Bashan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area Introduction
Baishan Mountain Forest Recreation Area is located in the Heping District of Taichung City, with its main peak rising to 2,366 meters, approximately 8,000 feet, hence the name "Baishan." The area is rich in verdant forests and enjoys a refreshing climate. The Tenwen Stream and Jiabao Stream converge in this area, with clear water sourced from deep mountain forests, where rocks of various sizes are scattered throughout, creating gentle flows. The natural ecological resources are abundant, and it was once one of Taiwan's three major logging areas, rich in forestry culture, making it one of the best places for leisure and experiencing nature on weekends! The Baishan Mountain Forest Recreation Area is situated within the elevation range of 700 to 2,938 meters, encompassing Baishan and Malun Mountain, among others. It is located on the alluvial terrace (Jiabao Terrace) where the Jiabao Stream flows into the Tenwen Stream, with both streams featuring clear and clean water supplies. The Tenwen Stream valley is magnificent and beautiful, with irregularly arranged white and gray-green boulders dotting the stream, offering a serene escape from the mundane world. The crystal-clear blue waters of the stream rush past the giant rocks, creating white foamy tides alongside lush green forests, providing a feeling of seclusion from the world. Currently, the Baishan area is represented by various plant species, including Pinus taiwanensis, Taiwan five-needle pine, Alumroot, cedar, and plants from the Fagaceae family. Pinus taiwanensis is distributed on collapsed land and sunny hills that have been developed, as it contains a lot of resin and is highly prone to forest fires. Taiwan five-needle pine mainly grows on ridges, and the older age of these pines on Baishan shows that they have existed in the Tenwen Stream basin for a long time. The collapsed areas gradually become colonized by pioneer plants like Arisaema and various fern species due to the humid misty environment, thus becoming the most common species in this area. Under the efforts of "pioneer species" expanding their domain, various Lauraceae, Nanaceae, and Fagaceae plants gradually join to form secondary forests, which eventually cover the collapsed areas. At this time, vines such as Kadsura japonica and Chrysosplenium japonicum begin to climb these young trees. With the plants providing an environment of abundance, insects slowly inhabit the new forest, attracting birds that feed on insects and plant fruits, forming mixed flocks consisting of species like Parus monticolus, Parus major, and Cettia diphone, in addition to many endemic birds migrating from high-altitude areas in winter, making this valley even more vibrant. Thus, the Baishan Mountain Forest Recreation Area, located by the Tenwen Stream, becomes one of the best spots for ecological observation in central Taiwan. The geology of the recreation area mainly consists of weak sandstone, shale, and hard rock. Due to the erosion and cutting by the Tenwen Stream, the terrain is quite steep and has not been overly disturbed, resulting in particularly clean water quality and rich ecological resources. Every autumn, many Bufo gargarizans that grow on the forest floor gather in the Tenwen Stream to participate in their annual group wedding. After the tadpoles grow into young frogs in the flow, they make their way back to the forest. In the Tenwen Stream, one can also see various stream-dwelling birds, including kingfishers, water thrushes, Taiwan blue magpies, cormorants, and green herons, making it a haven for birds that thrive in stream environments. The development of Baishan Mountain began amidst the precious cedar forests shrouded in mist. In 1911, the Japanese, recognizing the height of Baishan Mountain at nearly 8,000 Japanese feet (7,998 Japanese feet, approximately 2,410 meters), initially intended to name it "Baqianshan" but later opted for the more elegant "Baishan." However, overall development began in 1914, when the Japanese Colonial Government's Bureau of Industry instructed the Alishan Operations Office to conduct exploratory surveys, aiming to develop the cedar, cypress, and fir in the forest area, with a planned logging area of approximately 14,600 hectares, including Baishan and Baigudashan. The following year, the Bureau of Forestry was established under the Governor-General's administration, and the management of Baishan forestry was transferred from the Alishan Operations Office to the Bureau of Forestry. A forest railway was constructed from Fengyuan to the Baishan area. During the peak logging period, many lumberjacks lived here, and schools, hostels, offices, and shrines were built in Jiabao Terrace, forming a miniature community. Baishan logging site was once listed among Taiwan's three major logging areas alongside Alishan and Taiping Mountain. After Taiwan's retrocession, it was renamed Baishan Logging Site, continuing forestry operations. It was not until the 1980s that logging was completely halted, and thereafter, the Baishan area began to focus on leisure tourism, establishing the forest recreation area. Over time, the elementary school and shrine were lost to earthquakes and the passage of time, and the forest railway leading from Baishan to Fengyuan gradually disappeared due to landslides and years of neglect, becoming a historical memory for local residents. Nature constantly undergoes succession, and Taiwan faces the storms and earthquakes of typhoons annually; this is the endless fate of Taiwan's ecological cycle, which contributes to the richness and biodiversity of Taiwan. By observing the Baishan Mountain Forest Recreation Area closely, one can deeply appreciate its mysteries, a profound gift from nature to the people of Taiwan. (This article is excerpted from the official website of Baishan Mountain Forest Recreation Area.)
