Lion’s Head Mt.
The Lion's Head Mountain Scenic Area is located at the border of Hsinchu County and Miaoli County, in a transitional zone where hills transition into mountains. The terrain can be roughly divided into river terraces, hilly areas, and high mountain regions.
This area geologically belongs to Taiwan's Western Foothills, formed by the Oligocene and Neogene basins located west of the Central Mountain Range. It mainly consists of sandstone and shale interbedded, which can easily form cliffs.
Lishan
Situated within the Dajia River basin, Lishan Scenic Area features a diverse range of river landscapes, characterized by expansive cliffs, unique rock formations, and pebbled riverbanks, providing a remarkably varied and picturesque riverside scenery. The surrounding areas of Heping and Lileng on the Central Cross-Island Highway have many fault-controlled terraced waterfall due to significant drop in elevation of the Dajia River tributaries
Lishan is surrounded by renowned mountains. Apart from being a popular hiking destination, Lishan also offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy its high-altitude terrain and scenic landscapes. Below are some must-visit areas when you come to Lishan:
The Basianshan area: You can climb high to get a distant view of the peaks of Yushan, as well as Nenggao and Qilai mountain ranges.
Lishan: You can get a distant view of Jianshan (Jian Mountain), Jiayangshan (Jiayan Mountain), Daxueshan (Daxue Mountain), Taoshan (Tao Mountain) and so on.
Fushoushan (Fushou Mountain): Looking north, you are able to see Jiayangshan (Jiayan Mountain), Dajianshan (Dajian Mountain), and Xueshan (Xue Mountain). To the south, the magnificent Hehuan mountain range comes into view.
Huanshan: Huanshan, literally refers to “surrounded by mountain”, got its name derived from being surrounded by the Xueshan and Nanhu mountain ranges, allowing visitors to enjoy distant views of the mountains along the road.
Baguashan
The Baguashan Scenic Area features beautiful scenery and gentle slopes. County Highway 139 Scenic Route, which traverses the ridgelines of Baguashan, offers excellent panoramic views along the way. Hengshan Cliff, Longzaitou mountain range, and Mingjian Plateau are the distinctive landscape features of this area.
Due to the linear orientation of the central peak, the water systems in the Baguashan Scenic Area are divided into eastern and western branches from the ridge, and the streams and rivers in this area run in an east-west direction, generally parallel to each other. Only a few wild streams erode along northwest to southeast geological fault lines, including the Wu River, the Maoluo River, and the Zhuoshui River.
Spilornis cheela
As a subspecies endemic to Taiwan, the crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) resides in middle- to low-altitude broadleaf forests. They primarily prey on small animals and have a particular preference for snakes, which is how they acquired their name.
Taiwan Blue Magpie
Apart from raptors, in this mountainous area, you may also encounter the “long-tailed mountain lady” - Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea) - that features a traililng black-and-white tail, beautiful sapphire blue feathers, a black head and chest, and a vibrant red bill and legs.
Chinese tree frog
The common Chinese tree frog (Hyla chinensis) has a vocal sac that bulges out even larger than its head. In terms of appearance, it has a dark stripe extending from its head to the sac membrane and shoulders, and its call is very loud. Therefore, it is also commonly referred to as the “rain monster” or “rain frog” in Chinese.
White-eared Sibia
The white-eared sibia (Heterophasia auricularis) has a long white eyeline with a few stylish tassels. Its call, described as “weep-weep-weep-weeeooo”, features a loud and upward tail note, making it the most unforgettable melody in the forest.
Formosan salmon
Known as an endemic subspecies of Taiwan and a relic species from the Ice Age, Formosan salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus) thrives at the highest altitudes among salmon. This prized national treasure fish has its breeding season every October to November, making it the prime time to appreciate its beauty.
Formosan Yuhina
Taiwan yuhina features a red-brown triangular crest on its head and a moustache on its face. Like white-eared sibia, Taiwan yuhina sings loudly in the early morning and can be easily discovered on the ecological trail of Lishan.
Grey-faced Buzzard
The grey-faced buzzard, also known as the grey-faced eagle, is named after the grey face of the male bird. Grey-faced buzzards arrive in Baguashan and Dadu Plateau around the time of Qingming each year.
Chinese Goshawk
It is a precious and rare protected wildlife with a body length of 28-32 cm, making it a smaller raptor. Its migratory route is similar to that of the grey-faced buzzard, as they both pass through southern Taiwan every autumn and return to the north the following spring. After observing the grey-faced buzzard, you can continue to observe the Chinese sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis).
Macaca cyclopis
Known as an endemic species of Taiwan, it features a flat face and a thick, hairy, long tail. It also has the unique narrow nose found in Old World monkeys, with downward-facing nostrils, and hard, bare “sitting pads” (ischial callosities) on the buttocks. They are often seen in Songboling and on the Ershui Dengmiao Trail.