Expert-guided maple leaf viewing: "Practical Tips for Autumn Foliage in the Backcountry"

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
 
The section of Provincial Highway 18 from Alishan to Tatachia features multiple key spots for enjoying autumn foliage, making the roadside a must-visit hidden gem for photographers and foliage enthusiasts every year.

The distribution of red leaves mainly includes green maple, Taiwan triangular maple, and Taiwan red veined maple. Green maple and triangular maple are roadside trees planted by highway authorities, while red veined maple is the most widely spread native species.

From kilometer 76 on Provincial Highway 18 at the crossroads upward, the route is lined with green maple, which has relatively short trees and begins to turn red around mid-to-late November.

From kilometer 88 to 91 in Alishan, the red leaves are primarily Taiwan triangular maple, which turns red annually from late November to early December.

From kilometer 91 to 97 on the Zhongzhi section of Provincial Highway 18, the route features green maple again. Here, the green maple has two waves of color change: the first wave begins turning red in mid-to-late October, making it the earliest red leaves in the Alishan mountain area, and the second wave changes color around mid-November, nearly a month apart.