The Jiannming Lake hiking trail, which was severely damaged during Typhoon Morakot, has undergone more than a year of repairs and will finally reopen in November. During the closure, the Taitung Forest District Office renovated the trail and rebuilt the emergency mountain huts, making Jiannming Lake—known as the “Angel’s Tear”—more accessible to visitors.
At an altitude of 3,300 meters, Jiannming Lake is located in the Southern Cross-Island Mountain Range and is the second highest alpine lake in Taiwan. The trail starts from the Shiangyang Forest Recreation Area and spans approximately 13 kilometers, making it one of the must-do hikes for many mountaineers. The stunning beauty of Jiannming Lake has captivated countless visitors, with peak tourist numbers reaching nearly 700 at one point, placing significant pressure on the environment.
Huang Qunce, head of the Recreation Section at the Taitung Forest District Office, stated that after a year of restoration, the Jiannming Lake hiking trail has been fully repaired, and emergency shelters in the mountain area have also been upgraded with amenities such as eco-toilets, water storage facilities, and indoor cooking areas, all available for hikers to use free of charge.
Huang Qunce added that starting in December, overnight stays in the shelters will require advance registration. Currently, both the Shiangyang Mountain Hut and the Jiannming Lake Emergency Shelter have 70 beds each. Hikers must register in advance to use the facilities. Those who fail to register will be advised not to enter the mountains or to bring their own tents for overnight stays, as part of efforts to manage visitor numbers.
Since the Southern Cross-Island Highway is not yet fully open, hikers wishing to reach Jiannming Lake must drive up from the Taitung end to the Shiangyang Forest Recreation Area and begin their hike from there.