/tags/yu-shan.rss en-us Every national park needs a crown jewel. Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park has it's red-ruby Kilauea Volcano, Malaysia's Kinabalu National Park has it's green-emerald Mount Kinabalu, and Taiwan's Yushan National Park is beautified by it's lofty Jade Mountain, so named because of her snow-capped peak which glistens in the sun like white-jade. Many of us picture high-rises and concrete madness when we think of Taiwan. After all, it made its place on the world scene in the 1990's as one of the "Four Asian Tigers." But with over 79,000,000 acres of Taiwan's landmass set aside and preserved as National Parks, this Asian province is as much a mecca for campers, hikers, adventure trekkers and nature lovers as it is for world-class business men. One of Taiwan's premiere wilderness focal points is Jade Mountain. Rising up to 3,952 meters above sea level, this magnificent peak stands as one of the tallest in Northeast Asia and pushes Taiwan up to Number Four on the list of highest islands in the world. It's no wonder that the Taiwanese have taken great care in preserving this unique beauty by dubbing the mountain's surrounding borders a national park on April 10, 1985. Today, Jade Mountain sits encircled by over 100,000 hectares of beautiful landscape known as Yushan National Park, the largest of Taiwan's seven natural preserves. But just as there are many facets to a crown, there is more to Yushan National Park than Jade Mountain. Almost 70% of the park's landmass rises to over 2,000 meters in elevation. A landscape that soars upwards must likewise descend downwards, dramatically leaving behind jagged cliffs, rugged valleys, rushing rivers and misty waterfalls in it's wake. The geography of Yushan National Park does not fail to deliver. From the park's broad and mixed-leafed forests of native fir, hemlock and Batongguan grass, to it's over 50 mammalian species, Yushan National Park offers plenty of opportunities for interaction with the wild. Native wildlife that rank high on many visitors lists include the Formosan macaque, sambar and Taiwan's most iconic native animal, the Formosan black bear. The park is divided into northwest, south and eastern sections. If you want to scale the summit, Tatajia or Dongpu from the northwest is your point of entry. To the southeast is Nanan entry-point, which opens up to quiet walks and a modest visitor's center. The town of Meishanku in the southwest is a convenient entrance with hotels, campsites and restaurants to welcome you. Access to these entry points is from differing areas in Taiwan, and these routes do not interconnect with one another within the park. It would be best to explore just one area of interest if you are short on time. Once you secure lodging within the park's boundaries you will find an impressive network of well-marked hiking trails. Some of these walks can be experienced as short day-trip adventures, and others will require a commitment of at least a few days. There are two routes up to the main peak of Jade Mountain, one for the experienced and seasoned adventure trekker and the other for the rest of us. Both trails are visibly marked and well-maintained, making it easy to stay on track while enjoying the views. So the next time you find yourself searching for the next convenient wilderness to explore, consider booking a flight over to the island of Taiwan to explore the many sides of Yushan National Park. Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:06:06 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/yushan http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/yushan