Dream Lake Introduction
Dream Lake is located on the southeast slope of Qixing Mountain, at an elevation of about 860 meters. The formation of the lake is not yet clearly understood; it may be a crater lake or a depression filled with water caused by gas vents, or it could result from volcanic hollow areas. The lake is home to a rare aquatic fern known as Taiwan water fern, which grows at a very low latitude globally. This plant is extremely rare, and to protect this national treasure-level aquatic fern, Dream Lake has been designated as an ecological protected area. General visitors are prohibited from entering the lake area, but a platform has been set up nearby for scenic viewing. During autumn and winter, rainfall is scarce, and the lake surface often dries up. In spring and summer, there is frequent drizzle, and after the rainy season or heavy rains, the lake can overflow. If encased in mountain mist, the lake's colors and the surrounding scenery appear dreamlike and ethereal. The route passes through Yangmingshan Bus Terminal -> Visitor Center -> Lengshuikeng Station → Dream Lake → Qixing Park → Visitor Center Station. The distance for the journey is approximately 3.1 kilometers. The walking time is about 110 minutes. The route conditions include an uphill steep slope from Lengshuikeng Station to Dream Lake and a downhill steep slope from Dream Lake to the Visitor Center. The features along the way: Dream Lake is an ecological protected area, the habitat for the national treasure-level Taiwan water fern and various aquatic plants. The sounds of numerous frogs, insects, and birds harmonize in the misty atmosphere of the lake, beautifully accentuating the natural rhythm. Qixing Park has pavilions and long corridors, providing a good view on clear days, allowing one to gaze up at the lush vegetation of Qixing Mountain or overlook Taipei City, Shamao Mountain, and even distant views of the Xueshan mountain range.
