Complete Guide to How to Climb Jade Mountain, the Highest Mountain in Taiwan, from the Easiest Route to the Most Difficult One
Jade Mountain or Yushan, Mt. Yu, 3,952 meters, is the highest mountain in Taiwan. Hiking to this magnificent mountain is a dream of many Taiwanese and people from other countries. This beautiful mountain is also depicted on NT$1000 banknote.
You will find all the information you need to hike Jade Mountain in this post, including how to apply for permits to hike Jade Mountain, how to arrange your transportation, and where to rent sleeping bags and order meals. If you opt for more challenging routes like Batongguan Historic Trail, you can also find them here.
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Table of Contents:
Trail Information: Mt. Jade Main Peak Route (The Easiest One)
Distance: 21.8 km (13.5 miles)
Route type: Out and back
Days/Hours Needed: One or two days, depending on your fitness.
Total Ascent/Descent: 1,342 m/1,342 m
Best Time to Go: All year round, but you need snow gear and a training certificate if you want to hike between December and March.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level for 2-day Hike:
Peaks to Reach:
Route type: Out and back
Days/Hours Needed: One or two days, depending on your fitness.
Total Ascent/Descent: 1,342 m/1,342 m
Best Time to Go: All year round, but you need snow gear and a training certificate if you want to hike between December and March.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level for 2-day Hike:
Peaks to Reach:
- Mt. Jade, Mt. Yu, Yushan 玉山, 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) above sea level.
- Mt. Jade West Peak or Yushan West Peak, 玉山西峰, 3,512 meters (11,522 feet) above sea level. The trailhead to this peak is Paiyun Lodge. The round trip to the west peak from Paiyun Lodge is around 3 km and 3 hours. Many hikers do this peak on Day One.
- Be aware of High Mountain Sickness.
- Waterproof jacket and pants.
- Down or synthetic jacket to keep you warm
- Warm hat: It's crucial to keep your head warm.
- A pair of gloves.
- You need a headlamp and extra batteries if you plan to see the sunrise at Jade Mountain Main Peak.
- Phone receptions are mostly good in most sections. Bring portable chargers for your phone and electronic gadgets.
Things I Enjoy:
- The stunning views on the peaks and along the way to Jade Mountain.
- On the highest point of Taiwan.
- Everything about this mountain, including the freezing blizzard-like wind right before reaching the peak.
I took this photo at our B&B in Wangxiang Village.
Things I Don't Enjoy:
-
Getting a bed at Paiyun Lodge. Hikers need to get a bed at Paiyun Lodge before getting permits to hike this mountain. There are only 116 beds available at Paiyun Lodge. We joke that getting a permit to hike Jade Mountain is the most challenging part of doing this route. It gets worse during the Covid border lockdown.
From those groups' names, you can see the desperate pleas to get a bed at Paiyun Lodge. - There is no campground near Paiyun Lodge, and camping is not allowed. When I first did this hike, there was a campground next to Paiyun Lodge.
- It can be noisy when you stay at Paiyun Lodge. I don't remember much about the details when I first hiked Jade Mountain 10+ years ago. I even don't remember the exact year I did the first hike. Paiyun Lodge was rebuilt in June 2013, and the amenities are improving.
The Easiest Route: Mt. Jade Main Peak Route and One Day Route
Brief itinerary: Tataka Saddle (0km, 2,608m) ➔ Monroe Pavilion with toilets 孟祿亭 (1.7km, 2,790m) ➔ junction to Jade Mountain Front Peak (2.3km, 2,860m) ➔ White-wood Forest (Baimulin) Observation Deck with toilets 白木林觀景區 (5.1km) ➔ the Great Precipice 大峭壁 (3,187m) ➔ junction to Jade Mountain West Peak and Paiyun Lodge (8.5km, 3,402m) ➔ Jade Mountain Main Peak (10.9km, 3,952m)
Then, you take the same way back to Tataka Saddle.
Main Peak Route Day 1: From Tataka Saddle to Paiyun Lodge
Before this journey, hikers must submit the entry permit 入山證 to Tataka Police Station (or Tataka Squad on Yushan National Park's official website). Then, submit the national park permit to Paiyun Mountaineering Center 排雲登山服務中心. Remember to bring your ID or passport.
If you are new to the trails and mountains in Taiwan, this route might be more challenging than you thought. Some sections of trail terrains are rough rocks.
You'll pass Monroe Pavilion (aka Menglu Pavilion) 孟祿亭 soon. This pavilion was built to commemorate an American tax consultant who fell to death on a deadly slope. You can also find bio-toilets here.
When you see the junction to Jade Mountain Front Peak (Yushan Front Peak) with the sign saying it takes 0.8 km to reach the peak, please don't be fooled by the numbers.
According to Sunriver Culture, the famous map company in Taiwan, it takes 75 minutes from the junction to the Front Peak and 45 minutes to return. Hikers must hike from 2,860 meters to 3,233 meters within 800 meters of distance, like climbing 125 floors. There are several rocky slopes, too.
Before reaching White-wood Forest Observation Deck (aka Baimulin West Peak Observation Deck 西峰下觀景台), you will pass bio-toilets with an address plate.
Then you can take a break at the observation deck to enjoy the Jade Mountain ridgeline.
If you have enough time, please take a few minutes to check out the Great Precipice, aka Daciaobi 大峭壁, 3,187 meters above sea level. This place used to be at the bottom of a shallow sea a long, long, long time ago. Long story short, the tectonic movements pushed this place up and became where it is now.
Then, Paiyun Lodge. If you do this hike in two days, you can enjoy your break here.
Some hikers will also put Jade Mountain West Peak in their itinerary. The junction is here.
Paiyun Lodge has changed a lot since my first visit. It looks fancy and even has a hotel-like front desk, a drying room, a canteen, and other amenities.
Paiyun Lodge has solar power, but NOT for hikers to charge their phones. Hikers still must bring their portable chargers to charge their gadgets.
Main Peak Route Day 2: The Last Rock Climbing is the Toughest
The terrain and steepness become more treacherous after the junction to Yuanfong Cabin. The last 50 meters is also a kick in the butt.
When I did this hike for the first time, it was raining and cloudy. I didn't see anything on the peak. During my second trip, clouds suddenly appeared and covered the mountains behind me.
I guess I'll have to do Jade Mountain for the third time in the future.
Yushan One Day Route: Doing Jade Mountain in One Day 玉山單攻 + Extra 2.4 km
Because of the scarcity of beds and the difficulty of applying to Paiyun Lodge, many hikers do this route in one day.
However, doing Jade Mountain in one day isn't as easy as we thought. Other than physical fitness, those are the regulations hikers need to consider before doing it in one day. Here's an infographic made with Canva.
Moreover, be aware of the high-altitude sickness. Hikers hike from 2,600 to almost 4,000 meters within a couple of hours. The high-altitude sickness can happen to seasoned or new hikers, no matter how fit you are.
To reduce the possibility of getting high-altitude sickness, you can stay at Dongpu 東埔 for one night before your hike.
If you still want to try it in one day, please prepare for at least 14 to 16 hours. Remember you will be “persuaded” to return if you reach Paiyun Lodge after 10 am.
Many hikers start their hike at 4 am or even earlier, meaning hikers have to start hiking from Tataka Mountaineering Center (extra 2.4 km) all the way to Jade Mountain Peak.
There is no shuttle bus service before 6:30 am. Hikers can't drive to Tataka trailhead and park their cars there. It's a regulated area. Hikers either take the extra 2.4 km or call Dongpu Lodge to check how much it costs for the pickup if they want to hike in the early morning.
The Challenging Route: Batongguan Historic Trail to Jade Mountain
Distance: 49.5 – 54.4 km (30.8 - 33.8 miles)
Route type: Point-to-point or out-and-back
Days/Hours Needed: At least 3 days
Total Ascent/Descent: 4,303m/2,973m (point-to-point route), or 3,620m/3,620m (out-and-back route)
Best Time to Go: All year round, but you need to have snow gear if you want to hike between December and March. If it rains, please cancel your hike due to the potential landslides.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level:
Peaks to Reach: Mt. Jade, 玉山, 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) above sea level
Others:
Route type: Point-to-point or out-and-back
Days/Hours Needed: At least 3 days
Total Ascent/Descent: 4,303m/2,973m (point-to-point route), or 3,620m/3,620m (out-and-back route)
Best Time to Go: All year round, but you need to have snow gear if you want to hike between December and March. If it rains, please cancel your hike due to the potential landslides.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level:
Peaks to Reach: Mt. Jade, 玉山, 3,952 meters (12,966 feet) above sea level
Others:
- Campsites to apply: Guangao Campground and Laonong River Campground. If you do this route, you don't need to stay at Paiyun Lodge, and those two campgrounds are much easier to apply.
- You will have to carry your own tent, sleeping bag, and meals.
- Wearing a helmet is a must if you hike on Batongguan Historic Trail.
- You will find several places with good phone reception; I often switch my phone to Airplane mode to save battery power.
- If you stay at Guangao Mountaineering Service Station 觀高登山服務站, please note that the foundation of those shelters isn't stable. There is a campground to pitch your tents at Guangaoping.
- Other essential gear you need to bring when doing Jade Mountain Main Peak.
Things I Enjoy:
- Bagongguan Grassland is fantastic! Before I reached there, our guides told us that we would love this place. They are not lying. We stayed there for one hour to enjoy this place full of nature and history.
- I saw many other 100 Peaks while scaling up: Mt. Batongguan 八通關山 3,335 meters, Mt. Sancha 三叉山 3,496 meters (this one is on the way to Jiaming Lake), one of the famous Mt. Dafenjian 達芬尖山 3,208 meters, Mt. Mabolasi (or Mabolasih) 馬博拉斯山 3,805 meters and more.
- The fulfillment when finishing this trail. Many parts and bridges of this route were destroyed by landslides, heavy rains, earthquakes, and typhoons.
- We had to bypass high up and deep down to avoid many dangerous terrains. It wasn't easy, but I'm glad I finished it.
- Taking this route means you don't have to apply for beds at Paiyun Lodge, which makes things easier, in a way.
Our guide Rose on Batongguan Historic Trail. She has finished hiking all 100 Peaks.
Date of Hike: Group hike from August 7 to 9, 2022
Day 1 Itinerary:
Batongguan Trailhead ➔ Lele Police Substation (or outpost) ➔ Yunlong Waterfall ➔ Yinu Waterfall ➔ Dueiguan Patrol Station (outpost) ➔ Guangaoping (Kuankaoping) ➔ Guangao Mountaineering Service Station
GPS coordinates of Batongguan Trailhead in Dongpu: 23.555478, 120.929214
GPS coordinates of Batongguan Trailhead in Dongpu: 23.555478, 120.929214
Day 2 Itinerary:
Guangao Mountaineering Service Station ➔ Batongguan Police Substation (outpost) ➔ Laonong River Campground
Day 3 Itinerary:
Laonong River Camping Ground ➔ Junction to Jade Mountain Main Peak and Norther Peak ➔ Jade Mountain Main Peak ➔ Junction to Yuanfong Cabin ➔ Paiyun Lodge/Junction to Jade Mountain West Peak ➔ The Great Precipice ➔ White-wood Forest Observation Deck ➔ Junction to Jade Mountain Front Peak ➔ Monroe Pavilion ➔ Tataka Trailhead ➔ Tataka Visitor Center
Map/GPX Data of Batongguan Historic Trail to Jade Mountain
Route map for 20220807-9 Batongguan Trail To Mt. Jade by Anusha Lee on plotaroute.com
Click Menu in the map to download, print, or share the map.
You can see more options after clicking the Play button.
Click
to change the speed to meet your condition.
You can see more options after clicking the Play button.
Click
to change the speed to meet your condition.
About Batongguan Historic Trail and Batongguan Traversing Trail
To prevent this post from becoming too long, I only mention the links you might be interested to read. You can click here to learn more about Batongguan Ancient Trail or Batongguan Historic Trail.
There is another trail called the Batongguan Traversing Trail 八通關越嶺步道. This one is more advanced and takes at least 8 days to finish in one go. However, this one doesn't go to Jade Mountain. You can check out the Yushan National Park's website to see the difference between those two trails
Day 1: At Least 1,500 m ascending
To do this hike, we stayed at a B&B in Wangxiang Village before our hike. For seasoned hikers in Taiwan, hikers must stay at this indigenous village to do trails like Mt. Jyunda and Hunters Trail.
06:50 We started our hike with helmets from the famous Aiyu jelly (Jelly Fig) soup shops. Many hikers would stop here for a break, but we arrived too early.
Very soon, we reached several slopes with falling rocks, including the famous Father and Son Cliff 父子斷崖. When we looked up, we saw the famous Mt. Batongguan and the winding Chenyoulan River 陳有蘭溪.
07:37 We passed the junction to LeLe Hot Spring 樂樂溫泉. Please note that this trail is closed due to landslides. Do Not Enter for your own safety.
We saw the suspension bridge near the famous Yunlong Waterfall. Unfortunately, a male hiker fell to his death around here one month after we finished this route. So again, please proceed with caution when you are on the trails.
08:20 After we passed Yunlong Waterfall 雲龍瀑布, Yunlong Suspension Bridge,
then the junction to South Section Two of the Central Mountains 南二段. This point is also the end of the trail for visitors without permits. Visitors can start from Dongpu to enjoy Yunlong Waterfall.
Because of the constant heavy rain, typhoons, and earthquakes, Batongguan Historic Trail is very fragile. As a result, expect route bypasses like this one. We went uphill to avoid the landslide.
09:00 We arrived at Lele Police Substation (or outpost) at 5.8 km for a short break. This station is 1,650 meters above sea level, has transformed into a shelter for hikers, and can accommodate up to 12 people.
09:30 Another waterfall: Yinu Waterfall 乙女瀑布.
Day 1: Dueiguan Patrol Station
11:29 We reached Dueiguan Patrol Station 對關駐在所 at 10.3 km with an elevation of 2,242 meters. We took a 40-minute lunch break. You can tell this place is very flat and big.
We still had 4.5 km to go from here, and the trail was up and down. I felt tired already.
14:21 Finally, we reached Guangaoping (the sign here said Kuankaoping, and they are the same thing with different translations to mess up your head) 觀高坪.
If you hike with a small group, you can camp here, but we had 20+ people. So, we took the junction, passing a helipad, went downhill, and reached Guangao Mountaineering Service Center 觀高登山服務站. It took us around 10 minutes from Guangaoping.
There are several shelters at this station. The National Park warned on the walls that the foundation erosion could be dangerous for those who stay at Guangao Mountaineering Service Station.
Day 1: Guangao Mountaineering Service Station 觀高登山服務站
After we settled down, we went to the nearby stream to draw fresh water. The so-called nearby stream is a 20 to 25 minutes roundtrip with a steep cliff to climb.
After a long day hike, it did take some willpower to finish this task. But the dinner prepared by our guide Xiao Tsai was worth waiting for.
Finally, we started enjoying the views in front of us, the mist floating around Mt. Mabolasi (3,805 meters) and other mountains. Then, we met three hikers who were doing Mabolasih Trail, aka Mabolasi Crossing Trail 馬博橫斷, the most challenging thru-hike in Taiwan if you ask me.
Saying goodbye to the starry sky, I went inside the shelter and hid in my cozy sleeping bag.
Day 2: Shorter Distance but More Treacherous Terrains
As usual, I woke up around 2 am and went out to enjoy the starry sky before breakfast.
05:15 We arrived at Guangaoping, where we stopped to enjoy the magnificent Jinmentong Cliff 金門峒斷崖.
This cliff is the result of the erosion of the Chenyoulan River headwater. It is said that erosion is still going on to this day, which makes Jinmentong Cliff the most significant collapsed land in Taiwan.
Xiao Tsai told us we could see the highest weather station in Taiwan, Yushan Weather Station 玉山氣象站, from here.
Yushan Weather Station is 3,858 meters above sea level, near Jade Mountain North Peak. The famous image depicted on Taiwan's NT$1,000 banknote is seen here.
I have yet to get a chance to visit Jade Mountain North Peak, but this is on my hiking list.
We continued to ascend and reached a place with water flowing close to us. Our guide Rose told me they camped here during their last hike, and it was much easier to draw water from here.
If you want to do Mt. Bagongguan, the junction is around here.
We had to descend several slopes and it was hard.
But we were rewarded with many stunning views through the dense trees.
09:09 I finally got a glimpse of Batongguan Grassland and soon passed the sign about this place.
Batongguan is the saddle between the Central Mountain Range and Jade Mountain. This distance from Batongguan to Jade Mountain is 6 km.
Rose was right. She told me that I would love this place, and I do.
Day 2: Amazing Batongguan Grassland
08:15 After several descending and zigzag turns, I finally arrived at Batongguan Police Substation (or outpost), 2,800 meters above sea level.
Please note that there are several junctions around here. I was behind most of my hiking mates. Later, I realized I could've taken a shorter route to save energy (you can tell from the map embedded in this post).
Please check your GPX or map to make sure you don't turn to the wrong junction.
This place was part of the Batongguan Historic Trail in the Qing Dynasty. During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese Government built a police station here. Later, it became a hostel for climbers and hikers to stay. They even served meals for hikers.
Now, the hostel building is nowhere to be found. However, we could see some ceramics, bottles, foundations, and the gate's posts.
Nature has taken this place back and draped with beautiful wildflowers, like the endemic species Gentiana scabra 玉山龍膽, Fox Gloves 毛地黃, and many others that I don't know.
Day 2: Dangerous Slopes before Reaching Laonong River Campground
09:31 We resumed our hike, and I could see how huge this saddle was.
While climbing up, I saw one of the famous Taiwan Three Peaks 台灣三尖, Mt. DaFenJian, 達芬尖山. The other two peaks are Mt. Dabajian 大霸尖山 and Mt. Zhongyangjian 中央尖山.
Alongside Mt. DaFenJian is Mt. Sancha 三叉山, which I did later during my Jiaming Lake hike (post coming soon) in October 2022.
After Batongguan, we mostly hiked on the sidehills, and many sections had no shade.
Now the river along with us was the Laonong River 荖濃溪. The valley here was cut down deep by this river. We were tracing the river up to its headwater, and that was our campground to stay for the night.
Please wear a helmet and hike with extra caution if you do this route. We had to bypass several slopes and damaged bridges to move forward. This trail is well-marked, too. You will see millage markers telling you how far you have made.
The last bypass seemed to be the most difficult one. First, we went all the way up in the woods. Then we descended again through the giant boulders scattering on the slope.
12:27 By the time we reached the Laonong River headwater (it looked more like another rock slope), one of my hiking mates and I took several breaks to catch our breath. Our guide Mingshu kept us company, sharing his stories of being a hiking guide.
After several plank bridges, we finally arrived at our temporary home for that day, Laonong River Campground, at 3,370 meters above sea level.
13:17 I finally arrived at Laonong Rivercampground. Everyone was pitching their tents. When ready, we went to the headwater to draw fresh water. Lucky for us, we didn't have to go very far.
Laonong River Campground can accommodate up to 24 hikers. If you stay here, you might see small rodents running around. Please properly put your food in your backpack.
Day 3: A Freezing Start with a High Hope
As usual, we got up very early and left our campground around 3:40 am for the highlight, Jade Mountain. We put our headlamps on and made our way slowly up.
04:44 I could see the sky in the east started having some orange colors.
After another 10 minutes, I could see lines of headlamps and a significant slope in front of me. And it was freezing cold. The strong wind made it more difficult to climb up. I wish I had put on more clothes.
05:10 The sky from the east was much brighter, and I could see Jade Mountain North Peak behind us.
The layers of mountains in the distance were incredible. So, I had a high hope that we would see the stunning views at the highest point in Taiwan, right?
Day 3: The Highest Peak of Taiwan
05:39 We finally made it to the junction of Jade Mountain. So did the fog and clouds.
After taking a short break, we left our big backpacks at the junction and did the final ascending from Jade Mountain.
Please note that this section is very dangerous, even if you take the easiest route to Jade Mountain. The rocky terrain and strong wind make this section extremely dangerous. Several hikers fell to their death here.
However, under this harsh environment, I still could see some amazing flowers thriving on the rocks.
06:02 I reached Jade Mountain and queue. On my first hike to Jade Mountain, I could only see clouds from the peak. So did this time.
Even though the clouds and fog took away my chance to see the magnificent view from Jade Mountain, I still couldn't contain my excitement about reaching the top of Taiwan.
Some hikers waited on the side, hoping the clouds to go away. We didn't wait because it was too cold.
We returned to the junction to fetch our backpacks and then took the way to Paiyun Lodge. The distance from here to Paiyun Lodge is 2.1 km.
06:43 We entered the trail with a meshed roof. So, you can guess the falling rocks aren't something new here.
The sky and clouds had cleared up by now.
07:20 We reached the junction of Yuanfong Cabin, which was 1.5 km from here.
07:50 I arrived at Paiyun Lodge, 3,402 meters above sea level.
11:56 I arrived at the Jade Mountain Trailhead at Tataka Saddle. Before reaching the trailhead, we took several breaks.
The Most Difficult Route: Jade Mountain 9 Peaks
Distance: 52.5 - 61.2 km (32.6 - 38 miles)
Route type: Out and back
Days/Hours Needed: At least 5 days if you want to do all 9 peaks.
Total Ascent/Descent: 1,342 m/1,342 m
Best Time to Go:All year round, but you need snow gear and a training certificate if you want to hike between December and March.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level:
Peaks to Reach:
Route type: Out and back
Days/Hours Needed: At least 5 days if you want to do all 9 peaks.
Total Ascent/Descent: 1,342 m/1,342 m
Best Time to Go:All year round, but you need snow gear and a training certificate if you want to hike between December and March.
Permits: Required
Difficulty Level:
Peaks to Reach:
- 1. Mt. Jade Main Peak, Mt. Yu, or Yushan, 玉山主峰, 3,952 meters (12,965.9 feet) above sea level.
- 2. Mt. Jade East Peak or Yushan East Peak, 玉山東峰, 3,874 meters (12,709.9 feet) above sea level.
- 3. Mt. Jade North Peak or Yushan North Peak, 玉山北峰, 3,858 meters (12,657 feet) above sea level.
- 4. Mt. Jade West Peak or Yushan West Peak, 玉山西峰, 3,512 meters (11,522 feet) above sea level.
- 5. Mt. Jade Front Peak or Yushan Front Peak, 玉山前峰, 3,233 meters (10,606.9 feet) above sea level.
- 6. Mt. Jade South Peak or Yushan South Peak, 玉山南峰, 3,852 meters (12,965.9 feet) above sea level.
- 7. Mt. Lu, Lu Mountain, or Deer Mountain, 鹿山, 2,981 meters (9,780 feet) above sea level, one of the only two mountains that are lower than 3,000 meters among the 100 Peaks. The other one is Mt. Liushun, 2,999 meters (my link). However, the latest height of Mt. Liushun is 3,009 meters, according to the survey conducted in 2013 by National Land Surveying and Mapping Center (NLSC).
- 8. Mt. East Xiaonan, or Dong Xiao Nan Mountain, or Siaonan East Peak, 東小南山, 3,709 meters (12,1168.6 feet) above sea level.
- 9. Mt. South Jade, Nan Yushan, South Jade Mountain, or Nanyu Mountain, 南玉山, 3,379 meters (11,085.9 feet) above sea level.
- The other two peaks not mentioned above are Jade Mountain North North Peak (yes, two North, not typo) 玉山北北峰 3,833 meters (12,575.4 feet) and Xiaonan Mountain 小南山 3,585 meters (11,761.8 feet). Those two peaks are not listed in the 100 Peaks.
- Campsites to apply: Paiyun Lodge, and Yuanfong Cabin
- Most hikers will do this route in two trips: Jade Mountain First Five Peaks 玉山前五峰 and Jade Mountain Second Four Peaks 玉山後四峰. However, those trips are still challenging and not for new hikers. (The infographic made with Canva.)
- Gloves, helmets, a sleeping tent (if you don't get Yuanfong Cabin and have to stay at the campground), and a bag and other essentials for multi-day hikes.
I want to thank our guide Mingshu Lian 連明樹, for letting me use his photos taken from the Second Four Peaks.
I have been hiking with him several times, and he is one of the funniest and most professional guides I've ever met. I highly recommend hiking with him. He almost finished the 100 Peaks in Taiwan, just one peak left.
Mingshu did this route at least three times with different peaks.
How to Get There and Accommodation
Accommodations:
If you only do Jade Mountain Main Peak and want to stay at the closest hotel for hikers, Dongpu Lodge 東埔山莊 is your only choice. It's close to the police station near Tataka Trailhead, the bus stop, and Tataka Visitor Center. It is NT$400 per person per night.
The beds at Dongpu Lodge are bunkbeds with curtains to keep your privacy. However, it can be very noisy there because hikers come and go all day long.
If you are a light sleeper or prefer more privacy, staying at the hotels at Alishan, Jiayi County, or Wangxiang Village, Nantou County, can be an option. But those two options are suitable if you drive or hire a driver.
Ordering Meals and Sleeping Bag Rental
If you want to hike light, you can click here to order. There is a designated area to boil water.
How to Take Public Transport to Tataka Trailhead
Going to Tataka Trailhead without driving or hiring a driver can be tricky. Here's how:
Public Transport: from Chiayi to Alishan
No matter where you are in Taiwan, you go to Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Chiayi Station to take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus, Alishan Route.
Take Alishan Route 7329 From Taiwan High Speed Rail Chiayi Station to Alishan Transport Station 阿里山轉運站. The bus fare for one trip is NT$278.
Public Transport: from Alishan Transport Station to Upper Dongpu
Take Yuanlin Bus 6739 員林客運 6739 from Alishan Transport Station 阿里山轉運站 at 14:00. Get off at Shandongpu Stop (or Upper Dongpu) 上東埔站, and then walk to Dongpu Lodge. The bus fare for one trip is NT$68.
Because of Covid, Yuanlin Bus has reduced the bus schedules. For the latest schedule, please check Yuanlin Bus 員林客運 website for updates. According to their website, passengers must make a reservation 2 days in advance if they want to use EasyCard to pay the bus fare. 049-2770041.
Public Transport: from Paiyun Mountaineering Center to Tataka Trailhead
Tataka is a regulated area. Cars or buses are not allowed to enter. Yushan National Park arranges shuttle buses for hikers to transport between Paiyun Mountaineering Station and Tataka Trailhead.
The shuttle buses are vans that can be seated up to 7 passengers. The fare is NT$100 per person from 6:30 to 17:00.
It's NT$150 between 17:00 and 19:00, and you need to make a call to arrange the pickup.
Hikers will see the sign to queue up waiting for the vans.
If you need a pickup after 19:00, please call Dongpu Lodge in advance to see the fare and time.
If you don't mind, you can hike another 2.4 km to Paiyun Mountaineering Center from Tataka trailhead.
Public Transport to Batongguan Trailhead
Take Yuanlin Bus 6732 from Shuili Train Station 水里火車站 or 6734 from Jiji Train Station 集集火車站 and Shuili Train Station. Get off at the last stop, Dongpu 東埔.
The bus fare for 6732 is NT$118 in cash and NT$103 with a card.
The bus fare for 6734 is NT$146 in cash and NT$128 with a card.
The bus fare for 6734 is NT$146 in cash and NT$128 with a card.
How to Apply for Permits to Stay at Paiyun Lodge
I made spreadsheets about the Advanced Application and Standard Application. I hope this will make understanding the application process easier:
Or you can you can click here to see the spreadsheets.
First, hikers must apply for 2 permits: Park Permit from National Park (after getting a bed at Paiyun Lodge) and Entry Permit from the police agency.
Hikers must get a bed at Paiyun Lodge before proceeding with the other applications and arrangements.
After understanding the process and important dates, here's the link to apply.
Please note that Taiwan government websites constantly change the URLs without bothering to redirect. I'm not the only one who complains about this. If you see a 404 message, please try to Google "Paiyun Lodge apply."
When you see the application page, please read, and check all the boxes required. Check "Paiyun Lodge Advanced Application" and click "Next".
Hikers who select Advanced Applications can only choose Yushan Trails as the primary route and 2 Days (Tataka - Yushan Trais - Tataka) as the secondary one. If you want to do Batongguan Historic Trail, you have to go through the Standard Application.
The Schedule section is easy to follow. Many hikers will hike Jade Mountain West Peak after reaching Paiyun Lodge. You can make a round trip from Paiyun Lodge with the essentials to do this peak.
After finishing the Schedule, you must fill out Applicant/Agent Info. Usually, the applicant is also the team leader.
Then your team members' information. Please prepare the team members' passport files because the applicant (or leader) needs to upload them. For APRC holders, you need to give your team leader copies of your passport files.
Then, the Emergency Coordinator. I've stressed many times the importance of having a good emergency coordinator. This person must be the one who fully understands the trails and mountains you are going to hike in Taiwan.
This person must know your schedule well, and the team leader is responsible for reporting back to this person when they arrive at designated locations.
If the team leader fails to report back at a reasonable time, the emergency coordinator will decide whether to call the police or rescue team in Taiwan for help.
When I do the 100 Peaks with friends, I always put Acer as my Emergency Coordinator.
You follow the procedures till finishing all the steps. You will receive an email from the Yushan National Park (YSNP notification) about your application. After your application is approved, you will receive another one.
Entry Permit from the Police Agency 入山申請
Please note that on the police agency's entry permit website, the Period of Stay uses The Republic of China calendar or Minguo Calendar 民國, not AD. Yes, very international.
AD year minus 1911 is Minguo Calendar. For example, the year 2022 is Minguo 111.
After you fill out all the required boxes, upload the list of your team members.
Finally, the End of this Long Post...
For more wildflowers I saw on the trails, please check out my Flowers on the Trails page.
What do you think about Jade Mountain (Yushan) and those routes? Which route would you like to try? Feel free to leave comments here. Thank you again for making it this far. See you on the trails.
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Please also note that Taiwanese government agencies tend to change their URLs without bothering to redirect to the new ones. As a result, you will find some external sites on the Taiwan Hikes website are not working from time to time. Taiwan Hikes will try to update those URLs if possible.
Taiwan Hikes is not responsible for the content of external sites.
All content provided is for inspirational and informational purposes only. Creating, using, hiking, or traveling with Taiwan Hikes' suggested services or itineraries is at your own risk. Please use your best judgment and follow all safety precautions, as Taiwan Hikes and Anusha Lee are not liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from using this information.
Please also note that Taiwanese government agencies tend to change their URLs without bothering to redirect to the new ones. As a result, you will find some external sites on the Taiwan Hikes website are not working from time to time. Taiwan Hikes will try to update those URLs if possible.
Taiwan Hikes is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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