Xitou Nature Education Area Introduction
At Xitou, this natural classroom, you can observe the bamboo sea, enjoy a forest bath, and cleanse the dust of your soul while fully experiencing the beauty of phytoncide! In the late Qing Dynasty, Xitou was originally a mountain village known as the "source of the stream." In 1970, it was designated as a forest recreation area, located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain in Lugu Township. It is one of the seven experimental forests of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at National Taiwan University and is renowned as a summer retreat in Taiwan. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and with fresh air, even breathing here has a natural sweetness! The park is planted with precious tree species like Taiwan red cypress, Hinoki cypress, and ginkgo, featuring dense forests and a cool climate, making it suitable for various activities such as forest bathing, bird watching, hiking, and educational observation. Legend has it that there is a "sacred tree of red cypress" within the park, with an age of up to three thousand years, growing around a huge rock. Some of its supporting branches have become hollow and rotted, yet it still stands tall and proud. Next to the sacred tree's trail is a grove of Taiwan red cypress, and a unique canopy walkway offers a close-up view of the tree canopy ecology high above! The Moso bamboo forest area stretches across thousands of acres, with its beautiful and tranquil landscape ideal for leisurely walks. Here, you can also find the "ginkgo grove," also known as "maidenhair tree," with about a hundred trees, each over eighty years old, making it one of the largest ginkgo groves in Taiwan! In the serene Moso bamboo forest stands a building decorated in bamboo, known as the Bamboo Lodge. Once a residence for Chiang Kai-shek, the grand gates are now locked and not open to the public. However, its elegant and comfortable architectural style remains unforgettable!
