Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area

Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area

Mingchi, also known as Chidian, is a high-altitude man-made lake situated at approximately 1,150 meters above sea level. Surrounded by pristine forests and perennially shrouded in mist, its ethereal and enchanting scenery has earned it the nickname "Pearl of the North Cross." Mingchi is the highest watershed between the -xi Stream and the Lanyang River, and also the highest point along the Northern Cross-Island Highway.

The Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area offers facilities such as lakeside walking trails and pavilions. The garden area around the lake is a key highlight of the park, divided into scenic zones including Ciyuan Garden, Jingshi Garden, and Cangyuan Garden.

Ciyuan Garden – This was the site of Mr. Ching-kuo’s Mingchi retreat. Currently, a new garden has been constructed here in his memory. The Cixiao Pavilion, located at the highest point, offers the best panoramic view of the entire Mingchi Lake.

Jingshi Garden – Designed based on the concept of Ciyuan Garden, it incorporates the structure of landscape paintings from the Song and Yuan dynasties. It presents a natural-style garden within a garden, with individual garden sections separated by black-tiled white walls — a quite unique feature.

Fern Garden – An artificial forest planted with fir and willow trees, named in 1964 by the Forest Conservation Bureau to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founding father of the Republic of China.

Forest Fairy Tale Maze – Utilizing the matrix layout of the artificial forest, a maze has been designed, incorporating elements of the fairy tale story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, making it both fun and whimsical.

Outer Mingchi Area – Dead red cypress logs are placed in the lake, echoing the nearby white wood forest on the mountain slopes. Together with the nearby Bidou Peak to the northwest, the lake resembles an inkstone while the dead trees look like brushes, forming a striking and picturesque scene.