During Nantou’s starry sky season, Hehuan Mountain is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions. Whenever night comes, the entire Hehuan Mountain area will be decorated with countless stars, which makes people breathtaking. In addition to the beautiful starry sky, Hehuan Mountain also has many attractions worth visiting, making people linger. This article has compiled the Hehuan Starry Sky Axis for you, taking you along Taiwan Line 14A to Cingjing-Aowanda, exploring this mysterious and beautiful place, and visiting the attractions of Hehuan Mountain. The editor has also compiled recommendations for one-day and two-day tours of Hehuan Mountain, come and explore the beautiful starry sky journey together!
Hehuan Starry Sky Axis|Recommended itinerary
Hehuan Mountain has become a popular tourist attraction in Taiwan due to its spectacular mountain terrain and charming scenery. Whether you are climbing the main peak of Hehuan Mountain or walking in the forest, you can experience the magic and beauty of nature. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city, relax, and enjoy the breathtaking views. If you are looking for a fun and unforgettable journey, the two-day tour of Hehuan Mountain is definitely a good choice.
Two-day tour of Hehuan Mountain attractions:
Day 1: Cingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail→ Cingjing Farm→ Cingjing Little Swiss Garden→ Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park Stargazing
Day 2: Hehuan Mountain Qunfeng → Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater → return
Hehuan Starry Sky Axis|Recommended attractions
Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park
Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park is located on a high mountain at an altitude of 2,700 meters and has very good observation conditions. In recent years, the Nantou County Government has vigorously promoted stargazing tourism, actively working with the Dongshi Forest Area Management Office of the Forestry Bureau of the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan and the Taroko National Park Management Office to strive for the certification of the “Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky Park” by the International Dark Sky Association, and passed the certification in August 2019, becoming the third dark sky park in Asia.
Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater
Located next to the Yuanfeng Visitor Center, the Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater uses professional astronomers to lead visitors to see different starry sky scenes and explain the knowledge about astronomy. The performance that combines science and art, coupled with the spectacular starry sky, is shocking and exciting. In addition to stargazing, there is also a comfortable environment and comfortable seating, allowing you to relax and enjoy the night to the fullest.
Recommand ticket：
- Nantou Ren’ai Township|Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater tickets
- 【Hehuan Mountain X Cingjing Package】Nantou | Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater + Green Grassland (Gift: full ticket for Cingjing High-altitude Trail)
Observatory
After watching the performance of the Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater, don’t miss the latest Yuanfeng Dome remote astronomical observation system built by the Nantou County Government, through this remote observation observatory, the stargazing experience is expanded, and the demand for popular science education is also increased, enriching the astronomical stargazing experience, bringing tourists a deeper and clearer interstellar experience, and satisfying tourists’ professional and high-quality astronomical exploration experience.
Yuanfeng Starry Sky Theater Attraction Address: No. 113-1, Taiping Lane, Xinyi Township, Nantou County Business Hours: Open 24 hours
Hehuan Mountain peaks
Hehuan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area is located at the junction of Hualien County and Nantou County, and is the highest national forest recreation area in Taiwan, including Hehuan Main Peak, Hehuan East Peak, Hehuan North Peak, Hehuan West Peak and Shimen Mountain, the first five mountains are listed as one of Taiwan’s 100 mountains, and each peak is a tourist route, and the trailhead is located near Hehuan Villa on Line 14A, which is easy to find. The landscape in the Hehuan Mountain National Forest Recreation Area is extremely natural, with the Hehuan Mountain peaks as the main axis, along the way you can see the Qilai Mountains, Central Jianshan, Nanhu Mountain, Yushan, etc., with diverse terrain and abundant rainfall, so it is rich in endemic alpine plants, making it a good place to enjoy flowers and snow.
For people who don’t usually have the habit of exercising, Hehuan North Peak has a large height drop, which will be more tiring to walk, and Hehuan West Peak is also a large ups and downs due to the long distance, so it is recommended to prepare appropriate equipment and sufficient food before going, the rest are relatively easy to walk on the hiking trail, and it is also very suitable for beginners to choose the Baiyue mountaineering itinerary.
Recommended Hiking Routes
- Route 1: Hehuan Main Peak + Hehuan East Peak + Shimen Mountain (Total duration: approx. 9 hours)
- Route 2: Hehuan Main Peak + Hehuan East Peak + Shimen Mountain + Hehuan Sharp Peak (Total duration: approx. 9 hours)
- Route 3: Hehuan North Peak + Hehuan West Peak (Total duration: approx. 11 hours)
Qingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail
The Qingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail is 1.6 kilometers long, from the southern end of the story hall to the end of the butterfly garden, with an altitude of about 1700-2000 meters. The trail is designed with a hidden elevated design, shuttling through the treetops and crossing the grassland, where passengers can hike safely and enjoy the ecology of sheep foraging in the green grass and wild birds jumping on the canopy. There are also a number of landscape platforms along the way to facilitate passengers to enjoy the cool breeze and overlook the Central Mountain Range, Zhuoshuixi River Valley and the blue sky. It is recommended to enter from the north end of Qingjing Farm, watch the sheep shedding show and equestrian show all the way, and then come out from the south end of Qingjing Farm, opposite is the entrance to the southern business district of the Qingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail.
Qingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail Admission Tickets: Nantou Fun to Explore
Qingjing High-altitude Viewing Trail Address: No. 186-1, Renhe Road, Ren'ai Township, Nantou County Walkway Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last admission and ticket purchase: 4:30 PM daily)
Qingjing Farm
Taiwan’s well-known tourist destination “Qingjing Farm” is famous for its magnificent alpine landscapes and rich and diverse agricultural products. You can stroll through the vast grasslands, admiring the sheep leisurely grazing grass and getting up close and personal with the cattle. In the early morning, enjoy a cup of fragrant coffee against the background of light clouds, feeling the tranquility of the valley. In addition to the beautiful scenery, the farm also offers a variety of fun activities such as milking experience, where you can experience the joy of milking and taste fresh milk. In addition, there are exciting programs such as sheep shows and equestrian shows. For those who like animals, the farm also has a zoo area where you can observe rare animals such as ostriches and peacocks up close.
Qingjing Farm Address: No. 170, Renhe Road, Ren'ai Township, Nantou County Discounted Admission: Explore Nantou's Qingjing | Green Grass Prairie, Skywalk, Little Switzerland Garden | Full Price Ticket
Qingjing Little Swiss Garden
Qingjing Little Swiss Garden, a treasure of Nantou Ren’ai Township. Built in the style of the Swiss mountains, it exudes a romantic and elegant atmosphere. Flowers of all colors bloom here, such as tulips, carnations and roses, creating a colorful sea of flowers. Stroll through the manicured lawn and soak in the floral scents; Sit in the pavilion and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the distant mountains and lakes. There is also a mini zoo where you can interact with goats and rabbits up close. Climb to the observation deck for a magnificent view of the Qingjing area. Whether you’re on a couple’s date, a family trip, or sharing with friends, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature. Qingjing Little Swiss Garden allows you to have an unforgettable special experience in a short time.
Qingjing Little Swiss Garden
Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Address: No. 28, Dingyuan New Village, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County
Discounted Tickets: Nantou Qingjing | Little Switzerland Garden & Skywalk Admission | Full Price
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area
The Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area has rich animal and plant resources and a starry night sky, and the park has the largest natural maple fragrance pure forest in the country, known as the “hometown of maple leaves”, attracting a large number of tourists every autumn and winter during the autumn and winter maple seasons. The park has three waterfall groups in the waterfall area, the forest park has a 2,550-meter-long forest trail, the maple forest area has a 2,425-meter-long maple forest trail and pine maple suspension bridge in the maple forest area, and the pine forest area has a 2,885-meter-long trail, allowing tourists to fully experience the beauty of the mountains and forests.
- Advanced Level: Visitor Center → Cherry Blossom Garden Trail → Hero’s Slope Trail → Maple Forest Trail → Forest Park Trail → Birdwatching Platform → Forest Classroom → Ouwan Grand Suspension Bridge → Pine Forest Area
- Beginner Level: Visitor Center → Maple Forest Trail → Forest Park Trail → Birdwatching Trail (Birdwatching Platform) → Ouwan Grand Suspension Bridge → Pine Forest Area
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area Address: No. 153, Daan Road, Qin'ai Village, Ren'ai Township, Nantou County Business Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed on New Year's Eve; lodging services suspended on New Year's Eve and the night before New Year's Eve)
Hehuan Starry Sky Axis|Recommended sightseeing spots
Tiberium Gorge Falls
Tiberon Canyon Waterfall is located in the Hongxiang tribe of Ren’ai Township, Nantou, and is a secret place hidden deep in the mountains. The Tiberian stream flows into the Beigang Creek from about 1,300 meters above sea level in Hehuan Mountain, and the stream flows in a spectacular manner on the rocks next to the Hongxiang tribe, swirling out of the valley cliff at a horizontal angle, and then rushing into the turquoise deep pool in an oblique manner, causing splashes. The minerals of the rock wall have oxidized over the years to form orange-yellow-white markings, and the green embellishments make the valley present a colorful scenery, like a painting of nature. Although Tibilon Falls is not high, it is majestic, showing the power of thousands of troops, and people are amazed by the magic of nature. Because this secret place is located deep in the mountains and is sparsely populated, it retains its original beauty, and it takes a period of driving and hiking to arrive. However, such efforts are definitely worth it, as Tibilon Waterfall combines waterfalls, cliffs, rushing water and deep pools, presenting a perfect combination of nature, becoming one of the secret places passed down by word of mouth in Ren’ai Township.
Tiberium Gorge Falls Address: No. 20, Provincial Highway 14A, Ren'ai Township, Nantou County
Wujie tribe
Nantou Wujie Tribe is located in Ren’ai Township, Nantou, is the northernmost tribe of the Bunun ethnic group, because “Wujie Dam” was voted as the first place in the beautiful secret place, and because of the terrain and abundant water vapor, the sea of clouds and cloud waterfalls can be seen all year round, so it is named “the hometown of clouds”. From June to November every year, a large amount of groundwater gushes out, making it an important water conservancy town. The high valley between Wujie Mountain and the Gan Zhuowan Mountains is deeply terrainous, and every morning when the water vapor rises, it encounters the cold air of the mountains and a dreamy waterfall-like sea of clouds, which is one of the most beautiful secret places in Nantou.
The martial arts world recommends coming from January to March, this period is the dry season, and there are limited secret attractions to visit. One is Man Jianghong of the martial arts world, and the other secret realm is a line of heaven. Friends who want to go to Yixiantian, in addition to choosing to go by car, can also put the car in the Wujie tribe and take the shuttle bus (about 150-200 yuan per person) to be taken by a local resident guide, because it needs to pass through the riverbed from Zhuoshuixi Wujie to Bakulas, an off-road road formed by the smallening of the silt and gravel river, so if you want to drive yourself, please be sure to evaluate whether your vehicle has off-road performance.
Recommended Itinerary for Wujie: Manjianghong → Wujie One-Line Sky → Siyuan Suspension Bridge → Wujie Dam → Momonaer Waterfall
Wujie tribe
Address: No. 4, Jieshan Lane, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County
Hehuan Mountain is one of Taiwan’s most representative hiking destinations, with rich ecological resources and diverse hiking routes, providing countless choices for travelers who enjoy outdoor activities. In recent years, Hehuan Mountain has also become a very popular stargazing spot, with an internationally certified dark sky park to enjoy, and with the help of local operators and alliances, it is also committed to reducing light pollution and protecting the starry sky. It is highly recommended that you arrange a two-day and one-night trip to Hehuan Mountain, hiking during the day, watching the cute sheep show on the farm, and having a stargazing experience at night, come and explore the mysteries of nature.
