Christmas & New Year Travel Proposal: Maple Viewing × Plum Blossom Appreciation × Hot Spring Soaking

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
2015 is coming to an end. Are you ready to welcome the Christmas and New Year holidays? If you haven’t made any plans yet, why not take a look at the recommended itineraries below and enjoy the fun of “maple viewing,” “plum blossom appreciation,” and “hot spring soaking”!

● The Diverse “Maple” Charms of Aowanda
Aowanda Forest Recreation Area in Nantou County is the top choice for maple viewing, boasting rich ecology. The forest recreation area features maple woods, pine forests, waterfalls, huge rocks, valleys, forests, birds, and macaques—perfect for sightseeing, maple viewing, forest bathing, and birdwatching. At an altitude of 1,200–2,600 meters, large areas of sweet gum forests in the valley turn red from December to January of the following year, with leaves falling in profusion, creating a highly poetic and picturesque scene.

● Hiking to View Maple Trees among Sacred Tree Groves in Zhenxibao
Zhenxibao is an undeveloped primeval forest area, whose name in the Atayal language means “the place first touched by the morning sun, bathed in sunlight all year round with fertile soil.” Zhenxibao sits at an altitude of about 1,500–1,800 meters, and its residents are all members of the indigenous Atayal tribe. The area has a simple folk culture and a strong mission to preserve and pass on its own heritage. With a rich ecological environment, the region is home to around 50 sacred trees, including thousand-year-old Hinoki cypresses, as well as species such as Taiwan red cypress, Taiwan incense-cedar, and Hinoki. The area experiences distinct seasons and ever-changing scenery.

● Maple Viewing in Qubing Wujie Tribe
A mysterious and forgotten tribe, “Qubing Wujie,” is tucked away in Ren’ai Township, Nantou. Located downstream of Aowanda, a famous maple viewing spot in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, it is one of the few northern tribes of the Bunun people. Surrounded by high mountains, with green hills and clear waters, it features an independent canyon landscape of exceptional beauty, resembling a paradise on earth. It retains its pristine scenery and the most genuine era of the Bunun people. This trip will be led by an ecological expert to explore the tranquil and unspoiled “Wujie Tribe” and its naturally mysterious and spectacular beauty.