Japanese magazine combines Taiwan features into a hot topic; backpackers list Taiwan's top 10 must-climb mountains

▲ “BPUTUS” 101 Must-Climb Mountains in Taiwan – Yushan Main Peak (Photo / Provided by Tripbaa Fun Guide!)

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Recently, Japanese lifestyle and culture magazine “BRUTUS” featured “101 Things to do in Taiwan” as the theme of its latest issue, choosing South Taiwan’s Guohua Street as the cover background image, sparking heated discussion.

Taiwan’s “Event Horizon” and “BRUTUS” have further collaborated to launch the “BPUTUS” Taiwan street scene cover generator, allowing netizens to upload their own images and create their ideal Taiwan cover photo. Tripbaa travel experts also cooperated with this event to compile a list of several must-climb mountains in Taiwan, hoping to help the world better understand Taiwan and see its diverse cultural and natural landscapes.

No.1 Smangus — The Tribe of God

▲ Smangus Tribe (Photo / Provided by SONY business)

Smangus is the highest-altitude Atayal indigenous tribe in Taiwan, located deep in the mountains of Hsinchu. It is difficult to access and was once called the “Black Tribe” due to the lack of electricity supply. However, for the same reason, Smangus has not suffered from human encroachment, preserving its rich natural ecology and is even more famed for its spectacular sacred tree group. Locals later renamed the area “The Tribe of God.” Visit here to experience how the Atayal people make good use of resources without harming the land and live in harmony with nature.

No.2 Taipingshan — Jianqing Nostalgic Trail + Cuihu Lake

▲ Sunrise on Wangyangshan Trail in Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area. (Photo / Provided by Luyou Forest Management Office)

Located in Yilan, Taipingshan is one of Taiwan’s three major forestry areas. It is home to numerous tree species, and the forests lining the trails seem to embrace you as if by nature itself. The mysterious and serene Jianqing Nostalgic Trail is usually shrouded in clouds and mist and has been listed as one of the most beautiful small paths in the world. It is the best spot to enjoy the sea of clouds. In the afternoon, the setting sun filters through the clouds, dyeing the entire sea of clouds a romantic orange-red — so beautiful it’s hard to blink. Additionally, there is Taiwan’s largest alpine lake — Cuihu Lake, surrounded by lush green mountain ranges. When you visit Taipingshan, be sure to come here to admire the lake and mountain scenery.

No.3 Yushan Main Peak — The Highest Peak in Northeast Asia

▲ Snowy view of Yushan Main Peak (Photo / Provided by Yushan National Park Headquarters)

Yushan is the foremost of Taiwan’s Five Great Mountains. Its main peak triangulation station stands at 3,952 meters, making it the highest peak in Northeast Asia. There are limited spots to climb Yushan Main Peak, and you must enter a lottery more than a month in advance to have a chance to enter the mountain. The journey requires a great deal of willpower and physical strength. Along the way, you will cross cliffs and ridges, pass through the sea of clouds, and also get to see the magnificent Yushan mountain range. The section before reaching Yushan Main Peak is the most challenging, but it is precisely because of this difficulty that the trip becomes such a precious and irreplaceable memory for travelers.

No.4 Shuiyang Forest — The Withered Witch Forest

▲ Shuiyang Forest (Photo / Wikipedia)

Shuiyang Forest is located in Alishan, Chiayi County. The cypress trees here have withered over time due to prolonged water immersion. The sight of the withered trees reflected in the water gives off a sense of withering beauty, which is the origin of the romantic name “Shuiyang Forest.” The withered tree group in Shuiyang Forest is much larger than that of the Forget-Worry Forest. Compared to the touristy Forget-Worry Forest, this place is more natural and pristine. After a full day of tough climbing, camp beside the trees, admire the starry sky above and the reflection of the Milky Way in the water. At this moment, you’ll feel closer to Taiwan than ever before.

No.5 Jiarolake — The Pearls Scattered by Fairies

Jiarolake is also known as the pearls scattered by fairies. The lake water is so clear it is nearly transparent, with surrounding scenery reflected in the lake, giving the illusion of an inverted world beneath the surface. Jiarolake sits at an altitude of over 2,000 meters. To get here, you must first traverse slippery muddy terrain and steep mountain paths. But I assure you, the journey’s beauty and the sight of Jiarolake are absolutely worth the hardship. Camp by the lake at night, and the next day you might be lucky enough to witness the sunlight breaking through the morning mist, gradually illuminating the dreamlike scenery of Jiarolake.

No.6 Hehuanshan & Xiaoqilai Grassland — The Beginner’s 100 Peaks Entry

Hehuanshan offers both alpine scenery and vast grasslands. From high up, you can take in the various faces of the Hehuanshan mountain range. Next, I’ll secretly recommend a hidden gem of Hehuanshan: Xiaoqilai Grassland, about an hour and a half’s walk from the Black Qilai Mountain entrance. It’s a secret spot unknown to most visitors. Standing on the vast grassland and admiring Black Qilai clears your mind and lets you breathe in nature. It’s an unprecedented body-and-mind experience.

No.7 Jioming Lake — Angel’s Tear

Jioming Lake is also called Angel’s Tear. The lake is so blue it’s free of any pollution, and no fish are seen living in it, as if it doesn’t belong to this world. Every drop of lake water is incredibly precious. There are many scattered glass-like stones around the lake, seemingly exploded pebbles after extreme heat. Jioming Lake was later confirmed to be a rare young meteorite lake on Earth. The existence of such a mysterious lake in an isolated alpine environment makes one eager to explore what kind of breathtaking view made an alien meteorite willing to fall here.

No.8 Alishan — Tefuye Ancient Trail + Lulin Linzhi Mountain Grassland

The Tefuye Ancient Trail takes about 4 hours one way. What remains today are relics of railway tracks and bridges used during the Japanese colonial period to transport timber. Alishan, with its distinctly changing seasons and rich natural ecology, is a favorite hiking route for bird watchers. Lulin Linzhi Mountain Grassland is a secret base of Yushan known only to experts. Though the mountaintop lacks a triangulation station, it offers an exceptional view encompassing Yushan and Alishan mountain ranges.

No.9 Songluo Lake — The Lake of the Seventeen-Year-Old Girl

Located in the Snow Mountain Range, Songluo Lake sits at an altitude of about 1,300 meters. The lake is usually covered by a mysterious layer of clouds. The surrounding forest adds a dreamy touch, leading some to nickname it the “Seventeen-Year-Old Girl’s Lake.” Although the hike here isn’t easy, if you want to find a peaceful escape away from the crowds, you won’t regret the effort needed to reach this quiet paradise. Most hikers choose to visit during the summer season to enjoy the cool climate of the mountains.

No.10 Xueshan Main-East Peak — Encountering Glacial Relics

▲ Xueshan Main-East Peak. (Photo / Provided by tripbaa)

The summit of Snow Mountain stands at an elevation of 3,886 meters, making it the highest peak within Shei-Pa National Park. The views are, needless to say, breathtaking. However, the number of climbers allowed each month is limited, and advance lottery registration is required. Snow Mountain boasts Taiwan’s largest area of fir-black forest, along with the Snow Mountain Cirque, a unique glacial landform. This combination makes it a hiking destination with diverse natural geographical features.

The cover of this issue of ‘BRUTUS’ seems to have stirred some dissatisfaction among netizens, who feel that Taiwan should showcase more beautiful and outstanding attractions. Yet streets lined with small eateries covered in signs, roads where scooters and pedestrians share the space—these are indeed part of Taiwan’s everyday urban scenery, and they carry their own distinctive traditional charm. Taiwan has countless kinds of landscapes, and everyone’s vision of the ‘most authentic Taiwan’ is different. We’d love to know: what’s your ‘Taiwan cover’? Share your cover with the world and let everyone discover the many faces of Taiwan.