Forest Recreation Areas
¡@The Central Mountain Range of Taiwan enters Ilan county from the West and takes up 3/4 of the total area of Ilan county. These towering mountains provide an incredibly scenic mountain landscape and are home to several of Taiwan's most famous Forest Recreation Areas located along the North Cross-Island Highway.
16. Mingchr Forest Recreation Area
¡@17km away from Chilan nursery gardens, Mingchr is the highest point of the North Cross Island Highway. This often fog surrounded lake is nestled in the mountains quite nicely and is encircled by Cryptomeria and Cypress trees. There is a walking path around the lake with a lookout station for visitors to enjoy the scenery. Log cabins and a hostel are available. Please reserve one week in advance.
Mingchr Hostel
Telephone: 03-989-4104 32 Rooms and 36 Individual Log Cabins Available
Address: No. 41, Mingchr Alley, Yingshr Tsuen, Datung Shiang, Ilan
How to get there
By Bus:
¡@Take a bus of the Taiwan Bus Company from Ilan to Baling, passing Chilan, then get off at Mingchr.
By Car:
¡@From Ilan take Provincial Road #7 to Niudou, continue driving about 8.5km, in front of Baitau Bridge turn right to stay on Provincial Road #7 to Mingchr.
17. Chinese Historic Men Arboretum
¡@Located at the 12th km of the Chilan forest path inside a primitive forest, this is the area where several thousand year old red Cypress trees grow. Each of the 61 trees is named after a famous person in Chinese history, which name is selected by the age closest to the date of the birth of the man such as "the Confucious Divine Tree thus making the visit fun and educational.
A Journey in the divine forest
¡@Chilan or Mingchr Forest Recreation Area - Chinese Historic Men Arboretum - Cypress Natural Restoration Site - Forestry By - Products Center - Chilan or Mingchr Forest Recreation Area
Fees:
For people not staying at the center' s resort NT$700 , Children under 5 NT$350
For people staying at the center' s resort NT$590 , Children under 5 NT$290
Reservations must be made at least one day in advance (before 4:00p.m.)
18.Chilan Forest Recreation Area
¡@About 38km from Ilan and Luodung in Tuchang Tsuen, is the Chilan Forest Recreation Area. Inside the forest area, the slopes of the mountain are terraced and act as tree nurseries for cryptomeria trees. There is also a Chiang Kai-shek's cottage, and recreation facilities. Chilan Villa, provides cozy accommodations. While visiting, don't forget to try the local food specialty-The Monkey Head Mush-room.
Chilan Villa
Telephone: 03-980-9606 or 03-980-9607 50 Suites and 30 Cottages Available
Address: 62 Tuchang Alley, Taiping Tsuen, Datung Shiang, Ilan.
How to get there
By Bus:
¡@Take a Taiwan Bus Company bus from Ilan heading toward Nanshan and Lishan, then get off at the Chilan Forest Recreation Area. Or, if leaving from Luodung, take the bus heading to Tuchang and Taiping Mountain to the Chilan Forest Recreation Area.
By Car:
¡@From Ilan, take Provincial Road #7 to Niudou, then cross the Baitau Bridge to get to the Chilan Forest Recreation Area.
19. Rentze Hot Springs
¡@At 500m above sea level in Tuchang Tsuen, Datung Shiang, Rentze is the midway point to the Taiping Mountain Forest Recreation Area. The odorless and colorless water of the Hot Springs contains calcium carbonate and is usually above 95'C. After bathing, your skin will feel lustrous and smooth. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby forest paths and do some bird watching. The Rentze Hostel, build by the Ilan Forest Administration Office, can provide accommodations.
Telephone: 03-9809603
Address: No.25 Shaushuei Alley, Taiping Tsuen, Datung Shiang, Ilan
How to get there
By Bus:
¡@Take a bus of the Taiwan Bus Company from Ilan heading to Rentze or Taiping Mountain, get off at Rentze.
By Car:
¡@From Ilan take Provincial Road #7 to Jiayuan Bridge, turn left to Tuchang continue driving until the road forks, take the right fork to Rentze.
20.Taiping Mountain Forest Recreation Area
Taiping Mountain, 1,950m above sea level, was once one of the largest forestry areas in Taiwan, but now it has become a forest recreation area. It's scenic spots include: the Rentze Hot Springs, the Lantai Tree Nursery and Gardens, a Primitive Forest Park, an Independent Mountain Wildlife Protection Area, and Tsueifeng Lake. The Taiping Cloud Sea area between the forest park and the Independent Mountain is excellent for watching sunrises, clouds, and snow.
Telephone: 03-980-9806
Address: 58-1 Taiping Tsuen, Datung Shiang, Ilan County
How to get there
By Bus:
Take a Taiwan Bus Company bus from Ilan or Luodung to Taiping Mountian.
By Car:
¡@From Ilan, take Provincial Rd. #7 to Jiayuan Bridge, turn left to T'uchang leading directly to the Taiping Forest Recreation Area
21. Tsueifeng Lake
¡@Between Taiping and Dayuan Mountains, this 20ha lake is 1,900m above sea level, making it the largest mountaintop lake in Taiwan. The water is crystal clear. Visitors should not miss the sunrise over Tsueifeng Lake and can also look for the rare Mikado and Blue Belly Pheasants. Tsueifeng Lake requires a type Yi(¤A) permit to visit. The permit can be obtained at the Taiping Mountain Inspection Office with a passport. If driving, note the specific times when entry is permissible. The last 5km of the road is not paved, yet excellent for hiking.
How to get there
By Bus:
¡@Take a Taiwan Bus Company bus from Ilan to Taiping Mountain, get off at the last stop, and walk 18km to Tsueifeng Lake.
Birdwatching
¡@Ilan's beautiful mountains and plains are rich with forests and swamp areas making it a suitable place for birds.
Mountain birds:
¡@In the following Taiping Mountain areas: Rentze, Mingchr, Chilan, Tsueifeng Lake, and Yuanyang Lake live the following birds: The Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper, Taiwan Laughing Thrush, Steere's Liocichla, and the national treasures - the Mikado Pheasant and the swinhoe's Pheasant. April - June is the best time for watching these birds.
Migrants:
¡@River estuary and swamp areas are the favored resting areas of migrants as they migrate in the spring and fall seasons. These are also good places for water foul to pass the winter months.
¡@The following areas are good for bird watching:
¡@Also known as Yuanshan Park, the park is situated about 500m north of the local train station. With its shadow rich tree-lined roads, the park is a local place of leisure, and is home to Ilan's Tourist Information Center.
¡@Northeast of Jiaushi in the Pacific in the Pacific Ocean is Turtle Mountain Island thus named because it resembles a sea turtle. Covering an area of only 2.9sq km, it is Taiwan' s Northeast coast' s most important strategic point of defense. Since the Ching Dynasty, viewing the sunrise over Turtle Mountain Island has been a renowned spectacle. The early morning sunrise when viewed from Toucheng beach or the estuary of the Lanyang River from April to September is the most splendid.
¡@Dungshan River, famous for it's scenery attracts a large number of visitors. People especially like to visit Chingshuei park where visitors can enjoy outdoor stage shows, a shallow pool for water fun, and a deeper pool for canoeing. There are green and yellow ceramic dragons guarding the riverbank, and a colorful mosaic made by students for visitors to enjoy. When visiting in the summer, don't forget your swimming gear, there is a public swimming pool in the park.
¡@Each year from the 3rd to the 9th month of the lunar calendar net fishing activities are held along the coast in Dafu. Long ago, this primitive fishing method was used by the local fisherman to make a living. When a school of fish approached, some of the fisherman would row their rafts out to sea to spread nets. Other fishermen stayed on the shore to pull the nets back, collecting the catch. The participants would share the catch.