Immerse Yourself in the Beauty of the Mountains and Rejuvenate Your Body and Mind —— Huisun Forest Recreation Area

Text and Photography / Liu Jiawen

The hustle and bustle and congestion of the city often make people feel suffocated. Coming to Huisun Forest Recreation Area, with its tall trees and fresh air, the serene atmosphere helps to calm and relax the mind. Located in Ren'ai Township, Nantou County, Huisun Forest Recreation Area spans over 7,000 hectares, with elevations ranging from 2,419 meters at Shoucheng Mountain to 450 meters in the Beigang River valley. As a result, the forest area encompasses three types of forest vegetation: temperate, warm temperate, and subtropical. It boasts a rich variety of plant species. In autumn, you can witness maple leaves turning red, and from December to February, cherry blossoms bloom. You can enjoy different plants in all four seasons, making it an ecologically rich nature classroom.

Here, you might want to take a forest bath and enjoy the baptism of phytoncides. You can start by walking from the cabins area to the observation deck to gaze at the vast mountain scenery. On clear mornings, you may even have the chance to see the beautiful sight of sea of clouds enveloping the mountaintops. The forest area features five hiking trails, including Songfeng Mountain, Azalea Ridge, and Frog Stone. These trails are paved with railway sleepers. Along the Azalea Ridge trail, you can spot Taiwan’s native Tientai Lindera, the endemic Puli Azalea, as well as the representative plant of Huisun Forest — the Taiwan tree fern.

Huisun Forest also has the largest number of Taiwan cypresses in all of Taiwan. Taiwan cypress is the world's only gymnosperm with “Taiwan” as its genus name, and it stands alongside China’s metasequoia, ginkgo, and America’s giant sequoia as one of the most representative living fossils on the planet. Wooden hammocks are set up between the trees, where you can lazily lie down and take a short rest, breathing in the fragrant forest air — a truly relaxing experience. Near the Taiwan cypress plaza, at Mountain Forest Lane No. 1, there is an old building that dates back to the Japanese colonial period. It was originally used as the office and dormitory for the sub-factory manager. Although it is not open to the public now, the rustic architecture makes it a great spot for photos.