Central Taiwan

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

Central Taiwan displays the full range of the island's beauty: mountain lakes and shining seas, roaring rivers and steaming hot springs, lofty snow-capped peaks and lush tropical valleys, and emerald forests and craggy ravines.

Taichung is the major city in this region and is one of Taiwan's main business centers. Taichung's location, quality hotels, museums, cafes, and convenient transportation make it a good starting point for trips to many of the island's tourist sites.

Encore Garden, a masterpiece of landscape gardening, is located just ten kilometers northeast of Taichung. In addition to a tremendous variety of flowering plants, the garden also has snack bars, a children's playground, hiking trails, and camping and barbecue sites. In the evenings, a fountain lit by multicolored lights pulses to the rhythm of music.

A giant Buddha statue sits on Bagua Hill overlooking Changhua City, southwest of Taichung. Inside the hollow statue are dioramas illustrating Buddhist teachings, and visitors can also view the surrounding area through the statue's eyes. South of Changhua is the quaint old town of Lugang, or "deer harbor," one of Taiwan's most important historical and cultural centers. Lugang is noted for its impressive Matsu and Lungshan temples, as well as for the annual four-day Lugang Folk Arts Festival, which usually begins three days before the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Central Cross-Island Highway, Asia's most beautiful mountain road, winds its way from just outside of Taichung, over the Central Mountain Range, through Taroko National Park, and down to the island's east coast. The route offers travellers broad vistas across cloud-filled valleys, mist-shrouded peaks, starry skies, beautiful sunrises, delightful forest walks, rushing mountain streams, and hot springs.

Southeast of Taichung lie some of the region's most popular scenic spots. Emerald waters, jade mountains, temples, hiking, boating, and a picturesque pagoda can all be found in the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. At the nearby Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, groups from Taiwan's major indigenous tribes perform traditional songs and dances with ancient musical instruments and use traditional tools to make handicrafts. Beauty and serenity make the Sitou Forest Recreation Area, located south of Sun Moon Lake, another favorite getaway.

Nearby Mount Ali (Alishan) is well known for its view of the sunrise over a sea of clouds. Blue peaks rise from a fleecy gray ocean, which is gradually painted in vivid colors by the sunrise as the clouds dissipate. Visitors can reach Mount Ali from Chiayi City by rail or bus, and though the bus is faster, the scenery along the 72-kilometer railway ride is worth a three-hour trip.

Some 15 kilometers away from Mount Ali is Mount Jade (Yushan), which at 3,952 meters is Northeast Asia's highest peak. Yushan National Park, which is dominated by Mount Jade's massive slopes, is Taiwan's largest national park. Mount Jade's towering main peak can be reached from Mount Ali or via an ancient trail known as the Batong Pass Road.