Shuishe Great Mountain Nature Trail — Attraction in Yuchi Township

I would have given this hike 5 stars if it weren't for the rock and rope climbing at the top. The hike is about 5km to the top. The first quarter is an uphill walk on nicely maintained wooden and brick steps; the incline is not too steep, but it's a good workout. Then you enter a bamboo forest, and the path is typical of a forest floor with roots and leaves and so on, and and the incline is more flat, so you can walk at a leisurely pace. There are no views but it's very serene. However, once you get to the final 2km of the hike, the rope-and-rock climbing begins. It's not hiking, it's rock climbing. It's extremely tiring, and potentially dangerous. I didn't go all the way to the top because I didn't want to climb any more rocks. I was about 500m from the top when I turned around. The hike took me a little over 4 hours in total. There's free parking near the trail entrance, but no bathroom. There were very few people, which was nice, and, until the last quarter, it was very safe and well maintained. There are a few rest areas along the way. There were quite a few flies, but not much else in terms...

A great and varied hike that I'm told terminates at the highest point in the Sun Moon Lake area. The trail includes quite a few different environments with the bamboo forest being a particular highlight. As far as wildlife goes you'll hear a lot of birds and may even be lucky enough to spot a deer or two (I only saw the arse end of one). The trail is well maintained and clearly marked. I started around 7:30AM and the climb took about 2hrs 45mins. Temp was good in January but know that you will dip into a valley about a third of the way in and there is a slight change in light and temp. The last 500 or so meters take a while but keep at it! Once you do reach the peak I'd recommend continuing on for another 15mins or so to reach the highest point (The trail is wild but it's marked with high-vis tags from 20-01 20-20). There's no view from the top so make sure to take in the viewing platforms you see....

A tough but very rewarding full day walk. The first 3km are steep but manageable with steps and then a more level walk through a beautiful bamboo forest. After that it gets progressively steeper and rougher. Past 3.7km there are some very difficult sections that require use of your hands, and you should take great care descending. We turned back at the pavilion at 4.2km because it was getting misty, so I'd recommend starting before 8AM to avoid this. The best views were at the platform at 2.7km, and honestly unless you have proper equipment I'd recommend not going any further, as it's a lot of work for not the greatest reward. Oh and the mosquitos are vicious, so take lots...