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Sightseeing and Attractions

Nantou Country

HOW TO GET THERE
 

Nantou County lies at the geographical heart of Taiwan and is the only county that does not border the coast. Nantou covers an area of 410 square kiometers of mainly mountainous country. The county's abundant natural beauty makes it an excellent place for sightseeing. The area is blessed with a number of interesting towns, forested mountain, and clear streams at Shitou, Shanlinshi, Sun Moon Lake, and the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.


NATIONAL PARK

• Yushan National Park
  Yushan is the centerpiece of the Yushan National Park, which covers a total of 105,490 hectares including large sections of the Central Mountain Range. The park encompasses a variety of habitats ranging from broadleaf forest at lower altitudes to mixed forest, coniferous forest, bamboo, and finally, at the highest elevations, waist-high arrow bamboo, clumps of conifers, and bare rocky outcrops. Flowers include azaleas, which abound in spring, and a wide variety of colorful alpine blossoms. The park is home to a large variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and butterflies. In the past, many of these species became endangered due to over-hunting; but with the establishment of the Yushan National Park, they are gradually making a comeback. Larger mammals such as the black bear, sambar deer, Taiwan macaque, and serows (a type of goat antelope) can sometimes be seen, and their call is often heard.
   

NATIONAL SCENIC AREA

• Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area
  The Sun-Moon Lake, located in the middle of Taiwan, with an elevation of 748 meters above sea level, is the only natural big lake in Taiwan. The southern part of Kuang-Hua Island is shaped like a new moon, and the northern part is shaped like a sun; hence the name Sun-Moon Lake. Scenic resources The most famous sights around Sun-Moon Lake are the Te-Hua House, Kuang-Hua Island, the Hsuan-Tsang Mosque, the Tzu-En Pagoda, the Wen-Wu Temple and so on. The natural forests bordering these roads are good places for bird watching. There are a lot of birds that live on the mid-elevation, such as the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Grap-throated Minivet, Formosan Yuhina, Gray Tree Pie, Bamboo Partridge, Chinese Bulbul, Muller's Barbet, and the Black Bulbul. Colonies of Black-crowned Night herons and Egretta garzettas , and birds such as the common kingfisher and the Green-winged Teal can be seen at the Chu-Hu water reservation, situated around the water gate. Besides these birds, fish, wild pigs, raccoons, insects and wild vegetables are flourishing in the region as well. These are all natural resources of the Sun-Moon Lake region. The Shao Clan is the earliest clan that lived in the Sun-Moon Lake region. The Harvest Festival, Sowing Festival and their special handicraft fair every year, as well as their articles have helped to preserve the particular culture of the Sun-Moon Lake region.
   

FOREST PLEASURE GROUND

• HueiSun Forest Recreational Park
  Historical Background : Hueisun Forest was called Neng Kao Forest. It is the largest of the four forests of National Chung Hsing University. "Hueisun" is the name of the late university president Tang Huei Sun, who had a heart attack when he visited the forest. In memory of president Tang, the university renamed the forest Hueisun. In addition to the dense forest, there are canyons and waterfalls in the forest. The mountain has an altitude of 450~2420 and thus the flora varies in different places. You can find subtropical and temperate plants in this mountain.
  Cultural Highlights : There are several tour tracks in the forest, including Sung Feng Shan Track, Tu Chuan Ling Track and Shan Lan Track. Walking on the tracks, visitors can enjoy the breeze and birds' chirping. One of the tracks leads to the river. There are abundant forest resources here and there are many birds in the forest. Sung Feng Shan Track is 7 kilometers long, leading to Sung Feng Shan. The second track goes deep into the Pei Kang River and it is 10 kilometers long. The third track leads to Tang Kung Ting, Tang Kung Pei and Kuo Ming Hotel.
   

• Owanda Forest Recreational Park
  Historical Background : Ao Wan Ta is famous for maples. It is canyon in the west of the convergence of Ta Nan River and Wan Ta Pei River, which are the origin of Wu She Reservoir. Every autumn, maple leaves in Ao Wan Ta turn red and flutter in the air. Ao Wan Ta has different faces in different seasons. From February to September, tourists can enjoy the comfortable weather, the forests and the flowers. In May, there are many fireflies shining at night. Autumn and winter are the seasons to appreciate the beautiful maple leaves and plants. Ao Wan Ta is perfect for hiking, bird-watching, and contacting the nature.
  Cultural Highlights : Ao Wan Ta is famous for its beautiful maple leaves. Every autumn, the maple leaves would turn red or orange. With the river running in the woods, the scenery is tranquil and peaceful. Coreopsis has been introduced in recent years, attracting more tourists. Besides the maple trees, Ao Wan Ta also provide Ao Wan Ta Hot Spring, Wan Ta Nan River Hot Spring, and Wan Ta Pei River Hot Spring.
   

• Sitou Forest Recreation Area
  Sitou is located in the Phoenix hill of Lugu village, and is embraced by mountains from three sides. Its name is derived from the Chinese meaning: the origin of the river (Bei-Shi River). Sitou has plenty of rains, and is cool and moist all the year round. Therefore, it is one of the most famous resort spots in summer and the most romantic place for new couples to spend their honeymoons. Sitou is part of the experimental forest belonging to the National Taiwan University, and here grows cedars, Chamaecyparis obtuse, red spruces , Phyllostachys edulis, and many other different kinds of trees. Except for a small well-preserved natural broad-leaves forest, most parts of this area have been developed and cultivated purposely. Generally speaking, the feature of the forest here is beautiful and tidy. Here you can visit the unique pure Ginkgo forest, the rare plant of redwood, the divine tree 46 meter high and 16 meter broad and with an age approaching 3,000, Youth's Activity Center, birds observing footpath, hotels, restaurants, camping area and so on. The University Pond, one of the representative sightseeing spots in Sitou, with an area of 0.5 chings and a depth of 10 meters, has limpid water and is a good place for taking pictures. There are over 7,000 varies of birds available in Sitou, which makes this place a good one for birds observing. River Blacks, White-ears Thrush, Redhead Warblers, Shao-Yen Thrush are representatives of low and middle elevation in Taiwan. Buildings in Shi-To are made of wood and have a smell of natural harmony.
   

AMUSEMENT PARK

• Atayal Recreational Village
  Historical Background : Tai Ya Resort lies in Nantou County, between the Kuan Tao Mountains and Pei Kang River. The resort was planned and established by people who loved the Tai Ya Aboriginal Tribe. There were a lot of Tai Ya aborigines living in Nan Tou County in the past; thus, Nantou is full of characteristics of Tai Ya. The resort features the natural environment, Tai Ya culture and recreation. Visitors can take a good rest and learn more about the Tai Ya Tribe after visiting Tai Ya Resort.
  Cultural Highlights : Tai Ya Resort places great emphasis preserving aboriginal culture. There are aboriginal museum, sculptures and dance shows in the resort. Aboriginal houses, such as Wan Ta She, Pa La Tu and Tai Ya, are recreated in the resort. The museum exhibits historic objects and introduces the traditional Tai Ya lifestyle.
   

• Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village
  Historical Background : Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village was established in 1986; total area is 62 hectares. The culture village features aboriginal cultures, combining tourism, culture and educational functions. It is located in Yuchih, Nantou County, near Sun Moon Lake. The culture village has made great efforts in updating the amusement facilities and services and has shown the vigorous spirits of the aboriginal tribes.
  Cultural Highlights : Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village has five theme parks: the European Gardens, the Aladdin Plaza, the Aboriginal Villages, Amusement Isle and Ti Ka Er Rainforest. Amusement facilities in these five theme parks include joy ride, cultural square, artistic fountain, museums, 3-D theater, aboriginal dance show, etc. The Culture Village is both entertaining and educational, perfect for families on holidays.
   

FARM / SCENERY

• Bagua Mountain Scenic Area
  Historical Background : 60% of the scenery spots of the Baguashan mountain range are inside the Changhua county boundary while the rest 40% are within the Nantau county. The whole area has more than ten cities and towns, namely Changhua, Huatan, Tacun, Fenyuen, Yuanlin, Shetau, Tianjhong, Ersheui, Nantou, Mingjian, etc. Baguashan situates on a plateau about 1 kilometer from the eastern side of Changhua (the only plateau land in the Changhua County). Hence the mountain is also called Bagua Plateau. The whole plateau is tilting from north to south and from the mountain top one can see the streets of the whole Changhua City as well as fishing boats in the distant sea. This unique feature of enable one to have full view of its surroundings had made Pakuashan a very important military guarding point in ancient time. In the 20th years of Emperor Kuang Shu's rule (year 1894), the Sino-Japanese War broke out and as a compensation for the lost of the war, the Treaty of Ma Kwan was signed whereby Taiwan was given by the Ching Government to Japan. Taiwan people did not accept such outcome and they organized their own army to fight the Japanese. The Japanese army landed from the north-eastern corner of Taiwan at Yen Cheng and marched southwards. They were sternly resisted by the local patriots and out of all the battles, the one in Baguashan was of the largest scale. Later the Japanese demolished the guard point and after the Second World War, the whole place was replaced with the Baguashan Giant Buddha. Nowadays, in the Memorial Park there is Memorial Hall built in memory of those who died in the battles against Japanese invasion. Also, the two cannons which were used in the battle are in exhibition there.
  Cultural Highlights : Its total area is approximately 22,000 hectares, including the Baguashan Park, the Chiang Kai Sek Park, the Nine Dragon Pond, the Giant Buddha of Changhua, the Fushan Rock, the Treasure Temple, the Bikshan Rock and the Ching Shui Rock, etc. which are full of cultural heritage. Amongst the above scenery spots, the historical Baguashan Giant Buddha is the most well known one. The statue measures 72 feet in height from its lotus seat to the top and the whole body is built of steel bars and cement. In front of the statue stand two lion sculptures. Its base occupies a total area of 7 hectares and inside there are altogether 6 separate levels. The lowest level is a small worship hall. The second to the fifth levels are for the exhibits of Buddha's work during his life time. Under the steps platform in the front is the Nine Dragon Pond; the right is an aquarium and at the back is a piece of woodland. The whole place gives one a sense of quietness and tranquility.
   

• Chingjing Veteran's Farm
  Historical Background : Chingjing Veteran's Farm is located in Nantow precinct, it was established on February 20th, 1961. With the area about 700 hectares, it was established by the demobilized soldier counseling of the administrative division for settling the partisan cadre, family dependants, and the national armed forces demobilized soldier who placed in the battlefield during the early years. The farm is for agriculture development then. Chingjing Veteran's Farm located in the place of Chung Heng Highway's center horizontal road first line #14 near the north end place of 08 kilometer. It is the place you will pass when you are heading to Hohuan Mountain, the center horizontal highroad's organized body branch.
  Cultural Highlights : Nowadays the Chingjing Veteran's Farm follow the herbage rebirth of the seasonal changes in March, the garden turns green, the procreation of the cows and sheep. You will feel the luxuriant of the peach blossom, the pear bloom, and the apple bloom during the spring season in Chingjing Veteran's Farm. April is the month for picking the spring tea. The digitalis bloomy with purple bright-red flowers is in the bucolic area. May is the season for the chrysanthemum in the bucolic area and the rhododendron bloom in the Hohuan Mountain. Besides the different views in spring and summer, the scenery during autumn and winter has other kinds of view in Chingjing Veteran's Farm. You can watch maple in October in Chingjing Veteran's Farm. The sounds of the stepping on the fallen maples are romantic. Another part, the local agrarian afford different kinds of peach in different seasons, such as the 20-century pear, the California plum, the kiwi, and the high-temperature greenstuffs. The high-temperature greenstuffs mean the vegetable that grew in the higher sea level area with the adaptable temperature between 13-24 degrees Celsius and the bearable cold season greenstuffs for long distance, such as green cabbage, sweet chili, and the peas in local.
   

GENERAL

• Batongguan
  Yushan National Park has preserved paths and roadways initially built during the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial periods. One of these roads, known today as the Batongguan Trail, runs for 152 kilometers from Linyipu in Nantou County to Pushihge in Hualian County. It was the road used by a Qing Dynasty general and the road has the distinction as the only historical trail of the "first grade Class 1" in Taiwan.
   

• Batung Pass Ancient Route
  Historical Background : The Batung Pass Ancient Route lies within the Yushan National Park. During the Ching Dynasty, the Ching government held a repressive attitude towards developing Taiwan. It was not until late into the Ching Dynasty, when invading western nations noticed what an ideal colonial island Taiwan would make, that the Ching government finally started taking notice of Taiwan. During the 13th year of Emperor Tungchi's reign, the Japanese invaded and massacred the aboriginals of Peony Community, under the pretence that the aboriginals were guilty of murdering fishermen from Okinawa. The Ching government had no other choice than to send the minister of navigational affairs, the Lord Pao-chen Shen, to act as envoy and negotiate with the Japanese, and to oversee the strengthening of Taiwan's regional defense. After this incident, Lord Shen took charge of developing and charting the mountains, and placating the aboriginal tribes. The uplifting of regulations, and the culturing of friendly relationships with the aboriginals were a priority in his plans for strengthening Taiwan's defense. The project for engineering the Batung Pass began in 1875. The project was headed by an officer named Kuang-liang Wu; the route started off at Chu San, passed through Lu Ku village, Hsin-Yi Village, climbed over Batung Pass, flipped over the Hsiuguluan Mountains, and ended at the Pu-Shih Loft in Hua Lien. The project went on for a year, and this route was named the Batung Pass Route. There is no actual mountain Pass there and Officer Wu decided to use this name, since it coincided with the Chinese meaning of being able to pass unhindered. The section of the ancient route which still may be seen and used range from the Dongpu hot springs to the Batung Pass meadow, which takes about 20 kilometers to cover.
  Cultural Highlights : Distinguishable remains of the ancient route can be seen in Batung meadow; better preserved, and more accessible sections of the route can be seen on the mountain slope that looks across from the father and Son Cliff where there are sixty four stone steps eight feet wide. Another place where the route has been preserved is above a valley near the Yinu waterfalls, where there is a small section of stone steps.
  The Perpetual Passway : the Batung Ancient Route ends at the foot of the Phoenix mountain, and within a bamboo forest that currently belongs to the Phoenix Bird Park Officer Wu 's meaning was to imply that this route would still be unobstructed and free to all for eternity. Officer Wu led 2000 thousand men in the first year of Emperor Kuang Shui's reign, and started the project simultaneously from two places: Chu-San and Ser-Laio. Chu-San became the official starting point of the Pass, and it earned a nickname, the town that stands before the mountains. A well, named Sweet Spring Well by Officer Wu, still stands in Ser-Liao today.  The two routes leading from Chu-San and Ser-Liao merge at Da Pinding. A plaque in a temple in Lugu Village with the characters, and another plaque in the Phoenix mountain temple with the other characters (Bless me with Divine protection in developing these mountains), can be seen; these were dedicated to Officer Wu by his younger brother, Kuang-Chung Wu.
  The Batung Pass Ancient Route is the only Ching Dynasty Route to have survived, and it is ordained a primary ancient monument by the government,.
   

• Chihan Tower
  Historical Background : Chihan Tower is located on Sha Ba Lan Mountain near Sun Moon Lake. It was built by Chiang Kai-Shek in memory of his mother in 1971. The construction was very difficult because the materials had to be shipped over the lake and moved up the mountain. The tower is 46 meters in height and has become the famous landmark of Sun Moon Lake. Surrounding the tower are beautiful plants and trees and there are stone tables and chairs for visitors to take a rest. The tower overlooks Lalu Island and Sun Moon Lake.
  Cultural Highlights : Chihan Tower is an octagonal building; the 3 stories at the base are painted in white, while the 9 stories of the main body are painted in golden red. Tourists can appreciate the magnificent scenery of Sun Moon Lake from the tower. The tourist track as long as 700 meters lead to the tower. Alongside the track are beautiful trees and flowers, which makes the track easy and comfortable to walk along.
   

• Dongpu Hot Spring
  Historical Background : Dongpu is one of the entrances to Yu Shan National Park and there are beautiful mountains and rivers in the vicinity. The most famous tourist attraction here is the hot spring. There are 12 hot spring hotels in Dongpu and each has its own characteristics. Some of them have open-air hot spring pools, spas, sauna, etc. Tourists can enjoy the hot spring and the mountainous scenery at the same time.
  Cultural Highlights : Besides the hot spring, Dongpu is also famous for its plums. The plums are used in food and wine. Other special foods include persimmon, tea, spring coffee, sweet potato, etc. Visitors can visit Fu Tze Cliff, Pa Tung Kuan Ku Tao and Yun Lung Waterfall in early morning.
   

• Dongpu Hot Springs
  Dongpu, located at the starting point of the Batungguan Trail, is the settlement of the Bunun tribe closest to Yushan. It is an ideal place to stay overnight, as it provides a number of hotels, and you have the chance to soak your tired limbs in the water of the hot springs of the area. The water of Dongpu Hot Springs is clear and fresh and contains a lot of beneficial minerals. Another attraction of Dongpu is the colorful plum, cherry, pear, and peach blossoms that fill the surrounding mountains from January to April.
   

• Guanshan and Yakou
  At the highest spot of the Southern Cross-Island Highway (2,700 meters), at the border of Kaoshiung and Taitung Counties, is Daguanshan Tunnel , which is 600 meters in length. At the eastern end of the tunnel is Yakou, from where you have a nice view on the large Guanshan cliff in the distance.
   

• Jiji
  Historical Background : Jiji is located on the north of Tzo Shui River. It is the smallest administrative district in Taiwan. However, Jiji is one of the hottest tourist attractions in recent years because of the promotion of tourist train. Along the Jiji railway, there are beautiful scenery and ancient buildings. The railway is 29.7 km in length, starting from Er Shui and passing Yuan Chuan, Tzo Shui, Lung Chuan, Jiji, Sheuili and Che Cheng. Scenic spots include Sung Po Ling, Tien Hsing Yao, Fu Hsing Temple, etc.
  Cultural Highlights : As agricultural land is limited in Jiji, farmers here grow fruits with high value, such as guavas and grapes. Bananas are grown on the hillside and litchis are becoming more and more popular too. Jiji also produce flowers, such as the sunflower.
   

• Jiji Station
  Jiji Station is a simple structure in the Japanese style built entirely of cypress wood.
   

• Lushan Hot Springs
  One of the best ways to relax and recover after days of hiking in the mountains is to soak in the healthy waters of hot springs. Not far from Wushe, which lies between Dayuling and Puli along the No. 14 Provincial Road, there are several hot springs worth trying out. A few kilometers southwest from Wushe is the hot springs resort of Lushan , an ideal place to relax after spending a night in the mountains. The town is perched precariously on the edges of a gorge, which has a river rushing through it. Lushan is one of the better known hot spring resorts in Taiwan, mainly because it provides a lot of hotels and facilities that makes the hot spring experience more convenient, but at the same time also attracts large crowds on holidays and weekends. The spring water, with a temperature of 87, is an effective treatment for such ailments as rheumatism and neuralgia (bathing) and chronic gastritis (drinking). The old and new areas of the town are separated by a small suspension bridge.
   

• Mt. Hohuan
  Taiwan's mountains are attracting the attention of hikers from all over the world for their height, which rivals the Alps and the Rocky Mountains, and their beautiful alpine scenery. While some of the highest peaks require considerable time and effort to reach, there is one place on the island that gives an instant overview of what Taiwan's mountains have to offer. Mt. Hohuan, despite its altitude of more than 3,000 meters, has a road that goes right across it, making access very convenient. It is the best place to see snow in the tropics, and escape from the summer heat. In as little as one day, you can travel the highest road in East Asia, and take the many hiking paths that lead off the main road. These are usually short and always safe. Mt. Hohuan, Taiwan's "tourist mountain", rivals the island's other high peaks in scenery and atmosphere, yet it is easily reachable by car or on foot. Accommodation is offered at Hohuan Cottage. At the same time, it is the starting point for one of Taiwan's most challenging and exciting treks, Chilai Ridge , a two-day ""ultimate experience"" that involves negotiating a knife-edge ridge with many dizzying pinnacles. Although the road scares away many of the birds and animals for which Taiwan is known, a short walk along the trails leading off the main road, particularly those in the direction of Chilai, will reveal their presence."
   

• New Art Park
  Historical Background : The Stone Sculpture Garden was set up in November, 1987, the first of its kind in Asia. It is located at Puli Town of Nantau County, occupying a total area of roughly 20,000 pings. It consists of the Lin Yuen Arts Gallery Hall and the Stone Sculpture Garden which was founded by Mr. Huang Bin Sung to exhibit his collection of the stone sculpture of the plain sculptor Mr. Lin Yuen. In this special featured sculpture garden there exhibits the work of three famous stone sculptors of Taiwan. They are Messrs. Lin Yuen, Yang Ying Feng and Chu Ming who were all born in the year of the Ox, hence the garden is named the Ox Ear Arts Garden. Majority of the exhibits in the Garden belong to the master pieces of Mr. Lin Yuen for the past ten years or so. His work is famous of its plain nature and therefore he is also known as the plain artist. At the tender age of ten, Lin Yuen learned the work of farming and starting from 17, he did stone cutting, carpentry and various hand works for a living besides farming. Until he retired at the age of 65 then he began the creative work in arts, and by 68 he already made his name in the field. Mr. Lin Yuen learned to work on stone, wood, paper and cloth by himself. In either sculpture or painting, his works are full of natural nature, without a trace of artificial maneuvering, nor based on theoretical principle of any school. This free style creativity as well as the mass volume had surprised his contemporaries and aroused public interest to the study of his work. As a result, the Stone Sculpture Garden and the Lin Yuen Arts Gallery Hall were built to exhibit his works so that those interested can come to appreciate as well as study this legendary creative talent.
  Cultural Highlights : The main theme of the Stone Sculpture Garden is the exhibition of Mr. Lin Yuen's art works including sculpture, stone cutting drawings, drawings on plain materials, wood cutting drawings, embroidery, metal sculpture etc. The garden is full of various kinds of plantation with birds singing in the woods. Lin Yuen Arts Gallery Hall, Children Arts Gallery Hall, Shops selling Handicraft Arts Works of Puli, Honey Bee Farm, Demonstration of Paper Making, Exhibits of Local Art works and the traditional Tea Houses and Food Halls which are full of folk heritage. These, together with the stories behind each of the work of Lin Yuen, their legendary, interesting and down to earth nature. And to tour visitors around and with professional tourist guides introducing and describing the scenery and Lin Yuen's artwork, provides a full spectrum of rural artistic trip to the general public.
   

• Puli Winery
  Due to the warm weather and sweet, clear water that the Puli area of central Taiwan enjoys, the Puli Winery has come to be known for producing excellent quality Shaohsing Wine featuring a bright yellow appearance and a vigorous fragrance.
   

• Sitou Bird Watching
  By car, Sitou is less than two hours from Taichung city. Situated at an elevation of 850 meters, it is an ideal spot for viewing mid-elevation mountain birds. Sitou is especially well-known for the abundance of subfamily Timalinae birds.
   

• Taiwan Geographic Center Marker
  A commemorative plaque marking the exact certer of Taiwan can be found among the beautiful, tall pine trees that line Hutou Mountain. Close by the center marker is the scenic Carp Lake. The lake and the area surrounding the Taiwan Geograghic CenterMarker offer eye-catching scenery and casy forest walks.
   

• Wushe
  Historical Background : Wushe is located in Renai Town in Nantou. The geographic position is in the middle of the Taiwan Island. It is the way you must past when heading to the middle cordillera. It was named because of the mountain overlap, and the mountain mists form mirage. There is the "Jen Chih Kuan" on the way from Puli to Wushe. Because of its important position, it is the famous strait fortress since the past. The mountains are grand hereabout. This was an important place for Japanese to control the inner mountain during the Japanese Time. The affair was happened hereupon. There was a commemorated cenotaph of hero Mo here. The cenotaph is standing among the cherry blossom for people to evoke. Since 1960, the center horizontal is opened, the south branch collect the beauty of the veldt and the valley in Wushe parkland. The climate is cool the whole year in Wushe. There are cherry blossom bloomy within the precinct. It is named as the same level as the red cherry tree in Ali. Besides the cherry trees, there are peaches, plums, and Li flowers. When coming to the cherry blossom bloomy in January and February every year, the precinct is the best place for watching the beautiful flowers and the famous place for summer time.
  Cultural Highlights : Chieh Shou booth is located one kilometer north of Wushe's hill top, and built in 1958. When the road from center horizontal Wushe to Ta Yu Ling Lu is opened, the First the President, Mr. Chiang, always came to this place to overlook the whole view of Wushe and the beautiful scenery of the Bi Lake. The Pai Shou picture and build booth stele are at two sides. Although it is not open to the outsiders, you can still see the picture of the ex-president and his wife through the glass window. Resist Japanese cenotaph is located at the southern of Wushe, and was built in 1953. The main purpose was to commemorate nine hundred heroes of clan souls for resisting the Japanese at the Wushe affair. Walking up the stairs, the chump archway will be forward you. There was a commemoration monument, which was made of dolomite, which was about the history of the heroes resisting the Japanese.
   

• Yushan Tianchih and Cypress Valley
  Tianchih marks the midpoint of the Southern Cross-Island Highway. It is also the terminus for buses from Tainan (Shingnan Bus Company) and Taitung (Taiwan Motor Transport Co.). At Tianchr you can visit a shrine, which was built to commemorate the veterans and workers who died building the highway. From here you have also splendid views of Yushan South Peak and the southern part of the Central Mountain Range. About 6 kilometers from the shrine along the highway you will come to a place called Cypress Valley, one of the most important natural forests along the Southern Cross-Island Highway.
   

HERITAGE / TEMPLE

• Jhongtai Temple
  Historical Background : Chan World of JhongtaiTemple locates in Puli of Nantou. Chan World of Jhongtai Temple's designation of the construction started since 1990 through out a decade. The accomplishment ended in 2001. The construction of the building combined both Chinese and Western styles. The famous architect, Li Tsu Yuan, designed it. It became the belief center of many Buddhism. The visitors or the crowd of believers come to visit because of its fame. Architect Li Tsu Yuan charged the layout of Chan World of Jhongtai Temple. Its adoption was the different law which means the great scale to reach exceptive sight affect. And the temple was built with perpendicularity development instead of Chinese traditional temple's horizontal extension mode. The main structure of the bodybuilding was stone. It represented the firmness of seminar and the eternal changeless. Looking at the bodybuilding from the side is like a saint seating in the green woods. The main side of the bodybuilding is like the due out of the jet plane. It represents realize suddenly from heart, straight become Buddha of the supremacy heart law. The design contains the new create of generation and extension of the ancient Zen. Chan World of Jhongtai Temple's main abbot who started the temple was the old monk, Shang Wei Hsia Chueh. The old monk was Szuchuan camp mountain county people. When he was 30 years old, he became a monk, cloister, and tonsure in Shih Fang Temple in Keelung. He became the disciple of the old monk, Shu Yun. He has been closed to border through the Auspice temple in Yulan, the Yuan Ming Temple in Hsinchu, the big island mountain in Hong Kong, and so on. He came back to Taiwan from Hong Kong during the end of 1971. He lived in the small and simple thatched cottage, which were bought by the people in Shih Ting in Taipei. He then continued his studying of the Zen. During 1985 and 1986,the inner prosperous road built by the Yangmingshan National Park. More and more passengers knew this. Later on, more and more visitors become the disciples. And throughout the disciples to the people, the old monk's celebrity is passing each day. Until now the disciples have reach to more than one hundred thousands.
  Cultural Highlights : Nantou is always famous for its mountain sight, especially Puli, which located in the center of Taiwan's geography. It is the main center of many types of scenery. Chan World of Jhongtai Temple's bodybuilding contains Wu Hua changes, Gather lives, education, art learning, art, science. The building of the temple, the statue of Buddha, the fresco, the color paints, the carving structure, the calligraphy and etc, all of these form the content of the art. They show the real truth, the real nice and the real beauty of the spirit of Buddha. All of these are the art and the unimposing. Making a trip of Chan World of Jhongtai Temple, you will feel the relaxation. It is just like a heart spirit bathing. You can also gain the peace in your heart.
   

BEACHES / ISLANDS

• Lalu Island
  Historical Background : Located in the center of Sun Moon Lake, Lalu Island was called Kuang Hua Island in the past. Sun Moon Lake is the most famous water reservoir in Taiwan. Lulu Island is known as the island on the water. This area was dwelled by the Shao tribe in the past and the island had been called Lalu until 1946, when the government renamed it Kuang Hua Island. In the severe earthquake in 1999, Sun Moon Lake reservoir was damaged and a historic site of the Shao tribe was discovered. Thus, in 2000, the island was renamed Lalu again. The Shao tribe considers the island a sacred place and thus tourists cannot visit the island; however, you can still learn about the Shao tribe along the tracks surrounding the lake.
  Cultural Highlights : Lalu Island is said to be a sacred place for the Shao tribe. Witch candidates of the tribe would have to come to the island to seek approval of the ancestors' spirits. The witches are in charge of incantation and rituals. The Japanese also left a stone monument, remembering the development of Sun Moon Lake during Japanese occupation.

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