Located in the north of Taiwan, Mt. Yangming is the largest and
most beautiful natural area in the province. It boasts of volcanic
sights, natural valleys, waterfalls, hot springs, and a multitude
of flower and plant varieties.
Throughout the four seasons you will enjoy four different sights
here. In spring, flowers such as rhododendrons, cherry blossoms,
camellias and wild flowers, cover the whole mountain. Every year
from February to March, the local people hold the activity of
Flower Season, which attracts thousands of visitors. In summer, due
to frequent thunderstorms, you can always see a colorful rainbow
arcing across the valley. There are many maple trees whose leaves
turn red in autumn, and make the mountain more beautiful than ever.
When it snows in winter, the mountain will become completely white
with clouds and mist swirling around, just like a fairy world.
The mountain can be divided into two parts: the Front Mountain Park
(also called Zhongzheng Gongyuan in Pinyin) and the Back Mountain
Park (also called Yangming Gongyuan in Pinyin). In the Front
Mountain Park, you can see the exquisitely designed bridges
crossing limpid brooks, elegant pavilions standing on the low
mountains, and various flowers blossoming along the trails. All of
these sights form a simple and primitive world, which can
completely relax your body and mind. The most famous waterfall here
is called the Grass Mountain Waterfall, from which water flows all
year round. In the northeast of the park, you can see an ancient
architectural site. It is the Zhongshan Lou where Taiwan
politicians often hold important activities.
Yangming Gongyuan is the most beautiful and important part of Mt.
Yangming. It is encircled by several mountains, which include Mt.
Seven Star, Mt. Gauze Hat, Mt. Bamboo Lake, Mt. Zhongzheng, and Mt.
Datun. Mt. Datun is the main group of volcanoes that is famous for
its amazing geography. On Mt. Seven Star, the hot springs spout
with average temperatures ranging from 60C (140F) to 70C (158F).
Bathing in the hot springs will help to cure diseases like
neuralgia, anemia, and diabetes. The famous Flower Season,
symbolized by the Flower Clock, is also held here. There are more
sights to see in the park, such as the sparkling Xiaoyin Pool, the
well-rounded Seven Color Fountain, the magnificent Guangfu Lou, and
various waterfalls.
Due to the warm and humid climate and the volcanic geography, the
mountain is rich in animal, insect, and plant species. There are
1,224 kinds of plants, among which cress, metasequoia, and gingko
are considered as very precious rare plants. For the insects, the
most famous is the butterfly. There are about 133 different kinds
of butterflies, which make Mt. Yangming one of the best places to
see them.