Yushan

　　Yushan is situated at the border of Xinyi Township in Nantou County, Taoyuan District in Kaohsiung City, and Alishan Township in Chiayi County in central Taiwan. It is called Batongguan by the Tsou people and Niitakayama (New High Mountain) by the Japanese. With its main peak standing at an elevation of 3,952 meters, it is the highest mountain in East Asia. Among Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks, Yushan, along with Snow Mountain, Xiuguluan Mountain, Nanhu Mountain, and Beidawu Mountain, is collectively known as the “Five Great Mountains,” representing the five most iconic peaks in Taiwan.

　　Yushan is a sacred mountain shared by the Bunun and Tsou peoples and is also one of the contemporary symbols of Taiwan, revered as “pure-hearted as jade, and noble as a mountain.” Its majestic presence dominates the landscape, often capped with snow in winter, glistening white from afar and offering breathtaking scenery — hence “Yushan Snow” has become one of Taiwan’s Eight Scenic Spots. The main peak of Yushan is steep and rugged, surrounded on all sides by precipitous cliffs and perilous ridges. Its northern and southern faces feature sheer rock walls hundreds of meters high, the western side is marked by deep gorges and cliffs, and the eastern side consists of loose scree slopes. Whether in terms of appearance or scale, Yushan is the most imposing of mountains, fully deserving its title as the foremost of the Five Great Mountains and the king of the Hundred Peaks. In addition, the Yushan massif encompasses various climate zones, including subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, and alpine cold tundra, harboring precious life forms and extremely rich ecological resources. Research by scholars from the Japanese colonial period, such as Kano Tadao and Sasaki Yasuo, and more recent studies by Qi Shizheng, have revealed that Yushan still preserves remnants of glacial landforms.

　　Yushan Mountain Reason to visit: The highest peak in East Asia