Travel Date: 2020/10/18-19
Yesterday, we found accommodation, and this morning around 9 am, we started driving to Shanlinxi. It was still about an hour away. The entrance ticket for adults is 250NT, while kids under 6 years old can enter for free. Additionally, the parking fee is 100NT. Initially, we planned to walk all the way to Songlong Waterfall, but in the end, we decided to take a bus there. The bus ticket costs 40NT for a one-way trip. The weather was still good and warm before noon, but many people were already wearing jackets. The waterfall is truly amazing and, in my opinion, the most beautiful waterfall I have seen so far. There is also a trail to Tian-ti Yen nearby, where you can see remnants of ancient red cypress trees.
On the way back, we walked from the waterfall to the flower center, which was about 1 km away. Even though it was only 1 PM, the sunshine was nowhere to be seen. There is a golden metasequoia forest, but the trees were still green at that time. Hydrangeas barely bloomed during this season as well. There are also plenty of red maple trees, but due to the lack of sunlight, the view wasn't very good. Initially, we planned to walk back to the car park, but since we still planned to visit another place and it was quite foggy, we decided to take the bus instead. The ticket from that place only cost 20NT. When taking the bus, don't forget to wear a mask!
There are a few places where you can buy food, and there is also accommodation, although the prices are quite high compared to staying outside the Forest Recreation Area. We were surprised that our 2.5-year-old kid walked a few kilometers with us. I was worried that we would have to carry him the whole way.
See also: ShanLinXi Maple Season
See also: ShanLinXi Cherry Blossom
See also: ShanLinXi Magnolia Garden
Shanlinxi National Forest Recreation Area (杉林溪森林生態渡假園區)
Shanlinxi National Forest Recreation Area is a well-known scenic spot in central Taiwan. It is located at the southeast end of Daanli (Zhushan, Nantou), 1600 meters above sea level, on the small river valley plain of the upper reaches of Jiazuoliao River. It is close to Xitou. The area is famous for its "Ten Scenic Spots of Shanlin Creek," "Ten Forest Trails," "Six Famous Flowers," and its rich animal and plant ecological landscapes. It serves as a multifaceted forest recreation area with multiple functions such as leisure, accommodation, catering, conferences, and eco-tourism.
The Shanlinxi Highway (95 Township Road) is the only road leading to Shanlinxi. Due to its mountainous location, fog is common in the area during the afternoon. In the past, the Shanlinxi area served as a work area in the logging section of the northern part of the Alishan Forest Farm and was a popular road at the time. Due to its beautiful scenery and moderate location, climbers often chose to camp overnight here.
In 1973, Liu Anding organized the "Shanlinxi Amusement Enterprise Co., Ltd." to lease about 34 hectares of state-owned land from the government for the development of a forest recreation area. He also invested in expanding the original forest road from Xitou to Shanlinxi into a two-lane road. After the construction was completed in 1979, it was officially opened to the public as a mountaineering tourism and leisure resort.
In 1982, Shanlinxi introduced 150 peony flowers from Japan and overcame the cultivation techniques, allowing visitors to enjoy their beauty. Since then, the variety and number of peonies have increased each year, earning the title of "Taiwan Peony Kingdom."
In 1999, the 921 earthquake caused significant damage to the area's roads. Anding Bend, in particular, was blocked by huge rocks and remained closed for nearly four years. With government assistance, the large boulder was blasted, and the collapsed section was replaced with a 643-meter stable tunnel. On August 30, 2003, the park was reopened.
Songlong Waterfall (松瀧岩瀑布)
Songlong Waterfall is accompanied by a natural cave called "Songlong Rock." The rock is primarily composed of sandstone and has been formed through thermal expansion and weathering. The flat top of the rock creates inverted columnar stalactites. The effects of erosion, cutting, and infiltration over the years have shaped the waterfalls, caves, river ditches, and rugged boulders, creating a majestic and beautiful scenery. This has earned Songlong Falls the title of "The First Scenery of Cedar Creek." The uneven ceiling of the cave is a result of "differential erosion" and serves as a nesting place for swallows. The cave occasionally attracts numerous swallows that fly in and around the area, creating a spectacular scene.
Songlong Rock Waterfall is renowned as the "Best Scenery of Shan Lin Xi" due to its majestic and beautiful landscape. During the rainy season, the waterfall tumbles, splashes, and thunders, creating countless breathtaking scenes and atmospheres.
Although we haven't seen everything, there are two more waterfalls to explore. Nearby, there is also another attraction called Wangyou Forest (忘憂森林). After the September 21 earthquake in Nantou, the accumulated water in this area turned into a swamp wetland. Many Chinese fir trees were soaked in the water and died, resulting in the formation of the Wangyou Forest. The towering cedar trees in the forest have no leaves, creating reflections in the water. On sunny days or in foggy conditions, the reflections and scenery are quite remarkable. There are also numerous aquatic plants in the puddles, making it a rich ecological resource. The uphill walk to Wangyou Forest takes about an hour and is not an easy path, so we decided not to go there with our child.
Thanks for the good images! I lived in Taiwan for nearly 2 years back in 1955-57. My father, a forester and logging engineer, was an advisor to to the Taiwan government at the time through the U.S. AID program. No National Forests then...So much has changed!
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