Taiwan's National Parks

Surrounded by the sea and covered by lofty and precipitous peaks from the north to south of the island, Taiwan is extremely rich in natural landscapes. Currently, there are seven national parks in Taiwan, each possessing their own unique qualities. As with National Parks worldwide, Taiwan's were established to protect and preserve unique natural scenery, wildlife, and historical sites. The parks are designated into various zones to better facilitate protection and ensure appropriate usage. These are the limited use areas, recreation areas, cultural/ historical areas, significant scenic areas, and ecological protection areas.

The national parks, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior, are charged with the responsibilities of conservation, research, education, and recreation. Each national park aims to protect local natural resources through the preservation of large areas of habitats, these continue to be expanded both in terms of area and level of protection. The quality of park management and outreach programs are usually of a degree that would be expected in western countries.

click to enlarge

Yushan National Park
Established 1985 and located in central/south Taiwan, this at over 1054.91 km² is the largest national park in Taiwan. It's environment ranges from sub-tropical forests to alpine conditions on the peaks and ridges. Within it's boundary are Yushan (Jade Mountain) 3,952m, the highest peak in Northeast Asia; Siouguluan 3,825m and Mapolas 3,785m, Taiwan's third and fourth highest (if not counting Yushan's sub-peaks); and some 20 other peaks over 3000m.

Taroko National Park
Established 1986 and second only to Yushan in size, this park is situated in eastern/north Taiwan. It possesses spectacular mountains (including the renowned Nan-hu 3,742m, Taiwan's 5th highest), and most familiar to locals and visitors - Taroko gorge. With towering marble cliffs, and rapids roaring deep below, this gorge's road and hiking trails, cut into the vertical walls, should not be missed.

Eight sites showing evidence of prehistoric settlement have been discovered within the park. The Fushi site, located along the southern bank near the mouth of the Liwu Stream, is the best known of these. Recognized as a "Class 3" historical site, Fushi contains a geometrical pattern formed by 85 upright stones set in place by Neolithic inhabitants of the Taroko area around 2,000 years ago. Other vestiges of prehistoric inhabitants, including pottery shards and stone blades have been found at the other sites.

It was the Eastern branch of the Atayal tribe, emigrating some 250 to 300 years ago from the homeland on the western slopes of the central mountain range, who first came to the open wilderness of Taroko and made it their home. To date, the remains of 79 distinct Atayal villages have been found. The Atayal subsist on clear-cut farming, supplemented by hunting and fishing. The well-known tradition of facial tattoos is a cornerstone of Atayal culture. The tattoos carry deep meanings for the wearer and for his or her clan, representing familial and clan ties, signifying one's coming of age, or testifying to a great accomplishment.

The trail between Heren and Taroko was originally known as the "Northern Road" (Bei-Lu). It was improved under the Qing (Manchu) Dynasty and then linked, under the Japanese, to a new coastal roadway (the predecessor to the current Su-Ao Coastal Road). A trail crossing over Hehuan Mountain, linking eastern Taiwan to the west, was established by Japanese colonial administrators around 1915 and used mainly to open up communications with the Atayal communities along its route. The Taroko National Park has taken care to maintain this trail so that it looks much as it did nearly 100 years ago. Finally, the Central Cross-Island Highway, traversing some of the park's most dramatic scenic areas, is today the main artery of transportation and communication between the park and the west coast.

Shei-pa National Park
The fifth national park, established in 1992, in central/north Taiwan, is based around the Syue (snow) range and Taiwan's second highest peak Syue Shan (Snow mountain) 3,886m and the prominent Da-ba-jien shan. Its total area is 76,850 hectares and ecompases parts of in Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung Counties. As well as stunning scenery it also contains rich and intact botanic resources.

Kenting National Park
Established 1984 to prevent logging and over development, this was the first national park. Situated on the Peninsula of Hengchun in the very south of Taiwan, the park possesses a tropical ecological environment, spectacular oceanic views and abundant sea resources. The nearby beach resorts are very popular.

Yangmingshan National Park
Established 1985, this national park on the northern suburbs of Taipei city, is famous for its volcanic topography.

Caoshan (Grass Mountain) was the original name of the area. During Japan's colonial occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945), government plans to create a national park in these mountains were proposed but never implemented due to the disruption of World War II. Soon after the ROC government renamed Caoshan, Yangmingshan, paying tribute to a respected Chinese philosopher, Yang-ming Wang. Plans were made as early as 1963 to create a national park, which was envisioned to encompass the Datun and Cising mountains as well as Jinshan, Yeliou, and Fugueijiao along Taiwan's northern coast. However, lack of a the legal framework under which to establish such a "national park" had not yet been promulgated and the plan for a park had to be, once again, shelved. The Yangmingshan National Park finally became a reality in the summer of 1985.

The Yangmingshan area holds rich deposits of sulfur - a key gunpowder ingredient. As such, sulfur extraction and processing was the engine of early commercial development here. In the earliest days, Chinese fishermen bartered agate and bracelets for sulfur with local aborigines. During much of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) sulfur mining was forbidden by imperial edict. The court opened mining to imperial officials only during the mid-1800s and, by the time the island became a Japanese colony in 1895, the Cising Mountain mine had already risen to become a major sulfur producer. Business brought Chinese settlements to the area, which soon led to a broader economic development of the Datun mountain range and its foothills.

The Datun mountain range was also a major growing area for indigo, the all-important natural dye which lent a brilliant blue color to fabrics worn both at home and abroad. The damp climate of Yangmingshan was well suited to the indigo plant, which was cultivated extensively. Around the turn of the last century, indigo, along with tea and camphor, was one of Taiwan's top exported products.

Kinmen National Park
Established 1995, this is the first national park in the country that focuses principally on maintaining historical and cultural assets and battle commemoration, in addition to natural resource conservation.

Kinmen is located off the southeastern coast of China's Fujian Province. Despite being a small island, Kinmen has inherited a great deal of cultural heritage and valuable traditional buildings due to its rich cultural and historical development. Kinmen is regarded as important because of it's many famous battles in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, the long-term military administration system unexpectedly contributed to a considerably complete and distinctive ecological environment.

Dongsha Atoll National Park, located in a disputed part of the South China sea, is the latest to be established. Is not yet open to the public, not least because of being 450km from the nearest Taiwanese city, Kaohsiung.

Next in line to be established as national parks are, Magao and Green Island.

Also deserving of note are the many areas managed by the Forestry Bureau and the various National Scenic Areas. Some of these areas enjoy protection exceeding that of the national parks.