Closed for 7 years, Kaohsiung’s “Tengjhih National Forest Recreation Area” to begin trial operations at year-end

▲ Tengjhih National Forest Recreation Area. (Photo / Courtesy of Maolin National Scenic Area official website)

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Kaohsiung’s Tengjhih National Forest Recreation Area was severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009 and has been closed for seven years. The Pingtung Forest District Office has announced that trial operations are expected to begin by the end of this year, allowing visitors to tour the area. However, some forest roads have been permanently severed and cannot be repaired, so access to the park will only be possible on foot once it reopens.

The Pingtung Forest District Office noted that the forest and recreational trails within Tengjhih National Forest Recreation Area remain largely intact, hence the plan to begin trial operations by the end of this year. However, visitor numbers will be limited to between 300–500 per day to help preserve the forest trails. Additionally, as Section 18K of the forest road is currently severed, visitors during the initial trial period will need to park their vehicles at the 16.5K staging area, then take a shuttle bus before walking along the forest trail to enter the park.