Trail Introduction
Mt. Hehuan main peak resides on the west boundary of Taroko National Park. It serves as a watershed for Liwu River and Zhuoshui River. From the peak, hikers can see the meandering course of each river. The Liwu River rushes east into the Pacific and Zhuoshui River heads west beyond the mountains to the Puli Basins, Changhua Plain, and finally the Taiwan Strait. With no surrounding mountains obstructing the view, Hehuan Mountains, Qilai Mountains, Mt. Nenggao, Mt. Nanhu, Mt. Zhongyangjian, and even Yushan (Mt. Jade), can be seen in all their beauty from Hehuan Main Peak. It's also a great spot to watch the sun rising out of Liwu River's mouth or sinking slowly behind distant peaks.
Culture and History
In their campaign against the Truku tribe, Japan organized five expeditions to survey the terrain. Sakuma Samata, then Governor-General of Taiwan, joined an expedition to Mt. Hehuan Main Peak on the morning of September 29, 1912, so that he could survey the environment himself. Today, on the mountainside above the main road, running parallel to the road, one can still see a clear, small path that was opened up by the Japanese military back during the Taroko War. The path is accessible by foot.
Mt. Hehuan Main Peak is level with a panoramic view. In the early days, the army was stationed there, so the area was off limits to the public. The army created a road connecting to Provincial Highway 14A. When the army finally withdrew from Mt. Hehuan in 2000, the Park Administration was able to reorganize the area. In addition to telecommunication stations, an observation deck was set up so that visitors could enjoy the gorgeous mountain views all around.
Terrain
This is the source of the Liwu, Dajia and Zhuoshui rivers, where one can observe the area’s eroded landscape. Loose slate makes up most of the terrain, which has been weathered by wind and snow over time.
Ecosystem
Mt. Hehuan is blanketed with flowers and greenery during the summer months, making it a popular getaway from the heat. At this high elevation, you can see the blossoms of Yushan rhododendron (Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum), High Mountain Juniper (Juniperus squamata), Yushan rose(Rosa sericea) and more. June and July are also great for watching alpine birds, such as the Taiwan laughing thrush(Garrulax morrisoniana) or Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes).
Mt. Hehuan in July is especially attractive, and the weather comfortable. The Taiwan laughing thrushs flutter around people while nearby, cones of Kawakami firs (Abies kawakamii)cluster together, coated with crystalized resin, and red and green fruit dangle from Formosan currants (Ribes formosanum), Alishan Gentian (Gentiana arisanensis) flowers pop out of the grass like little blue lights, along with the purple and blue of Taiwan ladybells (Adenophora morrisonensis).
Snow falls on Mt. Hehuan during February and March. Among the snow-capped mountains, the whistling cold winds, and occasional sunshine that illuminates the frozen Yushan cane, tourists arrive to enjoy the snowy landscape, bringing much warmth to the place.
First Stop: Wuling
Wuling is the highest-point accessible by road in Taiwan. No matter if you're coming from Hualien or Nantou, cars begin to descend here. Wuling, the saddle between Mt. Huhuan Main Peak and Mt. Hehuan East Peak, serves as an awesome scenic platform.
Second Stop: Kunyang
After a 1 km descent heading west from Wuling, you'll reach Kunyang and the west side of the Central Mountain Range. Kunyang stands at an elevation of 3,070 km, at the west end of the national park and the very south of Mt. Hehuan. A temporary police station is set up here, unused except during snow season for traffic control and medical emergencies.
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