Xitou Nature Education Area Introduction
At Xitou, a natural classroom, observe the bamboo sea, take a forest bath, cleanse your mind, and fully enjoy the wonderful baptism 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 of National Taiwan University and is a famous summer retreat in Taiwan, surrounded by mountains on three sides, with fresh air and a natural sweetness in every breath! The park is home to precious tree species such as Taiwanese cedar, false cypress, hinoki, and ginkgo, with a dense forest and a cool climate, making it suitable for forest bathing, bird watching, hiking, and educational observation activities. Legend has it that within the park stands the "Red Cyprus God Tree," which is over 3,000 years old, growing around a giant rock. Despite several hollowed and decayed branches, it still stands tall and proud. Along the path to the sacred tree is a grove of Taiwanese cedar, and taking a stroll along the unique sky corridor allows for a close-up view of the canopy ecology of the cedar forest from above! The Moso bamboo forest area offers a serene landscape of vast bamboo fields, perfect for leisurely walks. Here, there is also a "ginkgo grove," with over one hundred trees aged over eighty years, making it one of the largest ginkgo groves in Taiwan! Nestled in the quiet Moso bamboo forest is a bamboo-decorated building known as the Bamboo Lodge. It once served as a residence for Chiang Kai-shek, now the gates are locked and not open to the public. However, its elegant and comfortable architectural style is unforgettable!
