Xitou Scenic Area

Xitou Scenic Area

Guide Located in Lugu Township, Nantou County, Xitou Forest Recreation Area is 24 kilometers from Zhushan and is one of the seven forest management zones of the National Taiwan University College of Agriculture’s Experimental Forest. The area is planted with a variety of trees including cedar, cypress, Hinoki, ginkgo, and moso bamboo, making it ideal for plant observation and birdwatching. Introduction Xitou is home to approximately 300 families of woody plants and 1,300 species of herbaceous plants. Visitors can identify them using the labels on the plant signs. The exhibition hall on the second floor of the Xitou Forest Management Office houses a rich collection of various plant specimens, along with slides, charts, and text descriptions that provide clear insights. The moso bamboo forest in the park is known for its beautiful landscape and tranquil atmosphere. Hidden within the bamboo grove, the "Bamboo Cottage" was once Chiang Kai-shek's temporary residence, but its gate is now locked and it is not open to the public. The Xitou Sacred Tree, which has a history of over 2,800 years, stands 46 meters tall with a circumference of 16 meters. It is a living red cypress giant whose trunk is hollowed out due to rot fungus. It was spared from logging because of its low economic value and has since become a revered sacred tree for visitors to admire. In addition, the Xitou Youth Activity Center, built with cedar wood, can accommodate up to 400 guests.

Transportation Taichung (via Caotun and Nantou), Zhushan, and other areas all have intercity buses that can take you to Xitou. Taichung → Xitou InterCity bus: Shuangshi Road, Gancheng Bus Station, Taichung City; Caotun → Xitou InterCity bus: Changhua Bus Station, Caotun Town, Phone: 049-2332502; Nantou → Xitou InterCity bus: Changhua Bus Station, Fuxing Road, Nantou City, Phone: 049-2222061; Zhushan → Xitou Yuanlin Bus: No. 21, Caiyuan Road, Zhushan Town, Phone: 049-2642005; Douliu → Zhushan Taihsi Bus: Taihsi Bus Station, Wuchang Street, Douliu City, Phone: 05-5322016. By car: From the north: (1) Take National Freeway 1 (Zhongshan Expressway), exit at Wangtian Interchange → Provincial Highway 14 → Nantou → Xitou; (2) Take National Freeway 3 (Zhonger Expressway), exit at Zhushan Interchange, head toward Zhushan (do not enter the city), then turn onto Provincial Highway 151 via Lugu → Xitou; (3) Take National Freeway 3 (Zhonger Expressway), exit at Caotun Interchange → Provincial Highway 151 → Lugu Township → Xitou. From the south: (1) Take National Freeway 1 (Zhongshan Expressway), exit at Dounan Interchange → Douliu → Zhushan → Lugu → Xitou; (2) Take National Freeway 3 (Zhonger Expressway), exit at Zhushan Interchange, head toward Zhushan (do not enter the city), then turn onto Provincial Highway 151 via Lugu → Xitou; (3) Take National Freeway 3 (Zhonger Expressway) → exit right at Douliu → Linnei → Zhushan → Lugu → Xitou. Admission / Opening Hours Full fare: NT$200, NT$150 on holidays; Concession fare: NT$150, NT$120 on holidays; Children: NT$100, NT$80 on holidays; Group fare: NT$150, NT$120 on holidays. (Note: Holidays include weekends, public holidays, as well as winter and summer vacations. Fare currency is New Taiwan Dollar.) Opening hours: 7:00–17:00

Nantou County, Taiwan