Chilan Forest Recreation Area

Chilan Forest Recreation Area is located about 38 kilometers up the Northern Cross-Island Highway, at the intersection with the highway's Lishan Branch, in northern Taiwan's Yilan County.

In Chilan Forest Recreation Area, there is a terraced nursery for cryptomeria trees, a cottage once used by the late President Chiang Kai-shek, a forest hiking trail, and a "little Tarzen" forest playground.

Also in Chilan Forest Recreation Area is the Chilan Villa, which provides accommodation in 50 hotel rooms as well as 30 wooden cottages. In the villa's restaurant, the specialty of the house is the locally grown monkey-head mushroom.

The Chilan Forest Recreation Area's Chinese Historic Men Arboretum features 51 huge red cypress and Japan cypress trees that are thousands of years old. Each of these trees is named after a famous person from Chinese history, so chosen because its age approximates the time when the historical figure lived. One, of course, is named after Confucius, who lived over 2,000 years ago. This kind of linkage with history makes a visit to the Chinese Historic Men Arboretum an educational and fun experience.

A special tour can be arranged to visit the Chinese Historic Men Arboretum, the natural cypress forest renewal area, and the Forestry By-Products Center. Reservations should be made before 4pm at least one day in advance.