Zhaoping (Station and Park Area) Introduction
Main attractions in Zhaoping include Zhaoping Station, Zhaoping Park (also known as Nature Park), and a logging machine (pillar). The starting point for the sunrise trail to Zhushan also departs from Zhaoping, and it takes about 40 minutes to reach Zhushan Station. The open area next to Zhaoping Station is Zhaoping Park, which was initially planned as a nature park but was later repositioned as Zhaoping Park due to its historical and cultural value. The park is home to various alpine plants, such as mountain cherry, Oshima cherry, Fugenzo cherry, Morii rhododendron, multi-flowered wisteria, Western apple, weeping crabapple, shiny-leaf pearlberry, cultivar crabapple, Yunnan golden bell, peach-leaf corallodendron, hydrangea, yellow flag iris, Canna indica, and daylily. In early spring, the park is filled with vibrant spring colors, making it a famous flower viewing spot in the recreational area. In autumn, it is adorned with plants that change color, such as Taiwan red maple, creating a breathtaking landscape that captivates passing visitors. In the past, every logging site in Taiwan had a steam logging machine. After the Alishan area ended direct logging operations in 1967, many tools were sold off, and the logging machine here was auctioned off for scrap metal at a price of NT$10,000. Following the rise of national forest recreation areas, a steam logging machine was purchased from Hualien Lintianshan for exhibition purposes.
