Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area — Attraction in Datong

I am an experienced traveller of Taiwan and have fond memories of it's many beautiful national parks, mountains and forests. Taipingshan had been on my list for a long time and I was excited to finally experience the legendary mountain and trails for myself. Well, honestly I shouldn't have bothered. The park is a falsehood. My girlfriend and I were most excited to go on the Bong Bong train. We made over a 5 hour journey to Taipingshan on our vacation even whilst sick so I could surprise her with a memorable ride on the famous yellow train. Well, imagine my surprise when we get to the ticket purchase area at 10 am and are told all tickets are sold out for the day! Bad luck!

I didn't understand... How can they be already sold out when we departed for Taipingshan at 6am? How early did we need to get there. Then the seedy truth is exposed: You can buy them for the next day until 17:00 (so it really only cares if you stay the night beforehand and give them more money) or you can buy it on the day at 7am but if you're not quick it will all be sold out by 7:20.

How on earth is it possible for people on a day trip to get on the bong bong train? It isn't... If you aren't willing to stay an extra night (many are willing but booking a room in Taipingshan is as much a pain in the rear as getting on that Bong Bong train is...) or if you are not willing to somehow get to Taipingshan at 7am (practically impossible if you don't live nearby) then sorry; you can look at all the people having fun on the train but you can't touch. Better luck next time! I loved Daxueshan, Yushan, Alishan, Heuhuenshan, Yangminshan but I will never return to this scam of a mountain simply because it is not worth the tortuous effort just to get there just to be meet with indifference and a feeling that you're only valuable if you've spent more money. Avoid this place! There are so many more beautiful alternative mountains and trails to experience that will reward you instead of leaving a sour taste in your mouth. If you don't stay the night, this place has...

Autumn in Taipingshan

In my search for an autumn experience in Taiwan, google led me to book a tour in Taipingshan.

Nestled among the highlands of Yilan, Taipingshan offers a nature trip to Taiwan tourists who wanted an escape from the busy streets of Taipei.

A tour booked through klook allows tourists to experience the maple trees along the stairs of Taipingshan Recreational Area. In autumn, particularly the first week of November, the autumn leaves are in full red. However, tourists should manage their expectations because there are not a lot of maple trees in the recreational area. Thus, taking pictures might be challenging.

To experience the Taipingshan spirit in full, it is highly recommended for toursits to book at least two to three days. The bongbong train was quite a spectable, unfortunately we were not able to book a ticket because of time constraints. A trail to the cypress forest is 1 hour away from the recreational area.

The Recreational Area has all the basic facilities such as lodging, convenient stores, and restaurants. It also has quite a number of instagramable spots for the photographers at heart.

Near the Reacreational Area is the Jiancing Historic Trail. The trail was used originally to transport logs. Now, the abandoned trian tracks offers interesting experience for tourists. Aside from the trakcs, the trail also has a number of metal and concrete bridges, as well as a rope bridge. A gigantic tree can aslo be found along the way. Jiancing Trail is mostly covered in fog, thus, tourists are encouraged to wear their light parkas.

Overall, Taipingshan is a recommended destination to experience...

We visited Taipingshan, which is about an hour’s drive up from the base. The journey involves a single-lane mountain road, so I’d recommend hiring a driver if you’re not familiar with driving on such roads.

Once at the top, the view is absolutely mesmerizing and refreshing. Do note that the weather is much colder, so it’s best to dress warmly.

We took the train ride, which was slightly shorter than usual due to ongoing renovations, but it was still a fun and enjoyable experience. Afterward, we stopped by a café near the train station for coffee and pastries. The cozy café has seating that faces the scenic mountain view, making it a perfect spot to relax and take in the beauty of the surroundings.

Our break at the café, combined with the stunning scenery, made the visit truly special. Taipingshan is a place you won’t regret visiting—it’s a must-see for...