The maple leaves are turning red! The century-old maples of Yangmingshan are now ablaze with color — the perfect time for a spring outing to admire the foliage.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Team

With temperatures plummeting and waves of cold fronts sweeping in, over a dozen ancient sweetgum trees in Yangmingshan Park have turned crimson across the hills, standing out brilliantly against the silvery-white miscanthus flowers. If you don’t want to spend too much time on long-distance travel but still yearn for nature, why not visit Yangmingshan Park for a light suburban getaway? Now is the perfect time to head up the mountain and enjoy the fall foliage.

Within winter’s embrace at Yangmingshan Park lies an area known as the “Sweetgum Forest,” where over a dozen century-old sweetgum trees line the mountain trails. These towering giants all have trunks exceeding two adult arms’ spans in diameter, with heights estimated at over 20 meters, forming majestic, gnarled silhouettes that stand firmly amidst the woodland. Recently, under successive waves of chilly winds, these ancient sweetgums have gradually turned red. Against the azure sky and surrounded by the swaying silver waves of blooming miscanthus flowers across the hills, the scene at sunset is extraordinarily romantic. Additionally, the park also features camellias and plum blossoms that bravely defy the cold winter climate, proudly blooming on their branches. In the distance, wisps of white steam from hot springs add to the dreamy winter ambiance, creating another layer of enchantment in this serene mountain setting.