Sisters Lake Introduction
After passing the Alishan House Hotel and traversing a grove of Taiwania trees, you will see a clear little pond on your left—this is Meitan, one of the two Sister Ponds. The Sister Ponds consist of two alpine lakes of varying sizes, and the legend says that this was the place where two mountain sisters sacrificed themselves for love, hence the name. Meitan is slightly round in shape, covering an area of about 20 ping (approx. 66 square meters), and is surrounded by a dense forest of red cypress trees. This red cypress forest was renewed by the Japanese in 1930 through natural seeding and is currently one of the most densely distributed areas of red cypress in the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. The larger pond, Jitan, is rectangular and covers approximately 160 ping (approx. 528 square meters). It features two pavilions supported by two cypress trees, connected to the shore by a wooden bridge, creating a beautiful landscape. The two ponds are only about 50 meters apart, with crystal-clear green waters that resemble a still mirror. The well-designed trails surrounding the Sister Ponds allow visitors to easily enjoy the serene and beautiful natural scenery of these two interdependent alpine lakes.
