Crimson maple leaves and white silvergrass flowers: Q-grasp the beauty of New Taipei in winter

By the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department

Just after the winter solstice, since November, the snow-white silvergrass flowers have blanketed the mountains. In New Taipei City, spots such as the Caoling Ancient Trail in Gongliao, Tea Pot Mountain in Ruifang, Wufen Mountain in Xizhi, and the mountains or riverbanks in Pingxi and Xindian all boast breathtaking views of vast silvergrass flower seas, making them popular spots to admire the grass flowers. Maple leaves turn red, and in mountainous areas and roadsides such as Gongbei Temple in Xizhi, Route 101 in Sanzhi, Dharma Drum Mountain in Jinshan, and Shanxi Temple in Tucheng, splashes of red foliage among the greenery add vibrant and eye-catching colors to the landscape.

Silvergrass is a general term for various species of the Miscanthus genus. It is highly vigorous and can often be seen covering vast areas on barren mountains or along riverbanks. For example, on the Caoling Ancient Trail in Gongliao or Tea Pot Mountain in Ruifang, the silvergrass sea resembles a blanket covering the mountaintop. At dusk, the setting sun casts a golden glow on the silvergrass, while at Ruifang’s Golden Waterfall, the interplay of silvergrass and the waterfall creates a magnificent scene. Currently nearing the end of the blooming period, visitors eager to admire the silvergrass flowers should seize the opportunity.