Mingchi Forest Recreation Area

Mingchi is a small artificial lake at around eleven hundred and fifty metres on the Northern Cross-Island Highway, sitting in cypress and hemlock forest that is in cloud for a large part of the year. The mist over the water with dead standing trees in it is the image the place is known for, and it is nicknamed the pearl of the Northern Cross-Island Highway. Trails run round the lake and out into the forest, and the neighbouring Cilan area holds a grove of very large old cypress named after historical figures.

What you'll find

• The misty lake - a small lake with standing dead trees, usually in cloud.
• The cypress forest - hemlock and cypress on the slopes around the water.
• The Cilan giant trees - a nearby grove of very large old cypress.
• The lake trail - a short circuit around the water.

When to go

March to November is the season. Cloud and mist are frequent in any month, which is the appeal rather than a problem. Winter is cold and can bring ice to the road.

What to expect

The lake is small and the circuit takes twenty minutes. Accommodation on site is limited and expensive. The mountain road in is long and winding.

Nearby

Nan'ao is southeast, and Lalashan is west across the ranges.

Key facts