By MOOK Travel, compiled and reported
Along the Taiwan Provincial Highway 18 from Alishan to Tatachia, there are multiple key spots for viewing red leaves, making this stretch of road a hidden gem frequented by photographers and leaf-peepers every year.
The Taiwan Provincial Highway 18 is dotted with numerous maple leaf viewing spots. (Photo / Alishan, as if walking on clouds)
The distribution of red leaves mainly includes green maple, Taiwan triangular maple, and Taiwan red maple. Green maple and triangular maple are roadside trees planted by highway authorities, while red maple is the most widely spread native species.
Red leaves on the mountain gradually turn crimson. (Photo / Alishan, as if walking on clouds)
From the 76K crossroads on Taiwan Provincial Highway 18 upwards, the route is lined with green maple trees, which are not very tall and typically begin turning red in mid to late November.
A riot of colorful autumn leaves against a blue sky captures the essence of fall. (Photo / Alishan, as if walking on clouds)
Upon reaching the 88K to 91K section of Alishan, the red leaves are predominantly Taiwan triangular maple, which usually turns red from late November to early December each year.
Maple foliage along Taiwan Provincial Highway 18. (Photo / Alishan, as if walking on clouds)
The 91K to 97K section along the Zhongzhi Road features green maple trees once again. These green maples have two waves of color change each year — the first wave begins turning red in mid to late October, making them the earliest red leaves in the Alishan mountain area, and the second wave changes color around mid-November, nearly a month apart.
The maple foliage in Alishan is just as stunning as that found abroad. (Photo / Alishan, as if walking on clouds)
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