景點地圖 — Map of Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area

Itinerary 2020 5/13 – 5/15

Day 1

呂家傳統魚丸米粉
鐵杉林步道 Taiwan Hemlock Forest Nature Trail
太平山莊 (松柏小屋) Taipoingshan Villa

Day 2

翠峰山屋 Cueifong Villa
台灣山毛櫸步道 Taiwan Beech Trail
翠峰湖環山步道 Cueifong Lake Circular Trail

Day 3

望洋山步道 Wangyangshan Trail (Sunrise)
翠峰湖環山步道 Cueifong Lake Circular Trail (too foggy to see the lake yesterday)
見晴懷古步道 Jiancing Historic Trail
鳩之澤溫泉 Jiuzhize (Renze) Hot Springs
Long face 臭臉甜點工作室
阿娘給的蒜味肉羹 mother’s love garlic meat soup

First we picked up Xuan at her dorm then we left for Taipingshan. For lunch, we had some rice noodle soup with fish meatballs at 呂家傳統魚丸米粉. The food was okay, but the decorations were quite interesting.

圖像裡可能有1 人 — We were surrounded by plastic models like Pokemon, One Piece, Marvels, and so on.

After lunch, we kept driving for about an hour and stopped by the convenience store for some essentials and candies. It’s better that you bring some snacks. There were no convenience stores up there, and it costs more if you buy at the local shops. Finally, we saw the entrance gate of Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area. Ticket price: NT$150 weekdays, $200 weekends, Students $100. After some short break, we continued driving to where we stayed tonight, Taipingshan Villa Service Station. After checking in at the villa center, we had to climb up some stairs to reach our cabin called Cypress Cabin 扁柏小屋. After eating some chips and candies, we decided to take 蹦蹦車, a 1 km long sightseeing train. But because we had to wait for a half-hour plus it was kind of like the train we took at Ali Mt., therefore at the end, we started our first trail, Taiwan Hemlock Forest Nature Trail.

圖像裡可能有樹、天空、植物、戶外和大自然 — Some kind of old train decoration beside the tourist center.

圖像裡可能有戶外 — It’s cloudy on Day 1. This picture was taken on day 2 with better clarity.

圖像裡可能有植物、樹、天空、花、戶外和大自然 — take the stairs first to reach your cabin

圖像裡可能有甜點、飲料、食物和室內 — The top of Pringles puffed up because of low air pressure

Weather at Taipingshan varies greatly. It can be sunny and hot in the morning, and cloudy and chilly in the afternoon. Some areas are foggy almost all the time, so drive slowly and turn your lights on. Overall it’s safe.

圖像裡可能有樹、植物、草、戶外和大自然 — Taiping Poetic Road. Some poets made some poems to praise the beauty and the tranquility of the trail.

圖像裡可能有大家站著、樹、植物、天空、戶外和大自然 — generous views of the surrounding greenery

圖像裡可能有大家站著、樹、植物、戶外和大自然 — There’s a temple.

圖像裡可能有天空、樹、戶外和大自然 — Jhenan Temple atop of the small front hill

圖像裡可能有植物、樹、天空、戶外和大自然 — peculiar trees look like corals

圖像裡可能有植物、樹、天空、草、戶外、大自然和水 — hole in a bush, let’s dig in

圖像裡可能有植物、樹、戶外和大自然 — muddy, nothing too special

圖像裡可能有一或多人、植物、樹、戶外和大自然 — passing the tree hole again

圖像裡可能有樹和戶外 — Multi-layered Cypress Forest

After the trail, we went back to our cabin and ate some snacks. The meals were only served for breakfast and dinner. We had to wait until 6 to eat.

圖像裡可能有大家坐著、食物和室內 — Can’t complain about the food on the mountain. Braised eggplant, fried ground pork onion roll, fried mackerel, sesame oil chicken with rice wine, sated snake gourd, sated Bok choy, seaweed soup, and a sliced orange.

After dinner, we went to the café that was right across from the restaurant. We had three NT$30 discount coupons, gifts from the accommodation. Since we were so full, we skipped the pancakes and just ordered a cup of apple tea and a cup of milk tea. Mom said the apple tea was good because it was very sweet, but then she changed her mind after some more sips. The drinks were okay, but the serving lady was very friendly. Great vibe too! Then here came the movie time. After the introduction clip of Taipingshan was the clip about Golden Bats. Very boring, yet somehow we managed to finish them all. I got a call from a job interview while the movie was playing. I didn’t make it through.