Taiwan-wide Maple Hunting Itinerary: Explore Mountain Forests and Indigenous Villages for Stunning Fall Foliage

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel & Lifestyle Network Editorial Team
 

Autumn is the perfect season for travel. Right now, all across Taiwan is ablaze with fall colors, inviting you to embark on a scenic journey through various regions. The maple spectacle in Taiwan typically unfolds from late January to mid-to-late December. With mountains and forests painted in vibrant reds and yellows, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. There are delightful surprises waiting at every renowned maple-viewing spot around Taiwan. Below is a curated collection of mountain forest and indigenous village maple-hunting routes, compiled by the [Chinese Green Living Leisure Development Association], inviting everyone to seize the opportunity for a magnificent and memorable maple adventure this season!

● Mountain Forests
(1) Eastern Taiwan:
◎ Taiping Mountain - Jianqing HuaiGu Trail
Taiping Mountain, with an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters, boasts a diverse landscape including primeval forests, planted woods, hot springs, streams, waterfalls, and alpine lakes, as well as abundant wildlife, bird species, and insects. The area around Taiping Mountain and Cui Peak Lake features precious stands of original Hinoki cypress, hemlock, Taiwan incense cedar, and Japanese cedar, making for a rich and intact forest composition. In autumn, the golden maples of Taiping Mountain are especially stunning—come explore the beauty of its fall season.

◎ Mingchi
Mingchi is perpetually shrouded in mist and is known as the “Pearl of the Northern Cross-Island Highway.” The park is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, original Hinoki cypress forests, birds, and butterflies. In autumn, viewing the red foliage by Mingchi Lake feels like stepping into an idyllic, tranquil paradise untouched by the outside world.
 
(2) Northern Taiwan:
◎ Tagang Canyon
The Maliko Bay Stream is a hidden gem for maple viewing, offering a dazzling, colorful wonderland. From Xiuluan and Yufeng to Sanguang, along the banks of the Maliko Bay Stream, lies a rarely visited secret maple trail that photographers flock to. As the seasons change, the vibrant and dreamy maple flames take center stage in nature, leading the autumn spectacle.

◎ Xuebao Sea of Clouds - Wild Horse Overlook

Sunrise, sea of clouds, mountain ranges, mist, forests, sunset, and starry skies weave together a grand and magnificent mountain landscape. Step into the forest, where mountain mist frolics among the trees, and birdsong and insect chirps compose a natural symphony.

(3) Central Taiwan:
◎ Daxueshan (Greater Snow Mountain)
Located between 2,000 and 2,996 meters above sea level, it earned the name “Daxueshan” (Greater Snow Mountain) because one of its grasslands resembles the great snowy mountains of Hokkaido, Japan. In autumn, after the season arrives, the small membrane ferns on the Hinoki cypress trees also don their autumn attire, welcoming the “autumn in the heart” season in shades of red and yellow, showcasing a mesmerizing palette of fall colors.