“Angel’s Tears” is so beautiful. Online photos of the crystal-clear Cihen Lake have attracted many visitors to hike here as a pilgrimage, resulting in over 20,000 hikers flocking to the high-mountain trails every year. To prevent severe trampling of the mountain area, the Taitung Forest District Office began implementing a “mountain closure” measure starting on the 5th, prohibiting hikers from entering.
Cihen Lake, at an altitude of 3,310 meters, is the second-highest alpine lake in Taiwan. In the past, Cihen Lake was only a word-of-mouth destination among experienced high-mountain hikers. However, with the rise of the internet and the widespread sharing of stunning images of the lake, visitor numbers surged from fewer than 10,000 per year to surpassing 20,000 four years ago, placing a heavy burden on the mountain environment.
The Taitung Forest District Office has enforced mountain hut regulations since two years ago. The Xiangyang Mountain Hut and Cihen Lake Shelter Hut together have 176 beds available daily—only those who have applied for a bed can enter the mountains. This has improved the previous situation where over 700 hikers would crowd into the mountains during long holidays. Last year, despite multiple typhoons causing transportation disruptions, there were still 16,880 hiker entries.
Lin Meng-yi, head of the Recreation Section at the Taitung Forest District Office, explained that the winter closure was chosen because Cihen Lake’s high altitude means snow is possible in winter. Additionally, Taiwan black bears are more active at lower altitudes during winter, increasing the chance of human-bear encounters. Therefore, contact between bears and humans must also be avoided.
The Cihen Lake mountain closure will last until March 31st. During this period, hikers are prohibited from entering. The Taitung Forest District Office will also organize volunteer holiday programs and Leave No Trace activities to promote proper hiking ethics.
Lin Meng-yi said that in June last year, frequent sightings of Taiwan black bears near the Xiangyang Mountain Hut raised concerns about increased human-bear interactions. As a result, the hut was closed to visitors for two months. During that time, a significant amount of food waste, garbage, and kitchen scraps were cleared from the area around the hut, aiming to discourage bears from seeking food nearby. She also urged hikers not to leave any food or trash in the mountains, so as to preserve the natural beauty of the wilderness.