Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area
Sanxia District
· Nature & Scenery
Located on a tributary called Nai-Zi Creek in the upper reaches of Dabao Creek in Sanxia, Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area is a beautiful little world of waterfalls, ecology, and autumn maple leaves.
About 40 minutes from downtown Sanxia, the recreation area sits at an elevation of 300 to 1,700 meters and remains cool and humid year-round, creating a rich fern ecosystem that even includes the moisture-sensitive umbrella fern.
The area once saw small-scale logging, and the neatly arranged planted forests today bear witness to that period.
It is also home to abundant birds, amphibians, and butterflies, including notable species such as the White-throated Laughingthrush and the Rufous-capped Tit, making it an important birdwatching destination.
Around December each year, the maple leaves turn brilliantly red, earning it a reputation as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful low-elevation maple-viewing spots.
At the end of the hiking trail are Manyueyuan Waterfall and Virgin Waterfall, two of the area’s signature sights. From Manyue Bridge, the upper part of Manyueyuan Waterfall is hidden behind a towering rock face more than 10 meters high, and the water plunges straight down in a majestic display. Virgin Waterfall is gentler in character; on sunny days, light refracts through the spray, and a rainbow-like shimmer is often visible.
