and if you're lucky, you may have the chance to encounter them. Despite the challenging journey and physical exertion, such captivating scenery is hard to give up.
