Cat Mountain Trail Introduction
The entrance to the Maolanshan Trail is located next to the Fuli Hotel and leads to parts of the Agricultural Research and Extension Station for Tea and Beverage Crops and the Central Weather Bureau Sun Moon Lake Weather Station, with a total length of approximately 4.6 kilometers. The trail offers a serene environment and excellent views, allowing visitors to enjoy the sprawling Assam tea gardens, Taiwan red cypress, and panoramic views of Sun Moon Lake. At the summit, one can gaze out at Jiufen Ershan and Jiji Mountain. The Sun Moon Lake Weather Station is situated at an elevation of 1,020 meters, with outdoor meteorological instruments. Early morning is the best time to stroll along Maolanshan, winding up from the entrance along the red tea terraces, flanked by the renowned Assam tea. The terrace situated by the lake is an ideal spot to watch the sunrise, sea of clouds, and morning mist over the mountains and waters. The shaded path from the tea research station to the weather observation station offers a workout, and the 3-kilometer route features a camphor olive tree path and straight Taiwan cypress forests, accompanied by the sounds of chirping insects and singing birds, culminating in breathtaking views of Jiufen Ershan and Jiji Mountain. The tea research center halfway up the mountain is a building left from the Japanese colonial era, rich in Eastern flavor. In response to the renaming of the tea research center to "Agricultural Research and Extension Station for Tea and Beverage Crops" after expanding its research scope (without an increase in staff), beginning April 2015, the tea research center and its branches will no longer accept visits from domestic and international guests arranged by travel agencies. *Visitors wishing to tour the Tea and Beverage Crop Research Station should contact the designated personnel two weeks prior to the visit date. Upon confirmation, the applicant must submit a formal application on behalf of their organization or unit, including the organization name, number of visitors, visit date and time, items for the visit, intended duration of stay, contact person, and phone number.
