Ren’ai Township · Nature & Scenery

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Aowanda Nature Education Center

Stroll through the colorful pine and maple forest, take part in immersive activities, feel the rhythm of nature, experience the many values of the forest, and understand the connection between mountains and human civilization. Aowanda Nature Education Center is located within Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area. The entire area is a narrow valley where multiple streams converge, surrounded by mountains on all sides. It is beautiful in every season—spring cherry blossoms, summer waterfalls, autumn moonlight, and winter maples—and provides an excellent habitat for wildlife. The Aowanda Suspension Bridge offers sweeping views of the valley and Nenggao South Peak, making it the park’s best scenic lookout.

Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area

Ren’ai Township · Nature & Scenery

With golden maple foliage across the mountains, a dramatic suspension bridge, and wildlife all around, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area is a forest destination full of charm. Aowanda lies behind Wanta Reservoir at an elevation of about 1,100 to 2,600 meters. It was once home to Atayal and Seediq communities, and hydropower development began during the Japanese era before it became a national forest recreation area in 1994. In the Atayal language, “Ao” means to go deep into or enter, so Aowanda means “going deep into Wanda.” Aowanda is best known domestically for its maple scenery, but throughout the year the park stages a rich and romantic natural landscape as the seasons change. Its fame for autumn foliage may overshadow its year-round beauty, yet Aowanda’s seasonal rhythm is part of its natural appeal. Winter maples, spring cherry blossoms, summer waterfalls, and autumn moonlight quietly transform this comfortable valley into a colorful retreat. If you are willing to set aside worldly concerns and give yourself a cleansing holiday for body and mind, Aowanda offers scenic beauty in every season. Along the maple-viewing trails, large stands of native sweetgum forest, along with dawn redwoods and green maples around the visitor center, turn the park into a brilliant tapestry of color every autumn, making it the busiest season of the year. Spring cherry blossoms are just as captivating. The spectacular Aowanda Suspension Bridge connects to the beautiful pine forest area, spans 180 meters, rises 90 meters high, and offers views of the confluence of the north and south branches of the Wanta River. It is one of the must-visit attractions in Aowanda.