Hsitou Forest Recreation Area

Hsitou Forest Recreation Area is located in Lugu Township in central Taiwan's Nantou County. At an elevation of 1,150 meters, the area is surrounded by mountains on three sides. "Hsitou" in Chinese means the "origin of the river".

Hsitou has plenty of rain and is cool and moist throughout the year. It is one of the most famous resort spots in summer and the most romantic place for newlyweds to spend their honeymoons.

Hsitou is part of the experimental forest that belongs to the National Taiwan University. Here, cedars, red spruces and many other kinds of trees are grown. Except for a small well-preserved natural forest, most parts of this area have been developed and cultivated.

There are plenty of things to see in Hsitou. One can visit the unique pure Ginkgo forest, the rare plant of redwood, the divine tree that is 46-meter high and 16-meter broad and with an age approaching 3,000 years, and the famous Hsitou Youth Activity Center. Visitors can also enjoy the hiking tracks, hotels, restaurants, camping areas and other facilities. One of the representative sightseeing spots in Hsitou is the University Pond, which is about 10 meters deep. It is a great place for taking photos. Another great spot is the Bamboo House near the bamboo plantation. It is a graceful A-shaped building famous for once being a holiday retreat for the late president Chiang Ching-kuo.

There are over 7,000 species of birds around Hsitou, which makes the area a good place for bird watching. River Blacks, White-Ears Thrush, Redhead Warblers and Shao-Yen Thrush are representatives of low and middle elevation in Taiwan.

The Hsitou Youth Activity Center is perhaps the best place to stay around Hsitou. It is nice, comfortable and inexpensive, and has its own restaurant and other necessary facilities such as conference rooms and meeting halls.