Maple Lake Introduction
Maple Lake is located to the west of the Datun Mountain Range and is currently the only area in Taiwan with extensive forests of magnolia trees. Commonly known as "lotus flowers growing on trees," magnolia flowers have been respected and cherished by Buddhists for centuries and are also highly valued as medicinal materials and spices, making them quite precious. These flowers have been cared for by local farmers for over 50 years, and more than a thousand magnolia trees have been planted. The shape of the magnolia resembles a lotus seat, making it quite rare in Taiwan. Currently, it can only be found in Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Alishan, and Fo Guang Shan, but the only place with large-scale cultivation is Maple Lake in Tamsui. Don’t miss out on Taipei's most mysterious and precious flower sea! Maple Lake does not actually have a lake; the name originated from six giant sweetgum trees at the early entrance, along with its three-sided mountainous surroundings that make it lake-shaped. The area also hosts cherry blossoms and camellias, creating a stunning red and white flower sea in spring. In recent years, it has been opened for free visits to tourists, becoming a popular flower-viewing spot during the blooming season. Walking into the Maple Lake trail, you can see several historic centenary trees, such as the hundred-year-old cloth tree, the hundred-year-old banyan tree, and the hundred-year-old cherry, standing among them, along with rows of green maple trees turning red and shedding leaves in autumn, which is breathtaking. Nearby, there is another cherry blossom viewing spot—Tianyuan Palace, where visitors can enjoy blooms at both locations and take in the full mountain scenery of flowers.
