Yangmingshan (Yangming Mountain) is situated at due north of Taipei city proper of Taiwan Province, 443 meters above sea level, and is renowned for its natural mountain streams, hot springs, waterfalls and forest parks.
Yangmingshan Scenic Spot is embraced by mountains from all sides with bright sunshine and  magnificent sight all the year round and favorable environment of range after range of mountains upfolding in all their majesty. It is a tourist center in the northern part of Taiwan and indeed also one of the summer resorts. Plan of its construction started in 1963 and it was built into a national park in 1982, and is biggest and the most beautiful suburban park of Taiwan Province. It is divided into the front and the back mountain parks.
In the Front Mountain Park, there are many pavilions and crystal streams running down from the lower mountain valleys through bridges passing along both banks of the delicate and exquisite Yangming Lake, planted with azalea and cherry flowers. Going boating on the lake, it looks as if one placed himself in the picturesque landscape of South China. On the side of the path leading to Jin Mountain of the Front Mountain Park, there is a "Grass Mountain Waterfall" as crystal clear as a white ribbon, flowing endlessly all the year round.
In the Back Mountain Park, there lies the cream of the picturesque scenery of the Yangmingshan, representing the Yangmingshan Scenic Spot. Starting from late February to early April every year, the floral season of the Yangmingshan begins with azalea and cherry flowers in full bloom. With the lovely flowers everywhere, the park is a blaze of color. Besides, camelia, peach and plum blossom and  apricot are vying with each other in full bloom all over the mountains and valleys, giving forth their beauty and emitting fragrance. While strolling unhurriedly in the enchanting Yangmingshan under the blue sky with white clouds, one feels as though he were in a landscape painting. In addition, there are such wonderful scenic spots as "Strange Pebbles of the Mountain Stream", "Lotus Flower Pond", "Paradise for the Fish", "Waterside Terrace" and "Yangming Flying Cataract".
There lies a well-known hot spring in the Yangmingshan Scenic Spot, which is one of the four biggest hot springs of Taiwan, springing out of the Qixing Mountain foot, proved to be pure hydrogen sulphide spring. The flow of the spring is enormous and breaks into streams running endlessly all the year round.
Furthermore, Yangmingshan Scenic Spot is also famous for its grasslands, the maple red leaves, butterflies, multi-color birds and such wildlife animals as hares rhesus monkeys and others. |
