Sisters Ponds Introduction
After passing the Alishan House, and traversing a forest of Taiwan cypress, you will see on the left a clear small pond—this is Meitan, part of the Sisters Ponds. The Sisters Ponds consist of two alpine lakes of varying sizes. Legend has it that this was the place where two mountain sisters tragically took their lives for love, hence the name. Meitan is slightly round in shape, covering an area of about 20 ping (approximately 66 square meters), and is surrounded by a dense forest of red cypress. This red cypress forest was regenerated by the Japanese in 1930 through natural seeding methods and is currently one of the areas with the highest concentration of red cypress within Alishan National Scenic Area. On the other hand, Jitan is larger, rectangular in shape, and approximately 160 ping (about 528 square meters) in size. The pond features two pavilions atop two cypress tree bases, connected to the shore by a wooden bridge, creating a beautiful scene. The two ponds are only about 50 meters apart, with crystal-clear green water that resembles a still mirror. The trails surrounding the Sisters Ponds are well-designed, allowing visitors to easily appreciate these paired alpine lakes and experience their serene and picturesque natural beauty.
