More than 70% of the island is covered with jagged mountains. In some places, you will see those mountains coming straight up from the ocean. Volcanic activity on this island has created many hot springs and unique looking lava rock beaches.
This incredible scenery of Taiwan has recently made it a popular tourist destination. To protect the island’s natural heritage, nine national parks have been marked. They are home to an incredible amount of animal species, flora, and fauna. Some of these are to be found only in Taiwan.
Let’s see what 7 most beautiful of those 10 national parks of Taiwan have to offer.
Taroko National Park
This might be the most famous national park in Taiwan. Located in Hualien County, this national park covers 1200 square miles of land. Locals are incredibly proud to have this park in Taiwan.
The highest peak here rises to 3700 meters above sea level. And the most incredible part is that 90% of it is covered in mountains.
It’s most distinct feature is the marble-walled canyons inhabited by more than half of all the flora and fauna on this island.
Kenting National Park
This park is one of the new national parks of Taiwan that were recognized only recently. Located in the southern part of the island, this park is home to caves, mountains, and beautiful white-sand beaches.
Given its location and proximity to Kenting resort town, it has become a popular tourist destination.
You will find lots of restaurants, bars, and shops near the park and the weather is almost always sunny.
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan Park is the closest one to the capital city. The incredible scenery around it and its hot springs make it a great vacation for exploring the countryside.
The most interesting part is that this park is home to Yang Ming Mountain that is actually a dormant volcano. It also explains the numerous hot springs all around.
And to give the park a little more exotic look, it is also home to many species of flora that the Japanese planted here when they ruled over this Island.
Yushan National Park
This national park of Taiwan will be a dream destination for those who enjoy nice and challenging hiking trails along the mountains. While featuring over 30 peaks higher than 3,000 meters above the sea level, this park is also where you can find the highest mountain in Taiwan.
Yushan mountain is at 3,952 meters high, making it the world’s fourth-highest mountain on an island. You are even required to get a permit to climb this mountain.
However, the scenery is worth taking the hustle and going through permits several months before.
Shei-Pa National Park
This area became a national park in 1992. It is located between borders of three countries and features 50 mountain peaks over 3,000 meters high.
The scenery of this park is breathtaking. If you climb higher, you might come across one of the few places in Taiwan where you can experience snow.
If you are looking for a challenge, then many multi-day hikes along some of the most beautiful alpine scenery in the world are available.
However, many parts of the park are not accessible to regular travelers and you will only be permitted to enter three sections of it.
Kinmen National Park
The Kinmen National Park of Taiwan covers an area of two islands of Greater Kinman and Lesser Kinman. This place is administered by China.
The park can be separated into 5 areas – Mashan Hill, Taiwu Mountain, Kuningtou, Lieyu, Gugang.
The low population volumes around this area and park’s subtropical climate make it a great place for bird migration. Here you can see up to 319 species of birds.
Dongsha Atoll National Park
This park was established only in the year 2007 and is also managed by the Republic of China.
Its territory includes the Dongsha Island with a chain of islands formed of coral with a diameter of 25 km. The total area of this park is 3,537 square kilometers of which only 1.79 km is land.
The sea area of the park is rich with marine life and there is a chance you will see sea turtles, jellyfish, rays and other sea animals.
Summary
Seven most beautiful national parks of Taiwan are home to some astonishing nature and wildlife. Many different flora and fauna species have made Taiwan their home and the national parks here is a great place to start exploring.
These areas are the place to visit when you are tired from the hectic Taiwanese city life. Here you will find natural beauty and inner peace as you walk along these trails or explore the unbelievably beautiful coastlines surrounding these Taiwanese national parks.