Bashan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
The Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area is located in the Heping District of Taichung City, with its main peak standing at an altitude of 2,366 meters, approximately 8,000 Taiwanese feet, thus earning the name "Baxian" (Eight Immortals). The area is blessed with lush forests and a refreshing climate, where the Shihwen Creek and Jiabao Creek converge. The water flows from the deep mountain forests, resulting in crystal-clear water quality, with rocks of various sizes scattered throughout the creek, creating a soothing babbling sound. The natural ecological resources are rich, and it was once one of Taiwan's three main timberlands, characterized by a strong forestry culture, making it an excellent destination for nature leisure experiences during weekends! The Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area is situated at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,938 meters, encompassing the Baxian Mountain and Malun Mountain among others. Positioned on the alluvial terrace (Jiabao Terrace) where Jiabao Creek flows into Shihwen Creek, both creeks boast pure and ample water quality. The Shihwen Creek valley is magnificent, with stunning scenery featuring grotesque rock formations, where pristine white and gray-green giant rocks are irregularly arranged. Wandering through this landscape, one can easily forget the mundane world. Currently, the Baxian Mountain area is primarily represented by species such as the two-needle pine, Taiwan five-needle pine, Taiwan cypress, and plants from the family Fagaceae. The two-needle pine is found in landslide areas and sunlit hillsides that have been developed, as it contains a large amount of resin, making it prone to forest fires. The Taiwan five-needle pine is mostly distributed along ridges and has been present in the Shihwen Creek basin for a considerable period, often seen growing at higher ages in Baxian Mountain. In landslide areas, along with slow colonization by species like Schizachyrium and some pioneer plants, many ferns thrive on large rocks due to the moist mists in the foggy environment. Common species include the Sphenomeris chinensis, Diplazium subtrichomanes, and various species of the family Aspleniaceae. Under the emergence of "pioneer species," a number of Lauraceae, Padangaceae, and Fagaceae plants gradually join to form a secondary forest, slowly covering the landslide areas. During this time, vines like Frankia, blood vine, and yellow vine begin to climb these young trees, effectively taking over other spaces within the forest. With a "self-sufficient" environment provided by the plants, insects gradually inhabit this newly formed forest, attracting birds that feed on insects and plant fruits, such as the blue-back tit, ruby-crowned kinglet, and others. Seasonal species migrate down from higher altitudes in winter, making this valley vibrant and making the Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area, located by the Shihwen Creek, one of the best places for ecological observation in central Taiwan. The geology within the recreation area primarily consists of weak sandstone, shale, and hard rock formations. Due to the erosion and cutting by Shihwen Creek, the steep terrain has remained largely undisturbed, resulting in exceptionally clean water quality and rich ecological resources. Every autumn, many of the red-bellied frogs, which mature in the forest underbrush, gather in the Shihwen Creek for their annual group wedding. Once the tadpoles grow into juvenile frogs in the stream, they embark on a journey back to the forest. In the Shihwen Creek, one can also spot riverine birds such as kingfishers, lead-colored thrushes, Taiwan violet thrushes, water ravens, green herons, and common tail robins, making this an ideal habitat for stream-dwelling birds. The development of Baxian Mountain began with its precious cypress forests shrouded in mist. In 1911, Japanese occupants, noting the mountain's height of nearly 8,000 Taiwanese feet (7,998 Taiwanese feet, approximately 2,410 meters), originally planned to name it "Baqianshan" but later opted for the more elegant "Baxianshan." However, the overall development commenced in 1914 when the Japanese Government-General's Bureau of State Mines instructed the Alishan Workstation to conduct surveys aimed at developing the forest area for logging valuable tree species such as cypress and cedar, with a planned area of about 14,600 hectares, including regions like Baxian Mountain and Baigudashan. The following year, the Forestry Bureau was established under the Government-General, allowing the management of Baxian Mountain timber resources to transition from the Alishan Workstation to the Forestry Bureau. A forest railway was laid out from Fengyuan leading to the Baxian Mountain area. During the peak logging period, many lumber workers lived there, and they constructed schools, guesthouses, offices, and shrines at Jiabao Terrace, creating a small community. The former Baxian Mountain logging site was ranked among Taiwan's three major timberlands alongside Alishan and Taiping Mountain. After Taiwan's restoration, it was restructured as the Baxian Mountain logging area, continuing forestry management. Logging ceased in the 1980s, and the Baxian Mountain forest area began evolving towards recreational tourism, leading to the establishment of the forest recreation area. The elementary schools and shrines have since disappeared due to earthquakes and the ravages of time, and the forest railway from Baxian Mountain to Fengyuan has gradually vanished due to landslides and neglect, becoming mere memories for the locals. Nature is always undergoing succession. Taiwan faces the relentless challenges of typhoons and earthquakes, which is a recurring destiny for its ecosystems and a driving force behind Taiwan's biodiversity and richness. Observing closely in the Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area allows one to deeply appreciate these wonders—a profound gift that nature offers to the people of Taiwan. (This text is excerpted from the official website of the Baxian Mountain Forest Recreation Area)
