Jade Mountain (Yushan)

Why Jade Mountain (Yushan) is special ?

Yushan, literally: "Jade Mountain", also Mount Yu is the highest mountain in Taiwan and the fourth highest mountain on an island. The name of Mount Morrison is thought to have been named in honor of the 19th century missionary Robert Morrison. Today, the mountain is referred to as Yushan or Jade Mountain.

Jade Mountain consists of 11 peaks, including Jade Peak, South Peak, North Peak, and East Peak. Jade Peak is the main peak of the whole mountain. With an elevation of nearly 4000 meters (about 13,000 feet), it is not only the highest peak in Taiwan, but also the highest one in eastern China. In winters, the peak is often capped with thick snow which makes the entire peak shine like stainless jade, hence its name. At the top of the peak, one can overlook the Taiwan Strait and the Pacific Ocean. Owing to its height and steepness, Jade Peak is recognized as the most prominent of Taiwan's 'Ten Peaks'.

Source: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/

What to explore at Jade Mountain (Yushan)?

Jade Mountain is the most famous, and therefore most popular hike in Taiwan. With panoramic views, overlapping mountains, and deep, plunging valleys, Yushan National Park is well known for its scenery, sunrises, sunsets, geological features, and views of the clouds from above. Everyone with an interest in adventure, hiking, and the outdoors in Taiwan wants to be able to say that they’ve climbed it. These factors make getting a weekend permit nearly impossible. Despite being the most popular, it’s rarely considered one of the best amongst avid hikers. If you only have a weekend to hike and want a great hiking experience, consider one of the many other excellent high mountain hikes that Taiwan has to offer.

Source: http://www.taiwan-adventures.com/

How to get to Jade Mountain (Yushan)?

Getting in and out of Yushan is a bit of a challenge but determined explorers won't have a problem. Shuttles in the early morning take you from Alishan to the beginning of the Yushan main peak trail. On the other hand, you could rent a scooter and ride from Chiayi, through Alishan and to the Tataka Recreation Area. Keep in mind that there are no buses or trains back from the Alishan train, so you'll need to continue to Dongpu to get out.

How to get from Taipei to Yushan

If you want to travel from Taipei to Yushan, the easiest way is to first take the normal train (TRA), fast train (HSR), or bus to Chiayi. Then from Chiayi, you can make your way to Alishan, which is quite close to Yushan.

It's pretty much the same process if you want to travel to Yushan from the following cities in Taiwan: Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hsinchu, Taoyuan, Hualien, and Taitung.

Source: http://www.taiwanese-secrets.com/