臺東縣 · Nature & Scenery

Dawushan Ecological Education Center

太麻里鄉 · Nature & Scenery

The Dawushan Ecological Education Center provides an accessible introduction to the human culture and forest ecology of the Dawushan Nature Reserve. It is a modern training and learning venue that helps visitors understand the purpose and functions of the reserve, access related information, and gain knowledge about environmental education, environmental protection, and nature conservation. The Dawushan Ecological Education Center is a multifunctional building that combines ecological and cultural exhibits with educational training. It was established so that visitors can understand the government’s purpose in creating the reserve and appreciate the ecological beauty of the Dawushan Nature Reserve.

Zhiben Nature Education Center

卑南鄉 · Nature & Scenery

Meet diverse cultural and natural ecology in the tropical monsoon forest of Zhiben, and see the aesthetics of life in the wisps of steam rising from the hot springs. Zhiben National Forest Recreation Area has a tropical monsoon climate. Its main representative plants are banyan trees, china laurels, and vines, which have evolved distinctive tropical plant phenomena such as strangling and killing. The natural wonder of the “Thousand-Root Banyan,” formed by the aerial roots of the white banyan, is also an important landmark of Zhiben. The buildings in the area are designed to blend into the landscape while also embracing the diverse cultures of Taitung’s many ethnic groups, presenting a fusion of nature and humanity.

Zhiben National Forest Recreation Area

卑南鄉 · Nature & Scenery

Zhiben National Forest Recreation Area sits at an elevation of 110 to 650 meters and has a warm, humid climate year-round. The park is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, with signature sights including the century-old giant banyan, the century-old sour vine, and the Huajian Zhiben Herb Garden. It is also an excellent destination for ecotourism, forest therapy, family activities, and nighttime wildlife observation. In recent years, the park has upgraded its trail system and wood-based educational experience facilities, while also launching the Zhiben Fragrance product series, bringing the memory of the forest into everyday life. Opening a window opens a beautiful forest experience. In 2024, the park also began renovating its shop space, adding a 6-meter-wide panoramic viewing window so visitors can gaze out over the entire forest and take in the mountain scenery and waterfalls from inside the store. It also introduced Eastern Taiwan's first brand concept store for the Mountain Forest Made series, combining it with the Hobi Apartment Zhiben Branch, centered on nature conservation and sustainable development to create an innovative forest recreation and retail model that connects visitors with the forest ecosystem and delivers diverse service value. The shop interior uses domestic timber for detailed finishing and features a curated selection of local foods from Taitung mountain villages, handicrafts, forest-themed books, Taitung botanical fragrance landscapes, and outdoor lifestyle goods, allowing visitors to feel as though they have stepped into the Zhiben forest and experience the beauty of Taiwan's forests.

Siangyang National Forest Recreation Area

海端鄉 · Nature & Scenery

Strolling along the winding forest roads through neatly planted red pine and Taiwan red cypress stands, visitors often meet fellow hikers carrying large backpacks; as they greet one another, a Mikado pheasant may quietly cross the road behind them and disappear into the grass, while fire-capped tits in the treetops keep chirping without pause. This is a scene people commonly encounter when visiting Siangyang National Forest Recreation Area. Compared with the well-known Jiaming Lake, the relatively small Siangyang National Forest Recreation Area, located at kilometer 154 of the Southern Cross-Island Highway and an elevation of 2,320 meters, is much more low-key. It features beautiful artificial forests and gentle trail networks. On the trails, visitors can easily hear the songs of a dozen or so mountain birds, and may see the national treasure Mikado pheasant as well as muntjacs and mountain goats strolling about. It is an ideal place for a relaxing half-day visit to enjoy cool high-elevation air, the neat beauty of planted forests, and rich ecology. Note: Siangyang National Forest Recreation Area is currently closed; the reopening date will be announced separately.