A Mountainous Island: Taiwan's National Parks and Hiking
Much of Taiwan is covered in steep, forested mountains, home to spectacular national parks and hundreds of peaks. A guide to the island's wild, high places.
It surprises many first-time visitors to learn that Taiwan, so often pictured as a crowded, high-tech island, is in fact overwhelmingly mountainous. Steep, forested ranges cover much of its interior, rising to peaks well above 3,000 metres. This wild terrain is protected in a network of national parks and is laced with hiking trails, making Taiwan a paradise for lovers of the outdoors.
The island's high point is Yushan, or Jade Mountain, the tallest peak in Northeast Asia outside of the highest ranges, standing at nearly 4,000 metres. Reaching its summit is a coveted goal for Taiwanese hikers, a symbol of the island itself. The surrounding national park protects a vast wilderness of forests, ridges and rare wildlife.
Perhaps the most famous natural attraction is Taroko Gorge, a dramatic marble canyon carved by a river through towering cliffs. Its trails, tunnels and vertiginous walls draw visitors from around the world and rank among Asia's great natural wonders. Other parks protect coastlines, volcanic landscapes and the alpine environments of the central range.
Taiwan's compact size means this wilderness is remarkably accessible. Within a short drive of major cities, hikers can find everything from gentle forest walks and hot-spring valleys to serious multi-day high-mountain expeditions. A network of mountain huts, trails and regulated permits supports both casual walkers and experienced mountaineers.
The island's ecology is exceptionally rich for its size. Climbing from subtropical lowlands to alpine peaks, one passes through a remarkable range of environments and encounters plants and animals — including species found nowhere else — that make Taiwan a hotspot of biodiversity. Conservation and responsible access are taken seriously to protect this natural heritage.
For international travellers, Taiwan's mountains offer a striking counterpoint to its bustling cities. To stand on a high ridge above a sea of clouds, or to walk beneath the cliffs of Taroko, is to see a side of the island that few outsiders expect. It is a reminder that Taiwan is not only a centre of industry but also a place of extraordinary natural beauty.
