Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gave the highest peak their own name: Tongku Saveq (the Sanctuary). More renamings
were to come.
In 1896 a Japanese officer made the first recorded ascent of Yushan. By the 1920s two
hiking routes had opened: one from Alishan and another from Dongpu. High-school kids
started to climb the mountain as a graduation trip, much as they do today.
During the Japanese colonial era, Yushan was the highest mountain in the empire,
176m higher than Mt Fuji. In 1897 it was renamed Niitakayama (New High Mountain),
which incidentally was the code name for the attack on Pearl Harbor: 'Climb Nii-
takayama'.
The Japanese recognised the Yushan area as one of Taiwan's most biodiverse. In the
late 1930s they drew up plans for an 1800-sq-km national park. WWII scuttled the plans,
but by the late 1970s the Kuomintang (KMT) had revived the idea.
The 1050-sq-km Yushan National Park came into official existence on 10 April 1985.
In 2009 the main peak was shortlisted by the New7Wonders foundation in a contest to
choose seven modern wonders of nature.
Activities
Hiking
Park trails are well maintained and usually clear to follow. Signs are in English and
Chinese. Before beginning a hike to the main peaks make sure you drop into the Tataka
Squad and Paiyan Visitor Centre to get your permits in order.
The best time to hike in the park is during autumn and early spring (October to
December and March to April). May has seasonal monsoon rains, and typhoons are a
problem from June to September. In winter the main peaks are usually closed for almost
two months to give the environment a rest, though the day hikes around Tatajia are open
year-round.
A STANDARD YUSHAN HIKING ITINERARY
»
Tatajia trailhead to Paiyun Lodge: 8.4km, four to six hours
»
Paiyun Lodge to Yushan West Peak: 2.5km each way, three hours return
»
Paiyun Lodge to Yushan Main Peak: 2.4km, three hours
»
Yushan Main Peak to Yushan North Peak (detour): 3km each way, 2½ hours re-
turn
