Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area
A high cedar forest resort in Nantou at around 1,600 metres, with waterfalls, bamboo and a bed of hydrangeas.
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Shanlinxi lies at around sixteen hundred metres above Xitou, in Japanese cedar plantation and remnant broadleaf forest, laid out with a long network of paths linking waterfalls, a bamboo grove, ponds and viewpoints. Hydrangeas flower through May and June and are the busiest draw. The air at this altitude is cool enough that Taiwanese come up simply to escape the summer, and the resort at the centre has been operating for decades.
What you actually see
- The cedar forest - Japanese cedar plantation running across the whole area.
- The waterfalls - Songlong Rock and other falls linked by the path network.
- The hydrangeas - beds flowering through May and June.
- The bamboo groves - stands of moso and other bamboo along the trails.
When to go
March to November is the season, with hydrangeas in May and June. Summer is cool at this altitude and busy for that reason. Winter is cold and quiet.
Honest expectations
The area is large and the walking adds up; a shuttle runs but is slow. Fog and rain are frequent. Accommodation on site is limited and expensive for what it is.
Nearby
Xitou is below, and Sun Moon Lake is north.
What to pack for Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.