Summary of The Beauty of Mountains in Taiwan

Hello, everyone! This is the last blog article in this semester. I would like to summarize what I have written in the last nine weeks.

First of all, what is the topic I choose in the English Learning Project? That’s “The Beauty of Mountains in Taiwan” Why I choose this topic? Because I have lived in Beitou for more than eighteen years. Beitou is a place where is very near Yangmingshan National Park. Therefore, I have really easy access to reach Mother Nature. When I was a little kid, I went to the park with my grandparent every day. Since then, I was fascinated with all the beauties in the mountains. This is also an important reason why I study in department of Geography now. Because I want to explore much more fantastic and spectacular places in Taiwan or even all over the world while doing my research! That’s why I introduce many mountains in this semester. Next, I would like to review articles I have written in last nine weeks.

1. The Beauty of Yangmingshan National Park

2. The Beauty of the Highest Peak in Taipei

3. Mt. Datun Multi-Peak

4. The First Taiwan Wonder - Yushan National Park

5. Mt. Jade Multi-Peak Trail

6. Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from Above

7. A Few Thoughts after Watching Beyond Beauty Taiwan from above

8. A Brief Introduction to Shei-Pa National Park

9. Mt. Dabajian and Cui Pond in Shei-Pa National Park

10. Summary

Since I live in Beitou, the place I started to introduce is Yangmingshan National Park. There are a great deal of happy memories when I went to this park. When I studied in junior high school, we would go mountain climbing together in spring and enjoy our lunch with a lot of beautiful cherry blossoms. Next, I introduce two of the highest mountains in Yangmingshan National Park- Mt. Quxing and Mt. Datun. I have climbed up these two mountains for more than ten times. We can overlook the whole Taipei Basin when we stand of the summit. We can see how beautiful Taipei is by ourselves! Then, I shifted the focus the highest mountain in Taiwan- Yushan. I introduce some special flora in the park. Later, I went to see the movie “Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from Above”, it’s a documentary worth every Taiwanese watch. Last, I intro Shei-Pa National Park. There are also abundant alpine glacier terrains such as blade ridges (刃嶺), horns (角峰), cirques (冰斗), and so on. We can explore these precious glacier terrains on Mt. Xue and Mt. Dabajian. 

This is the summary of my English Learning Project this semester. I will give a presentation to you in class next week. I’m now here thank for your reading for my last ten articles.

Mt. Dabajian and Cui Pond in Shei-Pa National Park

Hello, everyone! today, I will continue to introduce Shei-Pa National Park to you!

Mt. Dabajian, which is 3492 meters above sea level, is referred to as one of Taiwan's natural wonders. Connected to its side is a Mt. Xiaobajian elevation of 3418 meters. In spite of its exclusive and majestic shape, the rock and geological structure of Mt. Dabajian are also very special such as stratification (層理), cleavage (劈理), fold (褶曲) and joints (節理).





Cui Pond, a splendid cirque lake, is the highest alpine pond in Taiwan which is over 3500 meters above the sea level (even higher than Mt. Dabajian). It's just like a jewel in the mountain located on the west edge of Mt. Xue Main Peak. Despite the small size of the pond, but the pond is alive. Cui Pond is also the source of the largest river of the central Taiwan- Daan stream. Mountain climbers like to stop, take pictures, meditate, or even sleep next to her here over the night. Surrounded by the pond is the largest pure stand (純林) of Yushan junipers in Taiwan. When we go to Mt. Xue, if we have extra times and efforts, in addition to climb up the main peak, we must come to Cui Pond to and see how astonishing this pond is!

Last week I link a video which is time-lapse about Mt Dabajian.
This week I link another one which is a time-lapse shot on Dasyueshan (大雪山)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsaIyGiUt8M

A brief introduction to Shei-Pa National Park

          Hello, everyone! I was really busy this week because there are a lot of midterm projects, assignments. In addition to a lot of homework, I also has Physical Geography Second Midterm next week. What’s a fulfilling life! (XD) 

          After introducing the movie “Beyond Beauty Taiwan from above” for two weeks, I would like to introduce Shei-Pa National Park (雪霸國家公園). 

Shei-Pa National Park, the fifth National Park in Taiwan, is famous for its splendid sights and precious conserved animals and plants. For example, Formosan landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus) is one of endemic in Taiwan facing a severe extinction. 

Fortunately, thanks for the protection of its native habitat in Chichiawan stream (七家灣溪), which is a river in the upstream Tachiachi (大甲溪), we can still find it in Shei-Pa National Park. There are abundant mountain glacier terrains such as blade ridges(刃嶺), nunataks(角峰), cirques(冰斗). I believe that these are the memories of studying geography when we were in senior high school. We can find all of these magnificent scenes here by ourselves! Mt. Xue (雪山) is the second highest mountain in Taiwan. It’s about 3886 meters above sea level. In addition to Mt. Xue (雪山), Mt. Dabajian (大霸尖山) Mt. Xioabajian are also two of famous mountain that many mountain climbers like very much. This week I only make a brief introduction, next week I would introduce much more spectacular scenery to you!

A time-lapse shot !

A Few Thoughts after Watching Beyond Beauty Taiwan from above

           Hello, everyone! Yesterday I went to see the movie “Beyond Beauty Taiwan from above (看見台灣)” with my friends. Although this film was a little boring, but I think it is worth watch by yourself. Chi Po-Lin (齊柏林) worked very hard to shot this film. Some indescribable and unbelievable sights really opened my eye. Some sights that I have heard about but never seen.

           Such as reservoir sedimentation (水庫泥沙淤積),  garbage landfill, gravel illegal poaching (砂石非法盜採). 

reservoir sedimentation 

(水庫泥沙淤積)

← garbage landfill

gravel illegal poaching

 (砂石非法盜採)

I was really shocked by these scene. After watching this movie, hope we can love and protect Taiwan together and leave a beautiful island to the next generation. These are a few thoughts after watching this documentary. By the way, movie soundtracks are quite wonderful!

This week I would end my introduction to Yushan National Park.

Mt. Jade Main Peak is almost up to 4000 meters high above sea level. Overlooking from the summit, valleys, mountains, forests, clouds are all in our sights. The final scene of the movie “Beyond Beauty Taiwan from above” was shot on the top of Mt. Jade Main Peak. A group of aboriginal children circled and sang vigorously and joyful. At that moment I was quite impressed by this beautiful song. 

Mt. Jade is not only a symbol of Taiwan but also a symbol of the spirit of the Taiwanese People.


This is a small and short episode in the movie.

Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from Above (看見台灣)

           Hello, everyone!! We have not seen for a long time. Today, I finally ended my very long midterm life. I  eventually finished my Calculus Midterm and Introduction to Computer Science and Programming this afternoon. This week, although my topic of English learning project is “The Beauty of Mountains in Taiwan”, I want to shortly introduce a movie. Recently released a famous documentary called “ Beyond Beauty – Taiwan from Above (看見台灣)” .

In this movie, the narration Wu Nien-Jen (吳念真) once said “Only from such an angle and height can we truly understand the beauty and sadness of Taiwan.” 

         As a Taiwanese, I used to grow in this land. Here are countless wonderful memories in my life in this diamond island. There are a lot of dazzling places I have once been. Sitting in helicopter and appreciating the beauty of Taiwan with a new fantastic point of view. 

      This photographer, Chi Po-Lin (齊柏林), is the first person using such an exclusive perspective to overlook Taiwan like hawks. 

As a student of the Department of Geography, I sincerely invite you here. Let’s follow the camera’s field of view to see, understand and love Taiwan. 

This is the movie trailer

Mt. Jade Multi-Peak Trail (Part One)

Hello everyone, this is the second week I introduce Yushan National Park! Today, I would like to introduce Mt. Jade Multi-Peak Trail.

Mt. Jade Peaks Trail which starts from the Tataka Trailhead located Tataka saddle.

Tataka Trailhead(塔塔加登山口), an alpine watershed landscapes, is approximately 2610 meters at above sea. Standing on Tataka saddle, we can overlook Mt. Jade from the east, gazing afar Mt. Ali from the west. mountain watershed landscapes

After spending about thirty to forty minutes to walk to Menglu Gazebo(孟祿亭) from Tataka Trail Entrance. Menglu Gazebo, the junction of temperate forests and boreal forest, is really a wonderful terrace where climbers can stop to take a little break and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

(Mt. Jade North Peak above; Mt. Jade East Peak below)

The top five highest mountain in Taiwan are all up to 3800 meters altitudes above and Mt. Jade Multi-Peak including four (except for Mt. Jade West Peak). And the other one is Mt. Xue(雪山) which is at about 3886 meters above sea level.

 Mt. Jade Front Peak(玉山前峰)

There are not too much hinterland on the top of Mt. Jade Front Peak. Steep and lean slopes covered with a lot of Yushan Nitida (玉山箭竹). On the southern mountain slope, there is full white wood forest landscape.

I’m sorry that today I can only make a really really simple introduction. In the coming weeks I will do a more thorough introduction. Thank for your reading and comments.

Beautiful Sunset on the North Peak

The First Taiwan Wonder - Yushan National Park

Hello everyone! From this week on, I will start a new series introduction to Yushan National Park, and Yandmingshan National Park temporarily comes to an end.

(Mt. Jade Main Peak)

Mt. Jade, the highest mountain in Taiwan, is a symbol of the beauty of Taiwan. Mounting up Mt. Jade is an important goal and achievement that every Taiwanese wants to accomplish in their lifetime, and I am no exception.

There are a lot of alpine flower plants, defying the harsh alpine environments, colorful swaying in the street. Such as Spruce(雲杉)、Hemlock(鐵杉)、Fir(冷杉)、Yushan juniper(玉山圓柏)、Yushan Rhododendron(玉山杜鵑), and so on. We can see a variety of weather, exclusive plants, animals in Mt. Jade since its elevation varies from 300 to 3952 meters above sea level.

Yushan juniper defying cold erected on the hillside.

Yushan Rhododendron(玉山杜鵑)

There are many different habitats offering various birds a wonderful place to live in this area. If you are a person who love bird watching very much, you must come and take a look at Yushan National Park.

I only make a simple introduction to this beautiful park, and I will introduce in more detail in the next following weeks.

This is the video which Yushan participates in the vote of the New 7 Wonders.

Mt. Datun Multi-Peak

Hello everyone! This is the last week introduce Yangmingshan National Park. I would like to introduce Mt. Datun Multi-Peak trail and share some of my experience when I went to Mt. Datun this winter vacation. This Chinese Year, after College Entrance Examination, I went mountain climbing with my best junior high school classmates to relax our tight mood. This is our climbing route:

Jhuzihhu竹子湖→

Bailaka saddle trailhead百拉卡鞍部步道入口→

Bailaka Highway Pedestrian Trail百拉卡公路人行步道→

Erziping visitor center二子坪遊客中心→

Erziping Trail二子坪蝴蝶步道→

Erziping 二子坪→

Datunping大屯坪→

Mt. Datun south peak大屯山南峰(957m)→

Mt. Datun west peak大屯山西峰(982m)→

Mt. Miantian Trailhead 面天山登山口→

Miantianping面天坪(790m)

Mt. Miantian面天山→

Saddle鞍部→

Mt. Xiangtian向天山→

Xiangtian Pond向天池→

Qingtian Temple trailhead清天宮登山口(465m) 

Erziping 二子坪

(That was a rainy, cold, and foggy day...)

Erziping 二子坪

We started our journey at 7 o’clock. That was a rainy and foggy day, and the roads are very wet and slimy that we can hardly walk. All along the trail covered with miscanthus(芒草), and the ground are all mud and water. 

←Flowers above are frost

←Beautiful spider web was covered with dew above

Besides, the fog was very thick. It’s really difficult for us to see where the road ahead. As long as one of us was not cautious, he might slip legs in the air. It’s usually just taken ten minutes away but that we walked more than two hours. 

Mt. Miantian(面天山) and Mt. Xiangtian(向天山)

beautiful sea of clouds(on the top of Mt. Datun west peak)

Mt. Datun south peak(on the top of Mt. Datun west peak)








After going tough a difficult process, we finally climbed to the top of the mountain. Looking ahead is the most beautiful sea of clouds that I have ever see! All this hard work is worth! That day we climbed a total of four mountain. Eight hours of adventure was one of my wonderful memories in winter vacation after finishing College Entrance Exam.

This video is about the story of Datun volcano group!