A great spot to admire sea of clouds and fireflies — a new scenic hiking trail in the bamboo forest

By MOOK Travel Editor

A new leisure trail has been added along Taiwan Provincial Highway 18 leading to Alishan. Following the completion and opening of the user-friendly facilities at Yuantan Nature Ecology Park, the Alishan Management Office further completed in 2018 a recreational facility located in Gongxing Village, Fanlu Township, at the 49.5 km mark on Highway 18, connecting to Jia 131 Township Road 200 meters away. It offers visitors a brand-new hiking trail, opportunities to admire landscapes and sea of clouds, as well as ecological observation activities, and is expected to attract more tourists to the Gongxing and Longmei areas.

The new recreational site is equipped with comprehensive facilities, including a parking lot and an activity plaza near the entrance for visitors' convenience. The area features hilly terrain and rich biodiversity, making it ideal for hiking and ecological observation. Two trails with distinct experiences have been set up: the Firefly Trail and the Hiking Trail, each with its own unique appeal.

The Firefly Trail has a gentle slope and winds through bamboo and forest areas. During the plum rain season, visitors can spot fireflies twinkling among the bamboo at night. A small frog pond has been specially set up around the forest square along the trail.

The Hiking Trail has a steeper slope and includes wooden boardwalks, timber-style paths, and connections to existing farm roads. It leads to the highest viewpoint, with rest shelters placed at suitable spots along the route for short breaks. The summit offers an exceptionally wide panoramic view, featuring two observation pavilions that not only provide distant views of the Yushan mountain range but also serve as excellent spots to admire sea of clouds.

On clear days, you can even see Zengwen Reservoir to the south. Once the Gongxing Longmei Ecological Park is completed, this area will become a new recreational hub along Taiwan Provincial Highway 18 leading to Alishan.